BooksChatter: ℚ♫ Curses & Ash: Coral & Bone [2]

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Tiffany Daune to talk about Curses & Ash (20 January 2016, Jester Ink Press, 248 pages), a YA Urban Fantasy, book one of the Coral & Bone series.

“I couldn’t stop reading this book from the moment I clicked on the first page. The characters seemed so real and when I thought maybe at the end of the page I could put the book down, something incredible would happen and I’d have to keep going.

I absolutely loved Halen and of course who couldn’t love Dax? There was plenty of action and adventure and I loved all the magick as well. I hope there is more to come.

Coral and Bone is a book that I would most definitely recommend to all of my friends and any magick lover out there. You won’t be disappointed with this amazing read.” – Samantha Rivera for Readers’ Favorite

Author Q&A | Synopsis | Teaser | The Series | About the Author | Tour Stops

Hello Tiffany, welcome to BooksChatter!

We love music, so Tiffany Daune has shared with us her music playlist for Curses & Ash - enjoy!

What was the inspiration for Curses & Ash?

"The Coral & Bone series is filled with mermaids, shifters and otherworldly creatures. It's a story of love, loss and hope.

My writing is most influenced by the beloved stories I read as a child, such as Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid and C.S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I'm drawn to mystical realms and love it even more when magic collides with our world."

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"I don't usually see myself in my characters until I read the final and then it's like oh yeah, that sounds familiar.

Tage shares my smartassery and sarcasm, Halen my emotions, and Lina my fierce approach when it comes to protecting the one's I love.

Each setting is also influenced by my upbringing. I grew up near the ocean, then moved to the middle of a forest and even once lived on a boat. I moved a lot as a kid. I have a lot to draw from."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for Curses & Ash - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"The cover was created by the ever so talented Nathalia Suellen.

I first discovered her work on the covers of the Splintered series. I've since become a fangirl of everything she produces. If you love quirky dark characters, check out her site. She's also on Instagram. ;)"

Why should we read Curses & Ash and what sets it apart from the rest?

"Read what your love. If you're into magic, shifters, dragons and sirens, then this series might be a good fit for you.

The Coral & Bone series is a coming of age story, following one girl's epic journey of becoming the kickass young woman destiny intended for her."

Can you tell us something quirky about Curses & Ash, its story and characters?

"I almost deleted the realm of Etlis. The realm wasn't fitting in with the plot the way I wanted. Then one day over soup and sandwiches my son suggested I lock Etlis in flames. So I guess the real magic came from a simple lunch with my son."

Who would you recommend Curses & Ash to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"The Coral & Bone series is suitable for teens who love urban fantasy, but still appeals to fans of young adult fiction."

If you could / wished to turn Curses & Ash and the Coral & Bone series into a movie, who would be your dream team?

Lottery pick: James Cameron and Joss Whedon director collab. A girl can dream.

Halen ~ Hailee Steinfeld
Dax ~ Josh Hutcherson (His darker side)
Tage ~ Jena Malone
Ezra ~ Sota Fukushi

Gosh, I'd LOVE to see that collaboration!

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"I read, write and breathe YA."

What is your writing process?

"All I can say is there is a lot of drinking tea, mad scribbling and staring blankly at the carpet involved. Somehow a story evolves out of this process."

Ah! Finally I fellow tea drinker! ;-)
What is in store next?

"I'm currently writing book three (the title is still top secret) and working on a brand new series that I plan to serialize on Radish. Yup, you read that correctly—Radish. Radish is a new reading app I've been invited to write for. I'm super excited to join their team. I hope you will visit me there and check out all the other fantastic authors."

I'd love to... but as I checked it out it seems to be restricted to the Apple platform :-( What about the rest of us on Android and Windows???

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?

"My writing buddy is a bearded dragon named Norbert. He chills in the window beside my desk basking in the sun while I plot storylines. He also enjoys a good snuggle every now and then."