Cover by Nathalia Suellen
ISBN: 9780993653704
Publication date: July 7th 2014
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult
Synopsis:
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.
Coral & Bone Dream Cast
Halen ~ Halie SteinfeldDax ~ Alex PettyfyerTage ~ Chloe MoretzEzra ~ Soto Fukushi
Coral & Bone Epic Playlist
Born to Die ~ Lana Del ReyClarity ~ ZeddBreathing Underwater ~ MetricDark Horse ~ Katy PerryMonster ~ Eminem ft. RihannaLight Em Up ~ Fall Out BoysBurn ~ Ellie GouldingExcerpt 1
"Yes, I'm scared! What's wrong with being scared? You make me sound strong. Well, I'm not. You've seen how well I handle magick." Sparks ignited at the tips of her fingers as she almost shouted at him, not giving him a chance to respond. Her voice rang loudly, echoing throughout the cavern. "I'm angry. I'm hurt. I've taken an overdose of confused, and you want me to defeat some demon?"
She pumped her fist, trying to shake the static energy now flowing under her skin. "Right now I'm my own worst enemy." She couldn't hold back any longer. With a flick of her finger, she summoned the river to rise up into a towering wave. She clenched her fist, and the water crashed on the rocks, spraying them with a cold mist. "I'm not what you think I am."Excerpt 2
"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.
Excerpt 3
Sketching his crooked smile had become a habit for Halen, not easily tamed. Flipping through her notebook, the boy’s gray eyes flashed back from the pages—almost one hundred drawings in three months. She turned to a blank page, not caring if the teacher noticed, and set the tip of her pencil on the paper. Closing her eyes, she knew the boy would be there. He never kept her waiting.
His face flashed into view. His forehead was creased in the center, and his usually full lips were pressed with a tight line. Her fingertips sparked, and when she opened her eyes, her hand was already penciling in the edges of his jawline. Halen sketched him quickly; she was familiar with the hallow of his cheeks which dimpled when he smiled, and how one side of his jaw was a little more round than square, and how his nose hooked ever so slightly as if it had been broken at one time and had not been set properly. His imperfections were perfection.
As she shaded the rims of his eyes with deep charcoal halos, she longed to climb into the page, and asked him what was bothering him. She had a lot of questions for him. Finding a page filled with his broad smile, she smiled inside. As her fingertips brushed his lips, she bit back her own. If only—if only you were real.
Halen first drew the mystery boy the morning of the move. Coming back to Rockaway Beach was a nightmare, so when she had woken from a dream with the boy's face etched inside her eyelids, and her fingertips igniting with sparks, she feared the worse. She knew the sparks were a warning; she had fought the flickering flames her whole life. There was more to this boy, more than she cared to admit. There was more to Rockaway Beach than she cared to face.
The boy smiled knowingly. Like you care. With a sweep of her hand she drew a long handlebar moustache under his nose. Then tearing the page from her book, she crumpled it in her fist. Instantly, her palm warmed as if she were holding a hot stone. Only she knew the heat was coming from inside her.
She quickly scanned the classroom. Most of her classmates were still filling in the test answers, with penciled circles. A few students were reading. Her fingertips flickered with heat, and she dropped the paper, fearful it might combust in her hand. She hadn't set anything on fire, not in a long time, and she wasn't about to start. She shook her hands by her side, and as she did, a jolt of pain gripped her wrists.
Halen. A whispered voice brushed her ear.
She spun around. Toby Creston shot her an annoyed glare as he shielded his score sheet with his arm. As if she would copy his answers. She sucked at algebra, but she had studied; Toby Creston would be lucky if he figured out how to fill the circles in.
Haaaalennnn.
A searing pain spread up her arms, and she inhaled a sharp breath. She whipped around to face the front of the class. Mr. Ajax sat with his long nose wedged between the pages of his book. He peered over the rim of his catlike glasses when she let out a gasp.
