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Monday, April 3, 2017

Given to the Sea Blog Tour: Mindy McGinnis on Writing In The Raw!




Publisher: Putnam's Childrens
Pub Date: April 11th 2017
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
Khosa is Given to the Sea, a girl born to be fed to the water, her flesh preventing a wave like the one that destroyed the Kingdom of Stille in days of old. But before she’s allowed to dance – an uncontrollable twitching of the limbs that will carry her to the shore in a frenzy – she must produce an heir. Yet the thought of human touch sends shudders down her spine that not even the sound of the tide can match.

Vincent is third in line to inherit his throne, royalty in a kingdom where the old linger and the young inherit only boredom. When Khosa arrives without an heir he knows his father will ensure she fulfills her duty, at whatever cost. Torn between protecting the throne he will someday fill, and the girl whose fate is tied to its very existence, Vincent’s loyalty is at odds with his heart.

Dara and Donil are the last of the Indiri, a native race whose dwindling magic grows weaker as the island country fades. Animals cease to bear young, creatures of the sea take to the land, and the Pietra – fierce fighters who destroyed the Indiri a generation before – are now marching from their stony shores for the twin’s adopted homeland, Stille.

Witt leads the Pietra, their army the only family he has ever known. The stone shores harbor a secret, a growing threat that will envelop the entire land – and he will conquer every speck of soil to ensure the survival of his people.

The tides are turning in Stille, where royals scheme, Pietrans march, and the rising sea calls for its Given. 
Mindy McGinnis is an Edgar Award-winning author and assistant teen librarian who lives in Ohio. She graduated from Otterbein University with a degree in English Literature and Religion, and sees nothing wrong with owning nine cats. Two dogs balance things out nicely.
Connect with Mindy: Website | Twitter | FB | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest | Tumblr 

I think truly compelling fiction is incredibly realistic, whether it's set on a spaceship or in your own backyard. A book that makes the reader gasp for breath because they've just been emotionally gut-punched is real, and it doesn't matter that we're talking about things that never happened to people that don't exist.

It's those gut punches that I go for in every book I write. Whether I'm letting the reader in on some horrific practices in early insane asylums, showing a nine-year-old child defending her water source in order to survive in a parched world, or giving vent to the very real and often ignored world of female rage, I try to bring real life into every page.

I think this is true of my fantasy, GIVEN TO THE SEA, as well. Yes, the setting is foreign, but the people are like us - people. They are in extraordinary situations - whether asked to give their own life for the continuation of others', take their assumed place in the family tree, whittle the weak from their population in order to give strength to the whole, or fated to carry the last blood of a dying race - these are people that face struggles most of us can relate to in our own way. And if none of that strikes a chord, there's always the tried-and-true unrequited love that we all know (probably a little too well).

If you know anything about my writing, you probably know that SEA will make you cry at some point, cringe at others, and hopefully laugh once or twice.

Most importantly, it's going to feel real.

Brittany: Thank you so much for this wonderful guest post, Mindy! :)

Week One
April 3 – Brittany’s Book Rambles – Author Guest Post
April 4 – Tales of the Ravenous Reader – Reasons to Read Mindy’s Books
April 5 – Mundie Moms – Review & Favorite Quotes
April 6 – SuperSpaceChick – Given to the Sea Book Look
April 7 – Fiction Fare – Author Q&A

Week Two
April 10 – Alexa Loves Books – Bookish Style File
April 11 – Good Choice Reading – Author Q&A
April 12 – Oh the Book Feels – Given to the Sea Pinterst Board
April 13 – Bookworm Everlasting – Review
April 14 – Dark Faerie Tales – Author Q&A

Week Three
April 17 – The Young Folks – Author Q&A
April 18 – Once Upon a Twilight – Review
April 19 – The Hardcover Lover – Given to the Sea Mood Board
April 20 – Bibliophile Gathering – Review
April 21 – YA Wednesdays – Author Guest Post

Enter for a chance to win one (1) of five (5) copies of Given to the Sea by Mindy McGinnis (ARV: $17.99 each).

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM Eastern Time on April 3, 2017 and 12:00 AM on April 24, 2017.  Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about April 26, 2017. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

43 comments:

  1. This book sounds so good and the cover is gorgeous. If I wasn't convinced that I need this book prior to reading the guest post, I'm definitely convinced after her description of "gut punch". I'm totally sold now :-)

    Thanks to you, and the other tour hosts, for the chance!

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    1. This book sounds amazing and I absolutely love the cover. I'm so glad Mindy's guest post has further conviced you to read Given to the Sea.

      Thanks for stopping by, and good luck on the giveaway!

