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6.20.2011

Guest Post: An Archaeology of Laura Kaye’s Night Stand & Giveaway!



Please welcome Laura Kaye to parajunkee.com. Laura Kaye is a multi-published author of paranormal, contemporary, and erotic romance with four books releasing in 2011, Laura Kaye’s hot, heartfelt stories are all about the universal desire for a place to belong.  Laura grew up amidst family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses, cementing her life-long fascination with the supernatural.  Though an avid fiction writer as a teenager, a career as a historian took her in other directions until recently.  Now that Laura’s inner muse has awakened, she’s constantly creating new story ideas!  Laura lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

An Archaeology of Laura Kaye’s Night Stand & Giveaway!

Rachel was so kind to have me here today to celebrate the publication anniversary of my debut paranormal, Forever Freed, which has been out for one month today! Thanks, Rachel!  Look out down below for a giveaway celebration…

Forever Freed is about a reclusive, empathic vampire who falls in love with a woman he planned to kill and her young daughter, then fights his ancient guilt, bloodlust, lie by omission, and an old vampire rival who threatens everything he holds dear. Here’s the blurb:

A heart can break, even one that no longer beats.

I stalk my new neighbors, a single mother and her child, drawn by the irresistible scent of their joy and love. I crave their blood, starved for some healing respite from my ancient grief. Now to lure them into my grasp.

But they surprise me. Little Olivia accepts me without fear or reservation--talking, smiling, offering innocent affection that tugs at my long-lost humanity. Her mother, Samantha, seeks me out when she should stay away, offering sweet friendship, and calling to the forgotten man within me. They lure me instead.

Ah, Dio, Lucien, run and spare them while you can...

Yay!  So excited that this book, the first I wrote and first I sold, is out in the world!  It’s totally a dream come true!

Since I’m celebrating MY book, I thought I’d share with you some of the other books I’ve read or have on my most immediate to-be-read pile.  76 (!!!) books hold a place of honor on my bedroom night table, and I thought I’d give you a window into my reading and writing life by taking you along on a little archaeological excavation of what’s on there.  So, in no particular order, and with a little editorial comment when warranted…

ANGELOLOGY, by Danielle Trussoni – current reading, intrigued but slow

LILY OF THE NILE, by Stephanie Dray – by my friend and fellow Maryland Romance Writer

THE DISTANT HOURS, by Kate Morton – a gift, not my usual reading interest

NOT WITHOUT RISK, by Sarah Grimm – Won this and enjoyed!

BLUE BLOODS, by Melissa de la Cruz – LOVE vampires, but not this one so much

OF LOVE AND EVIL, by Anne Rice

ENEMY LOVER, by Karin Harlow

JANE AND THE DAMNED, by Janet Mullany – another MRW friend and chaptermate

TORMENT, by Lauren Kate

TERMINAL FREEZE, by Lincoln Child

101 SEXY DARES, by Laura Corn – Doh!

TWILIGHT DIRECTOR’S NOTEBOOK, by Catherine Hardwicke – a gift. Really.

NIGHT WORLD, by L.J. Smith

TWILIGHT, NEW MOON, ECLIPSE, BREAKING DAWN, by Stephenie Meyer

ROBERT PATTINSON: FATED FOR FAME, by Mel Williams – TOTALLY A GIFT!

STORM FRONT, by Jim Butcher

BLOOD PROMISE: A VAMPIRE ACADEMY NOVEL, by Richelle Mead

HUSH, HUSH by Becca Fitzpatrick – reading, but finding it hard to get into…

THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins – OMG FLOVED!

THE SHORT SECOND LIFE OF BREE TANNER, by Stephenie Meyer – Another gift. Was NOT going to buy because Bree did not at all interest me as a character. And…OMG CHEESEBURGER OF PAIN. Can’t recommend. ‘Nuff said.

FEVER DREAM, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child – I’ve loved everything by this duo

HEART OF THE HIGHLAND WOLF, by Terry Spear – I just won this! Woot!