HalenHalenHalenHalenHalenHalenHalenHalenHalenHalenHalen.
Beating like the thunderous wings of a thousand birds, the whispers swarmed her thoughts. Her fingertips pressed the squishy foam nestled in her ears. No way. She couldn't take her earplugs out. Her earplugs were her salvation, the only things keeping her from blacking out. Besides the sparks, sound had become her enemy since moving back to Rockaway.
Her mom's diagnosis—stress. "You're suppressing your grief," she had said. "You have to let yourself have a good cry." Her mom overestimated the power of tears. Halen's father's bones lay in a bed of sand—tears would never bring him back—tears would never drown the fire raging inside her. Tears would not save her now.
The chants grew louder, now drilling into every crevice of her mind. She pounded the sides of her head. The blond girl beside her scooted her desk away from her, shooting her an evil glare.
Stop! Halen begged as the whispers hammered her brain. She didn't have a choice, she had to…
She tore the earplugs from her ears. At once the chanting ceased, only now to be replaced with the chaotic clatter of the classroom. The blond girl now tapped her pencil on her desk. The metal eraser band hitting the desktop sounded like a jackhammer. She could hear the click clack of some other student's gum, and the strike of a pointed heal on the linoleum floor.
Toby Creston's heavy breath was a rush of howling wind. The sounds united with the next student, and then the next, until the whole classroom exploded with a deafening cry. Halen fought to hold on as the classroom blackened around her. She caught the word freak, someone calling for Mr. Ajax, and the blond girl shrieking. The last sound Halen heard was the thud of her skull as her forehead slammed against the desktop.
AUTHOR BIO
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.
Interview & Fun Facts
I loved so many books as a child, it’s hard to pick one. My top three would have to be The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Are you there God It’s Me Margaret. As a teen, I devoured anything by Stephen King, John Saul & Anne Rice.
- What was your favorite childhood book?
Anything I can get my hands on. I’m always toting around two or three books in my purse. It gets to be a little ridiculous when there’s not room for the car keys. I guess I should get an ereader:)
- What are you reading now?
I have five on my nightstand right now. I'm currently lost in the pages of Cinder by Marissa Meyer.
- What book is currently on your nightstand? And who are some of your favorite authors?
I could never pick just one, but I a few of my faves are Alyson Noel, Tehereh Mafi, Holly Black, Casandra 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.
My son, music, a walk on the beach, and most recently a bathroom stall (don’t laugh I have a great idea for that one). Stories are everywhere!
- What inspires your story lines?
Right now, I’m crazy over Tahereh Mafi. I could get lost in her world any day. Also, Eminem. I listen to some of his lyrics and I think , wow, I need to step up my game.
- Who’s writing do you admire?
- 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
I love action movies, but they have to tell a great story at the same time. I want to be entertained. I’m also a sucker for a romantic comedy. New fave: Warm Bodies
- Favorite movie?
Man in the Mirror by MJ. That song is like my anthem. After the mascara goes on out come the lyrics…If you want to make the world a better place take a look and yourself and make that chaaaaaange. All I need is a white glove.
- What song gets stuck in your head the most?
Dark chocolate chips, but if it’s near Easter I can’t resist Cadbury Easter Creme Eggs. Chocolate is food–right?
- What’s your favorite writing food?
- When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
Oh easy, when I was twelve I won my first writing contest. I thought I had made it big time. The story was published, and I won a cash prize. Who wouldn’t want to be a writer?
Seriously though, I’ve always been writing. Writing is my breath. Cash or no cash a girl has gotta breathe.
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.
- When did you know that you wanted to write professionally and how did you take the leap to get into the business?
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.
- What do you do to recharge your batteries?
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
- Can you see your work on the big screen?
- 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.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.
- Coral & Bone is filled with magick and spells. If you could cast magick what would your first spell be?
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.
- 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?
- 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!
