Today it’s my pleasure to welcome over Dianne Lynn Gardner,
author of Pouraka, Book One.
Genre: Fantasy romance
Publisher: Dianne Lynn Gardner
ASIN: B00T0PED40
Number of pages: 242
Word Count: 75369
Cover Artist: Dianne Lynn Gardner
Book Description
Pouraka is a magical sea cavern tucked under the rocky
cliffs near Barnacle Bay. Cora, a Pouraka mer, is torn between her friends in
the seaside town, and her true love Tas, a foreign mer whose people fled when
men invaded their waters.
Life becomes difficult for all mers when an arrogant oil
rigger's son, Tom, finds the bay and the rich aquatic life it harbors. When Tas
attempts to rescue a pod of dolphins from Tom's gill net, he is captured and
taken away as a prize to be sold to a theme park. When Cora hears of his
capture she changes into human form and travels south to find him, risking her
life to free him.
Time away from Pouraka leaves the cavern vulnerable, and a
new threat arises when tourists discover its magic.
Available at Amazon
Giveaway! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter after this post
for a chance to win one of the following: 1 ebook copy of Sasha which introduces the
story, five 8 X 10 prints of Pouraka's cover without the text, authographed by the
author, 1 digital copy of dystopia novel Altered, 1 pair of earrings open to US
Shipping.
Book Trailer
Let’s Interview!
What inspired you to write this book?
My love for the ocean has much to do with why I wrote this
story. I grew up in California and I’m convinced that those who live by the
sea, and appreciate its beauty, will always carry a love for pounding breakers,
foggy nights, cool crunchy sand between the toes, and ocean swells that glitter
at sunset. Wherever that person goes, there is a homing instinct to be by the
sea again.
My love for the sea was not the only reason I wrote this
story. So many of my friends have followed and protested the treatment of sea
mammals recently. And though I don’t like posting brutal photographs of how
mankind treats the creatures he has domain over, it occurred to me that if we
could somehow put ourselves in the place of a dolphin or an orca, we would
better understand the torment they go through because of mankind. What better
way than creating a novel about mermaids who, if they were real, would suffer
the same invasion by mankind that dolphins do. Their relationships with one another,
their loyalty to one another, their care for one another mirrors that of all
sea mammals. If one person becomes more
aware of and respects the life that abides in the glorious deep waters we call
the ocean, than I will be satisfied as an author of Pouraka.
How did you come up with the title?
I researched words in the Maori language. Barnacle Bay is a
small town on an island, and Pouraka is a sea cavern located in the cliffs of
that village. I wanted something island-sounding, a word with rhythm and
charisma. The fact that the root of the word means ‘cradle’ jumped out at me.
If you could spend an hour in real life with one of your
characters, who would it be and why?
I would spend an hour with Tas. I fell in love with him.
Strong, and courageous Tas has a protective quality that I admire. As much as
he suffered, he remained true to his character, willing to do the right
thing. He may have been a little over
protective of Cora, but his experiences warranted that protection. He did not
want what happened to his mother to happen to Cora.
Are you currently working on another story? If so, we’d love
some details.
Yes. I’m working on a sequel to Pouraka. I can’t say too
much as I don’t want to give Pouraka’s ending away but I can tell you that
Sasha will be the main character and Kaile and Beth will suffer through trauma.
Pouraka the great and magical sea cavern will not be forgotten.
What sort of personality does your heroine have?
Cora is strong and determined, though she is very naïve to
the ways of mankind. She was fun to write. Whereas she is knowledgeable and
mature under water, on land she is like a child. She cannot read, she sees
things in a very simple light, and cannot understand why people do what they
do. Her love for Tas is her drive. She will do anything to be with him.
Did you enjoy writing one scene above all the rest? If so,
share.
I did. It’s the excerpt I included here.
What sources do you use for research?
I use many different resources for writing. For Pouraka I am
fortunate to have a son who scuba dives (some of the footage in Pouraka’s
trailer was photographed by him and his family). Asking questions and getting
information from him was a joy. I also visited the Monterey Aquarium while I
was writing this story and came home with a wealth of knowledge.
