[Day Fourteen of 31 Days] Giveaway + Author Interview: Tiffany Dominguez, author of Elemental

It's Day 14 of the 31 Days, and for today, Tiffany Dominguez is visiting The Fairytale Nerd for an author interview and a giveaway! Tiffany is the author of the book Elemental.

This is the part where I say something clever or interesting about myself. Like "in high school, a boy sacrificed a camel for me." Or "I can juggle three monkeys at a time." One of those is true.

Okay, so this next part is real. Maybe. I won a contest in the fifth grade for reading the most books in the entire school. I love anything with a good romance story and a strong female character. I used to read the Sweet Valley Twins and the Babysitter's Club (does anyone still know what those are?). Also a lot of Nancy Drew. Now I read everything Young Adult and post reviews on my blog. My favorite authors are Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games & Gregor Overlander), Martine Leavitt (Keturah and Lord Death), Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird), Juliet Marillier (Seven Waters series), Cinda Williams Chima (the Demon King series), Nancy Turner (These is My Words) Julie Kagawa (Iron Fey series), Jane Austen (of course!) and finally Cameron Dokey (fairy tale retellings). I also thoroughly enjoy Paranormalcy by Kiersten White. But I read everything, really. Become my goodreads friend and you'll see.

So, other than fantasizing about learning how to fight (see all my main characters), I garden and eat a lot. I also have a gourmet cooking blog, since I obviously can't pick just one hobby. I have three girls (yes, three!) and one day, they'll learn how to fight villains and make grown men swoon.

Stalk Tiffany here: Blog

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Welcome to The Fairytale Nerd! how are you today?
Urg! Very busy. Hating anything that distracts me from reading or writing.

So for the first question, tell me about your book.
Elemental is rather unusual for YA in that it is a very high-concept book. It takes on big stakes and keeps the tension high through fast pacing and romantic conflict. Hidden within the Blue Ridge Mountains, an elite private school trains students born with the Elemental powers of Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Luke Huntington, Earth Elemental, is tired of incompetent teachers, easy classes and most of all, competing with Eva Sarantos. Soon-to-be valedictorian Eva, Air Elemental, has trained for years for the chance to prove herself to her advisor, to the Council and to the infuriating Luke. In spite of their tricky past, these two high school seniors are paired together on a covert mission for the ruling body of the Elemental world. After destroying an airplane hangar and watching one of their closest teachers die in their defense, the two students fly to Italy, pursued by an army of black-cloaked elitists. In Italy, they discover Luke’s ancient legacy, the secrets of two of the most powerful men in history and whether they can overcome their own tricky past to team up against a secret society gathering forces in the highest ranks of world leadership.

Why fairies?
I actually don’t have fairies, just Elementals. But I have to say, they are more down to earth (pun intended) and they can kick some serious butt. Eva can control the flow of air, including creating force fields and weather patterns. Luke, earth elemental, can rip out a forest of trees. You gotta love the water elementals, who can throw ice picks, create a bridge of ice and freeze people. Fire elementals have personalities to match their powers--cocky and fiery.

What is the message (from your books) that you want to convey to your readers?
I didn’t really write Elemental with the idea of integrating any kind of message, but I found out when I finished that I had: who you are and who you will be has something to do with where you came from.

What is the best part about being a writer? The worst?
The best part? Hmmm, getting to do what I love most in the world--create a story that I would love to read. In my pajamas. While drinking tea and eating chocolate.
The worst part? That there is NEVER enough time to write!

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Quirk? Eye twitches. What quirk?

What is your greatest extravagance?
The zillions of dollars I spent on books every year. And drinking sparkling cider straight from the bottle. Also, really comfortable socks.

What is the quality you most like in a man?
Pure adoration. And big romantic gestures.

Who is your hero in real life? What about in books?
I have lots of heroes but Suzanne Collins is one of my top five. I loved her Gregor Overlanderseries way before she even wrote The Hunger Games. Along that vein, Katniss is definitely one of the toughest female characters ever written. I also love Gen’s character in The Thiefseries by Megan Whalen Turner. He is absolutely brilliant. If you haven’t read that series, it’s one of those must reads.

The man who loves you or the man you love?
The man who loves me

Boxers or briefs?
Yikes. If I said he can wear whatever he wants as long as he’s hot, would that sound odd?

Shaken or stirred?
shaken

Viral epidemic or nuclear explosion?
Do I have to choose? I hate those questions! I always pose them to myself, you know, theoretically, and the answer is always disturbing.

Chocolate or vanilla?
Is that ever a serious question? Chocolate.

Fantasy or reality?
Is there a difference?

Blind or deaf?
Urg! Stop doing this to me!

Baked or fried?
Whatever tastes better.

Comedy or drama?
Romance!

Vampires or shifters?
Vampires are so last season, unless they are Damon from The Vampire Diaries. Shifters. And Elementals!

What's your next project?
I’m working on a Steampunk novel, set in the Victorian Era, with my toughest main character yet. She is the daughter of a duke who dons a disguise at night to break into the factory district and rescue the enslaved children working there. When her papa informs her she has been bartered off as a bride to the ruler of a foreign country, she must find a way to convince her papa to break the deal or be disinherited. And when one of the guards she nearly killed turns out to be sociopathic, she must also guard her family and the orphans she rescued from his obsession with her alter-ego.

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BUY

Elemental
by Tiffany Dominguez

Hidden within the Blue Ridge Mountains, an elite private school trains students born with the Elemental powers of Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Luke Huntington, Earth Elemental, is tired of incompetent teachers, easy classes and most of all, competing with Eva Sarantos. Soon-to-be valedictorian Eva, Air Elemental, has trained for years for the chance to prove herself to her advisor, to the Council and to the infuriating Luke. In spite of their tricky past, these two high school seniors are paired together on a covert mission for the ruling body of the Elemental world. After destroying an airplane hangar and watching one of their closest teachers die in their defense, the two students fly to Italy, pursued by an army of black-cloaked elitists. In Italy, they discover Luke's ancient legacy, the secrets of two of the most powerful men in history and whether they can overcome their own tricky past to team up against a secret society gathering forces in the highest ranks of world leadership.

And of course, there is a giveaway... Tiffany is giving away an eCopy of Elemental. So, fill out the form for a chance to win the eBook! 

Also, Tiffany has a new blog (Yay!), so let's make her feel welcome to the book blogging community, and follow her blog Scribble by Moonlight!