- 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
Surface
A note about Surface: Surface is no longer in print, and I have decided to place it on my bookshelf, for now.
Bound to the water bound to land, a Siren’s soul will never be safe on either side of the ocean’s surface. Hidden beneath the rolling waves lies the secret to Theia’s past and as she unveils each haunting truth, she realizes the last seventeen years of her life have been a lie. Now, drawn into a mysterious new world and with nowhere to turn, Theia must place her trust in Luc, a beautiful boy who stops her heart with each dazzling smile, but even his unearthly charm can’t hide the truth—he has secrets— dark secrets binding him to his world—an underwater world where Theia will never belong—a world determined to destroy her soul.
Praise
- “SURFACE is full of myths and mermaids and action!”– Reading to the Stars and Back
- “SURFACE takes us through a beautiful underwater world, with characters that each have a story to tell and being mixed with betrayals, scary mythical creatures and forbidden romance does make for one engrossing read and one that I thought was great. If you are a fan of mermaids, the myths behind them, romance and mystery, you can’t go wrong with SURFACE.”-Books Live Forever
- “This was a refreshing unique paranormal book, which I just adored. I look forward to more work from this author…I also love the cover, it’s just right, it really is. 5 out of 5 stars, I highly recommend this book. It will hook you right from the start.”– Michelle’s Paranormal Vault of Books
- “Beginning with intense, mysterious scenes, SURFACE hooked from the start, but it was once I reached the middle that it reeled me in, and I couldn’t put the book down. There were so many twists, so many things that could happen. I didn’t know where each story thread would lead, and I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Action-packed, to the ending … wow, it blew me out of the water.”-The LUVN’NV
- “SURFACE had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. There were some twists and turns in this book that I was not expecting at all. I was shocked at some of the things that happened in this book. I love where the story is headed though so I can’t wait to see where Tiffany takes this story next. SURFACE is a great beginning to the start of a new fantastic series. This is a book that I will definitely be rereading. Once I started this book, I couldn’t put it down. The world-building just drew me in. Some of the new things that Tiffany created were funny but very cool. This book is a must read!!!!! Great job Tiffany!!!!!”– Ever and Ever Sight Blog
- “Ms. Daune creates a magical underwater world that swept me by surprise and left me only wanting more.”- Books with Bite
- “SURFACE is the type of book that you can pick up and easily read in one sitting. It is fast paced and interesting and it was exactly what I needed right now. I can’t wait for the second book. There is so much I want to happen in it. I want to learn more about the main characters and about the world- including that mermaids gate! ”-Book Briefs
- “Tiffany Daune’s SURFACE was a fun and fantastical debut novel… Recommended for readers fourteen and older who enjoy fantasy and paranormal fiction, especially books with mermaids, sirens, or other creatures associated with water. ”The Musings of Almybnenr
- “I really enjoyed reading SURFACE by Tiffany Daune. I haven’t read a mermaid book before, but have a few on my TBR list. I found the writing style to be fantastic and so easy to read that the pages turned by themselves. The beginning was extremely intriguing and held me captive until the end. I am definitely a new fan of Ms Daune’s and can’t wait for her next book, LANDLOCKED in June 2013… There is so much to this book and it has everything you need for a fantastic series; intrigue galore, betrayal, love, secrets, hot boys, fun and mythical creatures…This book was a great introduction to the series and the world of the Artagasians; with such a unique mermaid tale, you can’t go wrong.”Turner’s Antics
- “The beginning of SURFACE was intense; grab the edge of your seat introduction to a wonderfully written fantasy… Overall I liked being able to immerse myself in a different setting than the vampire, werewolves and fae worlds I’ve been stuck in. There is such a great concept behind the rules of the mythical beings on the land and in the water, it all started because of one incident long ago (which I won’t spoil). There are so many secrets that I just didn’t know what was going to pop up next. The ending leaves the reader at a perfect point to continue with the next installment, I’m curious as to what Theia will do now after the choice that has been forced on her by the Artagasians. If you love myths, mermaids, suspense and of course romance, you want to add this to your wish list a.s.a.p.”Seeing Night Review