WHAT THE NIGHT KNOWS, by Dean Koontz

THE LOST GATE, by Orson Scott Card

THE PERFECT HAPPINESS, by Santa Montefiore – Next couple women’s fiction books were part of my genre research for the women’s fiction manuscript I’ve completed…

WHAT SHE WANTS, by Cathy Kelly

THURSDAYS AT EIGHT, by Debbie Macomber

SECRET LIVES OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES, by Josie Brown

THE BLACK DAGGER BROTHERHOOD: AN INSIDER’S GUIDE, by J.R. Ward – I totally own this one. FLOVE my Brothers.

LUXE, by Anna Godbrersen

THE LOST SYMBOL, by Dan Brown

Vanity Fair magazine, ya know, the one with Robert Pattinson on it. Yeah. That one.

NEW MOON: OFFICIAL ILLUSTRATED MOVIE COMPANION, by Mark Cotta Vaz – GIFT!

REVOLUTION, by Jennifer Donnelly

CEMETERY DANCE, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

THE DART LEAGUE KING, by Keith Lee Morris – Read the first pages of this for some brilliantly kick-ass internal monologue

WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LOVE, by Raymond Carver

DARK PRINCE, DARK CURSE, DARK SECRET, DARK GUARDIAN, DARK GOLD, DARK CHALLENGE, DARK LEGEND, DARK DEMON, DARK PERIL by Christine Feehan

PASSION UNTAMED, OBSESSION UNTAMED, DESIRE UNTAMED, by Pamela Palmer

KISS OF MIDNIGHT, MIDNIGHT AWAKENING, VEIL OF MIDNIGHT, ASHES OF MIDNIGHT, MIDNIGHT RISING, KISS OF CRIMSON, by Lara Adrian – As you can see, I like to read series…

LOVE AT FIRST BITE, by Sherrilyn Kenyon, et al

THE VAMPIRE AND THE VIRGIN, by Kerrelyn Sparks

THE BOOK OF LIES, by Brad Meltzer

DARK LOVER, LOVER ETERNAL, LOVER AWAKENED, LOVER REVEALED, LOVER UNBOUND, LOVER UNLEASHED, LOVER MINE, COVET, CRAVE, by J.R. Ward – FAVORITE ALL-TIME VAMPIRE SERIES (Anne Rice’s Lestat books a close second)

FANTASY LOVER, KISS OF THE NIGHT, NIGHT PLEASURES, NIGHT EMBRACE, DANCE WITH THE DEVIL, UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR, DEVIL MAY CRY, SEIZE THE NIGHT, NIGHT PLAY, UNLEASH THE NIGHT, THE DREAM-HUNTER, by Sherrilyn Kenyon – Enjoy but middle of series is of very uneven quality, so much so I haven’t yet gotten through to Acheron, which I’m dying to read

So…there you have it! What you can discern from this little exercise, I don’t know! LOL But if nothing else, certainly that I’m a HUGE fan of all things paranormal, and within that, of vampires especially.  And these don’t even include what’s on my Nook, or my iPhone Kindle! LOL







SO, AN ANNIVERSARY GIVEAWAY SEEMS IN ORDER!

*IF THIS POST RECEIVES 31 UNIQUE COMMENTERS (not including me!) BY 6/21 MIDNIGHT EST (one for each day Forever Freed’s been published), I’ll give away a signed print copy of the book with some fun swag.

*IF POST RECEIVES 76 UNIQUE COMMENTERS (not including me!) BY 6/21 MIDNIGHT EST (one for each book on my night stand), I’ll give away a signed print copy and one ebook copy of the book.

*IF POST RECEIVES 76 UNIQUE COMMENTERS AND I RECEIVE 24 NEW TWITTER FOLLOWERS (making a nice round 100), I’ll give away 3 copies of the book (one signed print, two ebook) PLUS a $20 AMAZON GIFT CERTIFICATE!

So, tell me what I’d find on YOUR night stand, or what I should add to mine!