It’s time to promo. What is your favorite marketing tool?
Anything that has to do with pictures and video. I’m
probably just as visual as anyone, being an artist. I love creating images so
I’d have to say YouTube and Pinterest.
Do you write books in series? If so, share a bit about the
series you currently have published or are coming soon.
Yes, I do write books in a series. I find there is just
never enough written about my characters. They all have stories to tell and in
those stories new characters come alive and they, too have stories to tell.
Already I see Pouraka growing into a series. There is a prequel titled Sasha:
The Secret of Barnacle Bay. It’s a very short story and during my promotion
beginning March 18 it will be free.
I have another YA adventure fantasy series out titled the
Ian’s Realm Saga about a boy and his father who discover a portal to another
Realm, The story follows their adventures they tackle a dragon, dragon
worshipers, and a theif who holds a mysterious secret. We are currently working
on making book 5 of that series into a movie but I have more ideas for more
books after that one.
Excerpt
The sand was cool, the shells sharp and prickly, making her
toes itch. She strolled to the wet sand where the foam still bubbled into clam
holes and the remnants of waves frothed over her feet. Seagulls clustered,
pecking at shellfish and welcoming the end of day. Farther out the ocean
throbbed, constant and carefree. Ever faithful, the sea rocked back and forth
over the earth as it harbored its creatures, protecting them from the sun’s
vicious heat, feeding them, nourishing them and cradling them. Cora should be
in its belly, accepting its nurturing. She was the oceans’ charge and yet here
she was, walking the land as though she were human. She’d been denying her
heritage all this time.
A surge of shame swept over her. Why did she even want to be
human? Merpeople were so much kinder to each other, and to the animals they
lived among. Why did she ever doubt that she should live as a mermaid?
Cora took the basket off of her back and unfastened the lid.
The water inside was so clear she could see the interior weave of kelp even in
the fading sunlight. Scooting closer to the surf so that the waves rolled over
her, she held the basket above her head.
Pouraka’s water dripped over her hair, onto her shoulders
and her face. She lifted her chin and let it run down her neck, her chest, her
belly. Cora poured the water over her hips, her legs, and her toes as the sea
rumbled and came to her, a white roll of salt water rushing to immerse her.
Cora leaned back and let the ocean swallow her human body. The sea wanted her
home, grabbing her form and pulling her far away from shore. She tumbled in the
breakers until she was saturated and far from land. Cora came to the surface
and viewed the vanishing shoreline one last time. Sunset shined its face on her
scales as golden fragments of evening glitter. She hadn’t felt so alive in a
long time. She felt good, and somehow she would bring this freedom to Tas. She had
to.
About the Author
Dianne is an author and illustrator of YA adventure fantasy
with a dab of historical content thrown in. Building worlds that might resemble
the forests of her home in the Pacific Northwest, or the shimmering deserts of
Arizona, add to that a pinch of magic dust and a few million stars and you just
might find the portal to another Realm.
Happily married to a man that puts up with her celestial
wanderings and wonderings, she is the mother of seven lovely adult children and
grandmother to sixteen gorgeous boys and girls.
Dianne loves writing, painting in oils and living in other
dimensions. She finds life much more colorful that way! Her books are middle
grade to young adult adventure fantasies with dragons and wizards and sorcery and
battles on the high seas. Her grandchildren are a big inspiration for her
stories. There’s a shared camaraderie, something akin to what C.S. Lewis said
about someday being old enough to enjoy fairy tales again.
Dianne’s newest series Pouraka dives into the depths to
explore life as a mer. She also has a series that is being re released by PDMI
publishing called the Ian’s Realm Saga.
Stretching her tent stakes, she is working on an Indie Film
production of her V book Cassandra’s Castle.
Website http://gardnersart.com
Twitter @DianneGardner
Rebel Mouse https://www.rebelmouse.com/DianneGardner/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Pouraka
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3 comments:
Thank you so much for having me on your lovely blog this morning! I loved your interview questions!
Thanks for joining me, Dianne. Your book sounds wonderful and that trailer is amazing! :-)
Loving the cover. Sounds fabulous.
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