- “The terminology and background in SURFACE is magnificent. There are so many terms and so much history to learn to this world and I found this was the best part of the novel. It is so original.”Reader in Wonderland
- “I loved every second of SURFACE. I read way to fast. I didn’t want it to end. I will be picking up more books by Tiffany Daune.”Nikki’s Book Blog
- “I have to say, I don’t read many books on sirens but when I do, I am rarely disappointed. This book was no exception to the fact…If you aren’t a mermaid fan, I recommend you read this (SURFACE) because you may just change your opinion on the mermaid mythology. I’m surprised this genre hasn’t blown up yet!”Manhattan Reader
- “There is quite a bit of romance in this book which I loved. Theia and Luc have an intensity to them and their feelings for each other developed at a cracking speed. But Luc is seriously so sweet and loving and protective it’s no wonder that Theia fell hard and fast… I’m not sure if SURFACE will be a part of a series of books, but I really hope that there is at least a sequel. I would love to know what the future holds for the characters. And also have the opportunity to read more from Tiffany Daune.”YA Book Addict
- “Wow…SURFACE was an incredibly inventive story! It managed to completely change and redefine what both Sirens and Mermaids are…and described a completely different and mysterious species that I had never heard before! The mythology in the story was extremely well defined and was incredibly descriptive, which was even more impressive because it was a relatively short book. It was also very faced paced and addictive!:)”Burning Impossibly Bright
- “I found SURFACE to be an intriguing story. I enjoyed the concept of the Artagasians it’s interesting to see a new take on underwater beings and mermaids alike. I think the way the author captures the mermaids is unique it feels real. The way the story flows along is smooth and for me I had a hard time putting SURFACE down I wanted to know what would happen next. ..I would love about the Artagasians and Sirens, the author gives hints at future book but I’m not sure. I also like that Surface is a clean story that younger teens as well as adults will enjoy getting caught up in the underwater world.”The Reading Diaries
- “The story was wonderful and it really is a must read for me. I love the cover. It really pulls you in and makes you want to read this book without giving too much of the story away. I loved the mythology and all the different story lines that were going on within the book. (Don’t worry it’s not confusing) This was a great stand alone or an even better series. If you haven’t read this book you really should. The author did a wonderful job creating an entirely new world with creatures you have never heard of and Surface will leave you breathless!”The Witchy Contessa
- “Looking for action, adventure, romance? SURFACE has a little bit of it all. I would have loved to stay beneath the sea longer to learn more about the Artagasians, but look forward to seeing more when LANDLOCKED comes out this summer. The concept of Sirens and the abilities coursing through their blood was innovative; I haven’t seen this before in mermaid lore, and you know I’ve read a lot of these books. The Artagasians also have unique abilities I haven’t encountered previously, and the fact that they have legs and not fins reminds me of FATHOMLESS by Jackson Pearce. I would love to learn more about this in the future as well. Artagasians are separated from mermaids in SURFACE, and the mermaids are more like unintelligent animals, at least in the glimpse we’ve currently seen of them. They’re vicious and brutal, which is how I genuinely feel that wild mermaids would actually be. They remind me more of the deepsmen from IN GREAT WATERS by Kit Whitfield or the larva from Sara Porter’s Lost Voices trilogy (LOST VOICES, WAKING STORMS). They are darker, scarier, and I hope to see them again in more details come LANDLOCKED.”The Backwards Story
- “The plot was engaging with its romance, danger, betrayals, and twists. It kept my interest from the beginning, and I’m curious to find out what happens next.”-What’s Beyond Forks
- “I am so excited to see if this story is going to have a sequel. It was so good! If it is a stand alone, I can live with how it ended, but I would love to see these characters again and have a much more concrete ending!”
- – Ladybug Storytime
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