Thanks for reading!
Stalk Laura Kaye:
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Buy Forever Freed, and use this DigiBooks Café code for a
20% discount: e3d9d10a3c - http://tiny.cc/iydy4

View the PJV Contest Rules & Regulations before entering.

39 comments:

Erin said...

Thanks for sharing whats on your night stand! I always love to see what others are reading! Agree with you... Lovr JR Wards brotherhood! Read all of Sherrilyn Kenyons Dark Hunter / Dream Hunter series and agree it really slows - but I was dying to get to Acheron! Yum! I am reading Larissa Ione's - Demonica Series and simply love it!!! Highly recommend! Thanks for giving me some other - need to read ideas!

Mimi Barbour said...

I just have one question....Girl, with all those books to read, when do you find the time to write???
By the way, love your cover!
Fellow rose...
Mimi

Kathie (katmom) said...

I loved Forever Freed...Lucien...so sweet...so HOT!!!

Kathie (katmom)

Christine said...

Honestly, I think you have enough on your nightstand to last you a while, so I don't want to add to the list! But on mine is The Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz, Linger by Maggie Stiefvater, Unearthly by Cynthia Hand, Fables volumes 14 & 15 by Bill Willingham, and Nightfall by Ellen Connor.

Laura Kaye said...

Hi everyone! Sorry for not commenting here sooner--there are apparently two places to comment! :) And I've been on the other list all day...

@Erin - yes, we definitely have similar tastes! :)

@Mimi - I go in stops and starts, writing a lot and not reading at all for a while, and then when I need a break from writing, I'll dive into a couple books. Some of those books have been sitting there unread for a looong time! LOL

@Kathie - I'm so glad you liked it! :)

@Christine - LOL No, add, add! :) I've definitely been tempted by Linger!

Thanks everybody for the comments!

ParaJunkee said...

@Laura something is wrong with my intense debate commenting system. I don't know what happened. I'm going to try and get it repaired.

Laura Kaye said...

Oy! Thanks Rachel! I see that. There were 46 comments the last time I saw this... O.O (Glad you know all about this stuff lol!)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing what you are reading...I can't imagine reading that much and writing! Go u!! ;)

Awesome giveaway btw! :)

Katie W
Katiewalthall AT ymail DOT com

ParaJunkee said...

EVERYONE! We have had a problem with my INTENSE DEBATE commenting system. Which is leading me to have to uninstall it because it is deleting comments. The comments that were logged earlier today are being counted because I have backed them up - but unfortunately will not show. I'm so sorry. This just proves it might be better to just stick with the normal Blogger commenting system.

ParaJunkee said...

45 Comments were logged in the ID program.

Lani Wendt Young said...

I love the blurb for your book - an interesting twist having the vampire love be a single mom with her daughter.I agree with the other commenter - where do u find time to write with all those books to read!? I just got my hands on the Hunger Games Bks 2 and 3 which ive been lusting for - but my 13yr old daughter has abducted them, so Im reading ebk 'MILKRUN' by Sarah Mlynowski. Jst fin my first ever Nalini Singh book 'Slave to Sensation' which was a little to handle for me.
Looking fwd to checking out your book.

throuthehaze said...

I don't have any books on my nightstand but I definitely recommend The Lords of the Underworld series by Gena Showalter if you haven't read it yet
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

Dorine White said...

I hope you get followers, it's a good idea. Right now on my nightstand I have Passion by Kate. Would love to enter your contest. My email is dorwh at aol dot com. Twitter-@Dorinewhite follow and I follow back.

Laura Kaye said...

Yay! I come back from getting my girls to bed and there are so many new comments! Love it!

@Katie - Like I said to Mimi, above, I go on writing jabs and then reading jags. Plus, I also feel that reading in your genre is one of the best ways to study craft...

@Lani - LOL I suspect I'll also be fighting my older daughter for books when she's a bit older (only 7 now but an AVID reader!). I love to read and am a fast reader, so that helps, too! :) Glad you like the premise of FF--yay!

@throuthehaze - Good rec! I've heard good things about that! Thanks!