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  2. I'm so excited for Given to the Sea! I read the Female of the Species and it was amazing so I hope it lives up to it :)

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    1. Female of the Species was one of my favorites last year! I hope you love Given to the Sea just as much!

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  3. I loved The Female of the Species, so I'm definitely reading this!

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    1. I also love The Female of the Species! I hope you enjoy reading this one just as much.

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  4. Now I'm even more excited to read this. I have a copy from Penguin First to Read and will be getting to it late next week. Wonderful feature and I love the cover!

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    1. That's awesome! I hope you love it! The cover is gorgeous and Mindy is a rockstar. Thanks for stopping by ^_^

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  5. This book sounds great, especially after reading this post. I cannot wait to read this book!

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    1. I always love Mindy's guest posts, they're the best! I hope you love Given to the Sea.

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  6. Looking forward to reading Given to the sea! I love the cover. Thank you

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    1. I love the cover and I hope you love Given to the Sea. Thanks for stopping by!

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  7. The cover is so beautiful and I've had it on my TBR for awhile. Thanks for sharing the author's thoughts!

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    1. It's always a pleasure to share Mindy's posts, I just love the way she writes period. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you love Given to the Sea.

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  8. Okay this one totally has me curious. I'm also in agreement with the author. It is that touch we connect to that makes it real for us.

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    1. Mindy really has a way with words, and I hope you're curious enough to check out Given to the Sea! Thanks for stopping!

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  9. Wonderful guest post. This book was one of my WoW picks a few months ago and I seriously can't wait to read it.

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    1. I hope you love Given to the Sea! I always love Mindy's guest posts.

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  10. I loved this guest post and for some reason it makes me want to read more books by the author. I thought I hadn't read any books of her yet but then I remembered I read (and loved) A Madness So Discreet. :)

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    1. Mindy is amazing and I can basically guarantee that you won't regret reading her work. She is an amazing author and person. I hope you check out Given to the Sea, I also highly recommend The Female of the Species.

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  11. I absolutely loved reading this guest post! Mindy McGinnis is one of my favorite authors, so I'm super excited to read this book!

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    1. Reading Mindy's guest posts is always a joy for me. I hope that you love Given to the Sea!

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  12. I love Mindy and can't wait to read this book. She so honest and it's beyond refreshing. I love her blog and I really enjoyed reading her guest post.

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    1. YES! I agree with everything you said. Thanks for stopping by!

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  13. I love the cover! I can't wait to read this book!

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  14. I'm certainly excited to learn more of this one, off to Goodreads to check it out. I like the sound of it though!

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    1. I'm so glad that you're going to check it out! I hope you added Given to the Sea to your TBR!

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  15. Love the cover and the author is well know for writing good books so I am excited.

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    1. She definitely is, I hope you check out Given to the Sea!

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  16. Cool guest post!!! I've been wanting to read a book that makes me cry for ages!
    Kariny @kariny's boox frenzy

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    1. Mindy writes the best guest posts, and Mindy is good at making people cry believe me!

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  17. This book sounds so cool! Sadly I don't live in the US and can't participate but it seems like a really enjoyable read and I absolutely adore the cover!

    xx Anisha @ Sprinkled Pages

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    1. You can still read it when it comes out though, and I hope you do! Mindy is an amazing author. Thanks for stopping by!

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  18. I love Mindy's books. They are so unique and you never know how things will turn out. The Female of the Species was a very mind blowing read.

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    1. I couldn't have said it better myself! I love The Female of the Species! I think that book should be taught in schools, it's so important in the rape culture conversation. I hope you love Given to the Sea!

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  19. I'm excited for this book! I follow Mindy on social media and I know she does a lot of research for her books, and is also very well read. I'm sure this will be fantastic. Thanks for the post, and for hosting. :)

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    1. It's really clear in everything she says how well researched and well read she is, I hope that you enjoy Given to the Sea!

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  20. Okay so I LOOOOVED reading this post from Mindy because she is one of my favorite authors of ever. And in Given to the Sea, YES, she did make me feel every one of those things she set out to do! So I am even more impressed than I already was, which is a lot hahah. Thanks for sharing this, Brittany and Mindy!! :D

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    1. Mindy is an amazing author! I'm so glad that you enjoyed Given to the Sea! Thanks for stopping by ^_^

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  21. I've never read a book by Mindy! I saw this book last year (trying to remember where but can't) and remember thinking I wanted to read it. That cover lures in anyone!

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  22. Lovely tour post Brittany :D Thank you for sharing about this book. <3 Hugs. I do like that cover :D But probably never reading this book, lol. But it do sound interesting too.

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  23. Mindy McGinnis is one of my favorite authors. The Female of the Species is one of my favorite books ever. Her writing is super raw and real. I love her voice so much!

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