Book One
Dianne Lynn Gardner
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.
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/EkSwqips0D0
Available at Amazon
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.
Dianne is an author and illustrator of YA adventure fantasy with a dab of historical
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
Blog https://diendrial.wordpress.com/
Twitter @DianneGardner
Rebel Mouse https://www.rebelmouse.com/DianneGardner/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Pouraka
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DianneLynnGardner
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6473931.Dianne_Lynn_Gardner
Amazing Stories Magazine
http://amazingstoriesmag.com/authors/dianne-lynn-gardner/
1 ebook copy of Sasha which introduces the story.
5 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
Character Name: Cora
Character Bio: I was born and raised in Pouraka, probably the most beautiful sea cavern in the whole world. That’s what my brother Ko would tell me. He’s been everywhere. I’ve never been beyond the bay, well, at least not until I met Tas. I look just like the other Pouraka mers. Dark hair, my scales are blue green and sometimes in the sunlight they’ll glisten with pinks and golds. I mind my own business for the most part. If I socialize it would be with my brother and his friends. The mermaids gossip a lot and I’m not really all that good with basket making so I don’t spend a lot of time with them. I do have one girlfriend, Beth. She’s human. She lives in Barnacle Bay and I see her whenever I dip into the magic pools and take on human form. I really like Beth a lot. She teaches me things I would never know if I didn’t walk among humans.
Describe yourself what is your worst and best quality?
I think my best quality is that I’m a strong swimmer though Radcliff, my cousin would argue with you. My worst quality is that I’m impatient.
What is the one thing you wish other people knew about you?
I wish they knew how much I love people (humans), and respected how I feel about them. Some of the mers think all men are bad, and though I know there are some that are, still, judging them the way they do just isn’t right. There are good people too.
What is your biggest secret something no one knows about?
My biggest secret is that I regret being a mer sometimes.
What are you most afraid of?
Oh, I’m terribly afraid of taking that ultimate change that Ko and Tas talk about. You see, mers can change into human form and change back again. But they can also change into a dolphins. I love dolphins, don’t get me wrong. They are our guardians and are very kind and sweet. But I don’t want to be one. Once you change to a dolphin, you can never change back and that terrifies me.
What do you want more than anything?
To be with Tas forever. I just want to be with him forever and ever.
What is your relationship status?
Tas and I love each other. But he comes from a clan that was badly mistreated by men, so his feelings toward them is so different than mine. I’m afraid we’ll never agree. It’s okay to have differences in a relationship, but when it comes to whether we can trust humans, whether he approves my visits to Barnacle Bay, whether or not he can trust the people I trust, it splits us apart. I wish something would happen to where he’d see the good in people.
How would you describe your sense of fashion?
Oh, well, I love Beth’s cloths. And when I change to human form my scales take on these really pretty sequin blouses and pants. Beth helps me with my hair and make up when I visit. She knows all about fashion.
How much of a rebel are you?
As meek as I might sound sometimes, I’m pretty obstinate when it comes to getting what I want. No merman is going to tell me to stay put, and I’ll stand up to my cousin in a hot tick.
What do you considered to be your greatest achievement?
Rescuing Tas.
What is your idea of happiness?
Being in Tas’ arms. There’s nothing sweeter than being held by him and swimming with him.
What is your most treasured possession?
I have a necklace of rainbow coral that my brother Ko made for me when I was younger. I will always treasure it.
What is your most marked characteristic?
I don’t know. Tas says I have dimples when I smile.
What is it that you, most dislike?
I am not very fond of mermen thinking they are so much better than mermaids.
Which living person do you, most despise?
That awful man named Tom. He’s a wretched excuse for a living being!
What is your greatest regret?
That I couldn’t save my brother.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Compassion. I think mermen and men, no matter how strong they are, they need to be compassionate towards others.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
The same, although most mermaids and women I know are compassionate. I think it comes from having children, or kindermers.
Who is your favorite hero in fiction?
Fiction? I can’t read.
Which living person do you most admire?
Tas. J
If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
I wish I were more capable of defending myself and my friends. We’re so vulnerable.
What is your motto?
Live and let live in peace and harmony.
This sounds like a very cute and interesting read:)
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