@Dorine - You're entered, Dorine, and I'll be following all new twitter followers back! :)

Thanks for all the comments, everyone, keep 'em coming!

Laura Kaye said...

FYI, I've added 9 new twitter followers so far! THANKS! And I've followed back!

Need 24 new twitter followers to give away that $20 amazon gift certificate, along with my books, of course! :)

Jen B. said...

First, great list. The Hunger Games = AWESOME. Seriously, even if you have to skip books, go ahead and read Acheron. It's not brilliant literature but it's better than a lot of stuff on the market and Acheron is such a great character. Nuff said.

What's on my sidetable? Well, my Kindle with around 600 books/short stories. Currently reading:
Shannon Stacey Yours To Keep
Vivi Andrews The Naked Detective

As far as print books:
Jacqueline Carey Naamah's Blessing
Boyd Morrison The Ark
Elizabeth Vaughn Warcry
Shayla Black Tempt Me With Darkness
LA Banks Surrender The Darkness (I have stalled trying to read this. It's good but it just hasn't hooked me.)

Darn, I don't Twitter so I can't do that part!
Thanks for the giveaway.
jepebATverizonDOTnet

Bethie said...

I have so many on my night stand. Some titles are The Possession of Mr. Cave and Dragonfly in Ember.

Thanks for the giveaway.

lizzi0915@aol.com

Laura Kaye said...

Hi @Jen! OMG, I know, I WANT to skip over to Acheron, but I've got this OCD thing that makes me HAVE to read everything in a row! LOL I've been hearing a lot about this Shannon Stacey book, I'll have to check it out!

@Bethie - So many books, so little time, right? Thanks for commenting!

Rain Maiden said...

On my night stand right is Jennifer Estep's Spiders Bite. Im really diggin it. I'm sorry I can't get the word out ( no twitter ).

Jnmt3@hotmail.com

Denise Z said...

I so want to read Forever Freed - pure envy speaking here okay :) What a wonderful TBR pile. I received a couple of great books lately including my current read Riversong. I also received the Girl Who Disappeared Twice, Eternal Rider, and Almost Human. I have a ton of TBRs in my Kindle and it is always on my nightstand. Happy anniversary. I hope you reach your goals, will post this to FB and see if it helps :)

dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com

Holjo said...

Great list... I think that every girl should have one of Jaid Black's Novellas on her nighstand or kindle. Short but super sexy and unique. I personally like the Viking Underworld books.
I'd also recommend Karen Marie Moning's Fever series. But there are no vampires in either of these! Paranormal, yes. Vampires, no.

Holjo @ www.pedanticphooka.com

Vivi Dumas said...

OMG Laura! I thought my night stand was bad, but you win hands down!

Vivi Dumas - paranormalqueen(at)gmail(dot)com

Linda said...

I just finished My Immortal Assassin by Carolyn Jewel which somehow didn't quite grab me. Mulling over what to read next. Just received my copy of Jennifer Lyons "Sinful Magic". Maybe that one?

Laura Kaye said...

@Rain - no worries! Just glad to see you here! :)

@Denise - you found me here too! Go you! :D And thanks for sharing!

@Holjo - Ah, yes, the Fever series - definitely on my TBR pile. And I'll check out Jaid Black (me likes sexy!) :)

@Vivi - LOL I don't know whether that's a good thing or a bad thing! :)

@Linda - Hmm...interesting, Linda! More to add to my list!

Thanks for commenting everyone!

DANIELA said...

Hi Laura
If you like vamps and considering that you like BDB and Midnight series, I think you might like to read:
"Night Huntress" series by Jeaniene Frost
"Guardians of Eternity" series by Alexandra Ivy
"Argenau Vampires" series by Lynsay Sands
"Love at Stake" series by Kerrelyn Sparks (saw you read one)
"Almost Human" series by Melanie Nowak
No vamps:
Books by Leanore Elliot (for example her Beasts series)
Books by Regan Black (Shadows of Justice series)
And I have more, but these are some.

Daniela.

Laura Kaye said...

