NEW RELEASE and GIVEAWAY
Coral & Bone
by Tiffany Daune
This book blitz and giveaway for Coral & Bone is brought to you by Xpresso Book Tours.
Description
Halen knows the sparks igniting under her fingertips are dangerous. She has spent her entire life trying to quell the tingly feelings that make her destroy things, but now that she is back in Rockaway Beach, where she watched her father drown, the flames have become impossible to tame.
Halen is trying to hold on, but when she is thrust into a mysterious new world, the underwater realm of Elosia, she unravels the secrets of her past and can’t help but ignite. As she explores Elosia, she realizes her life has been a lie. And when those who have deceived her come to her for help, Halen must choose - walk away or unleash the magick that could destroy them all.
Excerpt
"See who you are," the mermaid whispered.
Halen's eyes clouded over and when the smoke cleared she found herself standing in an open field. She was dressed in a cotton dress which fell around her ankles. Soft grass tickled her toes. She took a step forward and a flower sprung from the ground beside her. She leaned down to pick the red poppy. As she took another step a flower sprang up from between the blades of grass. Halen smiled. She walked a little farther and with each step a new poppy sprouted and bloomed. She ran faster and the field blossomed under her feet, and when she waved her hand, the entire valley filled with red poppies. She inhaled their sweet scent and when she exhaled, the birds glided in the breeze of her breath through an endless blue sky.
Halen laughed when the wind caught her skirt and swept the fabric up over her head, but when she pushed it down, dark clouds rolled overhead. She took one step forward and the grass beneath her feet sizzled to a crisp. Taking another step, the poppies burst into flames. The fire licked the hem of her skirt and she gathered it up over her knees. Scanning the field, she spotted a boulder; if she could make it there, remove her feet from the ground, she could save the rest of the field.
She ran in long strides, and with each step, she scorched the ground with her fiery feet. Suddenly, she tripped. Her hands touched down and the ground combusted with a brilliant light. The fire raced through the field, spreading to the trees. The flames reached up, lassoing the birds from the sky, dragging them to the ground. Halen crawled to the rock and hoisted herself up. She stared out to the barren land. "No, no. What have I done?" She clawed the air and the clouds rumbled with thunder. The fire burned hotter and hotter under her flesh. The only way to extinguish the flames was to release them. Tilting her head back, she opened her mouth wide and screamed. What birds had not been burned turned now to black beasts swirling in the torrid sky.
Featured Review
By Elyssa
I was initially drawn to Coral & Bone because of the intriguing cover art. Unsure of what I was getting into, I began chapter 1 and was instantly HOOKED. The story is a quick read, but not a simple one. As the plot unfolds you find you've been thrown into a web of deeply tangled connections between the characters, from which Daune leaves no loose ends. Her illustrative language depicts the tale of a curious teenager trying to find herself and make sense of what her magick means to her. The clever and thoughtful writing gives purpose to every character and twist encountered on your journey through land and water. While the story has moments of dark captivation, it's riddled with hints of humor and light-heartedness. Daune impressively paints a beautiful picture of the realms the characters live in. Often in fantasy stories the reader can lose sight of the author's vision when details are lost from mind to paper. I never once felt that way while reading Coral & Bone, I was in the journey from page 1 up until the end.
I would highly recommend this book to those even just dabbling in YA and fantasy stories.
Interview With the Author
Can you tell me a little bit about your book and what inspired it?
I love mermaids and magick, so I thought why not bring them together. Of course I couldn't leave out shape shifters and sirens. I love fantasy realms and worlds. Heck my husband says I live in one, so why not write about one. Coral & Bone is set in the Earth realm and the underwater realm of Elosia. Coral & Bone is a meld of all my years of watching Disney movies and thrillers.
The Etlins in Coral & Bone are shifters. If you could be a shifter what animal would you want to be and why?
A crow because they are wickedly smart and eerie.
Coral & Bone is filled with magick and spells. If you could cast magick what would your first spell be?
I could have a lot of fun with magick. First, I would make sure no kids ever went to school hungry. So many kids start their day without breakfast because they can't afford it. I don't know how they can enjoy the school day with a rumbly tummy. I would cast a feast spell, so whenever they got up in the morning there would always be food on the table.
What is one of your favorite quotes?
"Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light." ~ Albus Dumbledore
When did you know that you wanted to write professionally and how did you take the leap to get into the business?
I started writing with the intent of publishing five years ago. I faced a lot of rejection letters, but I kept submitting and writing, until I received my first contract for Surface. Unfortunately, my publisher closed, and I had to start over. So, instead of resubmitting Surface, I wrote Coral & Bone and decided to self-publish.
Your first book, Surface, was published with a traditional publisher and Coral & Bone was self-published. Did you enjoy self-publishing and would you do it again?
There are pros and cons to both methods. A lot of writers are choosing a blended method and I think that's a great way to go. I loved every bit of the process, but it was a lot of work. I was fortunate to have a great team of women working on Coral & Bone. I was blessed to have Alix Reid as an editor. She worked for Harper Collins for 12 years, and then the very talented Nathalia Suellen created the cover. Lastly, Tamara Cribley designed the inside. With this team, I would definitely do it again.
What book is currently on your nightstand? And who are some of your favorite authors?
I have five on my nightstand right now. I'm currently lost in the pages of Cinder by Marissa Meyer.
I could never pick just one, but I a few of my faves are Alyson Noel, Tahereh Mafi, Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, John Green, and Kendare Blake.
What is next on your to read list?
I want to finish Looking for Alaska by John Green. I was busy with Coral & Bone edits when I started reading it and I had to take it back to the library before I could finish. I may just buy this one.
Can you share a little about the current title you are working on?
I'm currently writing book two of the Coral & Bone series. I hadn't planned on writing a series, but the novel evolved and I found there was so much more I wanted to explore with Halen and Dax's characters. In book two, I'm taking my main character Halen on one heck of a ride, so she better hang on!
What do you do to recharge your batteries?
This is a tough one, I'm kind of a workaholic because, let face it, I play all day. I love getting up knowing I'm going to make up a whole new world with new characters and bring them to life. I kind of know how Victor Frankenstein felt, crazy obsessed and thrilled when the story comes ALIVE. So when I do need to recharge, I unplug. I have to get away from the screen and spend time with my family. My family boosts me up and I'm good to go back to my lab, I mean laptop.
Can you see your work on the big screen?
I think most writers would love to see their work on the big screen. I’m a visual person, so when I write I’m already watching the movie play through my head. I’m just recording what I see. Coral & Bone is full of rich imagery. It would be amazing to see the three realms and watch the drama unfold within each.
Why mermaids?
You know when someone reads you a story as a child and it sticks with you forever? Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid was that story for me. I love the original and I adore the Disney version. But, it wasn't until I went to see Pirates of the Caribbean on Stranger Tides did I find my mermaid muse for Coral & Bone.
If you could meet one of your characters in real life, who would it be and why?
Halen. Then I could apologize for all the crap I put her through. I'm not done with her yet, so she may need a hug.
A biography has been written about you. What do you think the title would be in six words or less?
Believe.
From the Author
I write stories about magick, love and dark creatures lurking in the shadows. When I'm not lost in Edit Land you can find me reading a book from my towering TBR pile or at the movie theater nibbling licorice. I don't have a lucky number, but my favorite time is 11:11. I completely believe that the fortunes found inside cookies will come true and that you must be careful when wishing on stars. I live on an island, so if you want to visit you'll need a boat, and if you want to survive the passage, be sure to bring candy for the mermaids.
Giveaway
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