Okay, here's who commented earlier before the commenting feature hiccuped, just so you know you're entered to win:

1. Jenn jennlovesed14 at gmail
2. Victoria Tore923 @aol.com
3. acm05 acm05atjuno.com
4. Nina Croft ninacroft @hotmail.co.uk
5. Valerie valerie @stuckinbooks.com
6. Kah kah_cherub @hotmail.com
7. Vivien deadtossedwaves @gmail.com
8. jwitt33 jwitt33 @live.com
9. Cleo cleopatracomnenos @gmail.com
10. Sarah sarahtq @yahoo.com
11. Alisha myneedtoread @gmail.com
12. Bekka prettydeadlyreviews @yahoo.com
13. June manning_j2004 @yahoo.com
14. Andrea andrealsmith01 @yahoo.com
15. Lea-Ellen borg_66 @hotmail.com
16. Nicole Nicole.Zoltack @gmail.com
17. Luna lhong522 @hotmail.com
18. Marlo mberliner @rcn.com
19. Robin robin @intensewhisper.com
20. Maria m.ramey @ymail.com
21. Renee reneerearden @yahoo.com

That makes a total of **36** unique commenters so far, so I'm definitely giving away at LEAST one signed print copy of FOREVER FREED! Keep 'em coming!

Laura Kaye said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Laura Kaye said...

And Daniela makes 37 with some great recs! Thanks D!

PoisonRose79 said...

Hmmm. Don't have many paper books on my nightstand, but got my kindle app. with some classics. Currently reading Blackwood Farm - Ann Rice and good old Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen. I need to get more paranormal romances in my collection! Suggestions welcomed by all!

Mary Preston said...

You would find THE CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR, hand cream & reading glasses. No idea of what you should add to yours.

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Laura Kaye said...

@metallifan - I loved Blackwood Farm, that's a great read. Thanks for stopping by!

@marybelle - LOL thanks for sharing!

I'll be checking back in again tomorrow, everyone! Good night!

Book Flame said...

I don't even have a nightstand, I have no room for it in my bedroom instead all my must read books are on my dresser.

bookflamereviews@gmail.com

Laura Kaye said...

@Aanchal - LOL That works too!

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!

WE'RE AT 40 COMMENTS AND 12 TWITTER FOLLOWERS! Keep 'em coming for the big giveaway!

Anonymous said...

can't wait to read this since I've tweeted just how much I loved Hearts in Darkness ;)

That's an impressive TBR pile you got going but I've got you beat I think lol I don't even want to admit to myself how much I haven't had time to read >_> but then I live for the guilt of unread books, just thinking about not having a tbr sends me into a near panic LOL

Camille-

midnite dot fantasy at gmail dot com

Amanda Romano said...

I have so many must reads on my nook and on the shelves around my house. Sometimes I don't know which one to pick up next because the list keeps getting longer and longer...especially when I visit the Goodreads website.

Thanks
Amanda
amelno@gmail.com

Laura Kaye said...

Grr! Panera would not let me get on here to comment all day! Glad to be here now, though! :)

@envyious - THANK YOU THANK YOU! I love you have more on your TBR pile! :)

@Amanda - That's true, you think you know what's next and then you hear about some cool book that ends up moving to the top of the pile! :)

Thanks everyone!

Chelsea B. said...

Man, I wish my night stand was as awesome as your's! Mine looks like it belongs to a sick person-- tissue, glass of water, remote. But hey, I do have some goods inside of the night stand, haha ;-)

justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

Laura Kaye said...

LOL Chelsea - Yes, you do notice I didn't mention what was in the drawers! O.o Thanks for commenting!

THANKS TO RACHEL FOR HAVING ME HERE! I HAD FUN WITH YOU ALL! :)

Laura Kaye said...

Okay, everyone, using random.org to pick a comment number of the winner...the winner of the signed print copy of Forever Freed is:

Envyious - midnite dot fantasy at gmail dot com

Congratulations! And thanks to everyone for commenting and sharing book recommendations!

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