Hello everyone and welcome to my stop on the Escapist Book Tours virtual book tour for Leslie Griffin’s Epic Fantasy novel Of Water and Dance! Today, I am excited to help kickoff the tour by sharing an interview with the main characters of the book!
You can find our interview below, along with all of the info about the book, the author, links to purchase a copy of Of Water and Dance for yourself, and a chance to win a copy in our giveaway! Also, be sure to take a look at the schedule here or at the top of the post and follow along to see the stops from our other awesome hosts!
Book Information:
Of Water and Dance by Leslie Griffin
Series: The Golden Twins Series #1
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Intended Age Group: Adult
Pages: 470
Published: June 7, 2022
Publisher: Self Published
Blurb:
The forest is impenetrable. Mortals do not dare enter and the ancient Gods residing within cannot break free. In this stagnant, earthen prison they’ve waited, and one-by-one they’ve suffocated. But when a Leviathan is found slumbering deep inside a mountain and a Priestess’ destiny is fulfilled, her decision between four different fates ricochets through time and leaves a crack in the wall that separates the realms of mortals and Gods.
With this fissure an unlikely web of people have found themselves intertwined.
A pair of golden colored siblings born with an ancient, forgotten magic in their veins.
A middle-aged Prince dying from the poisoned blood of his family’s false rule.
A Sergeant whose abilities on the battlefield unwittingly released a dark, immortal secret from within himself.
At the core of their improbable alliances is a secret long buried in stone. A secret that could change the bleak landscape of their home back into the fertile land it once was. But every secret has its price, and in order to expose this one time must shift, and one of them will have to die in consequence.
See Also:
“Have fun storming the castle!” • “The things we lose have a way of coming back to us, if not always in the way we expect.” • “Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.”
Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B3JT7Q9N
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/of-water-and-dance-leslie-griffin/1141802037
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/books/of-water-and-dance/9781088038925
Character Q&A
What music do you listen to?
Evengel: “If I can dance to it, that’s all that matters.”
Raeve: Nods in agreement. “If she can dance to it, I’ll listen.”
Castor: “I’m sorry, did you say something?”
What are 3 items you can’t live without?
Alastor: Scratches chin. “No sure, but I can tell you what I COULD live without. Politics, the Coven, and my personal stalker over there.”
Vide: Shoots Alastor a look. “We used to be friends.”
Alastor: “So long ago that I can’t remember anymore.”
Vide: Grins. “Ah. The antics we used to get up to a few thousand years ago.” Looks at Alastor with malice. “Perhaps we should enjoy just one more antic, for old time’s sake.”
Alastor: Eyes him dubiously. “I’d rather not.”
Vide: “Why?”
Alastor: “Because we’re not—”
Vide: “Friends?”
Alastor: Glares.
If you were stranded on a deserted island, what is one thing you’d like to have with you?
Andy: Lights a cigarette. “Mary.”
Raeve: Eyes widen as he glances between his sister and best friend.
Mary: “That would be both the first and best vacation of my life.”
Raeve: Scoots his chair away from them.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Clotho: Tries to untangle the ball of yarn in front of her. “This damn yarn.”
Lachesis: Purses her lips as she weaves.
Aisa: Nods at her sisters. “These two.”
What do you do in your free time?
Prince Bane: Leans back in his chair as he folds his arms across his chest. “Try not to die… yet.”
Maeuveen: Watches Bane with one eye. “Keep this one alive.”
What makes you want to get out of bed in the morning?
Craic: Mouth twitches. “The pull from the dead.”
Myra: Picks at her nails.
What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Castor: Glances at Maeuveen. “Destiny cannot be changed. Fate, however, is very malleable if you know where to find her.”
Maeuveen: Smiles. “Destiny is achieved only when you believe it to be done. To lose hope is to succumb.”
Prince Bane: Watches Castor and Maeuveen with interest. “Every action has a purpose, the reaction.”
What do you carry in your bag?
Evengel: “I don’t have a bag.”
Raeve: Snorts. “Nor shoes.”
Evengel: Grins wickedly.
Castor: Clears his throat as he tries not to look at his sister and Raeve flirting. “I uh… have a few pieces of dried meat.”
What’s your favorite animal?
Raeve: Taps the side of his head. “Hawk.”
Andy: Takes a drag from his cigarette. “Hawk.”
Myra: Eyes the two men. “Raven.”
Maeuveen: “Agreed. Raven.”
All four turn to look at Craic.
Craic: Long pause. “You just HAD to ask that question didn’t you?”
What do you think about [other MC(s)]?
“What do you think about Evengel?”
Evengel looks over at Raeve.
Raeve: Squirms. Nods at Castor. “You first.”
Castor: “She’s my twin, my other half.”
Maeuveen: “A mystery not even my eye can behold.”
Prince Bane: Smiles. “She’s an enigma.”
Lachesis: “The reason we weave again.”
Alastor: “She reminds me of someone…”
Myra: Blinks.
Craic: “The only person who’s truly seen me.”
Andy: “A mesmerizing dancer.” Looks at his best friend. “Your turn.”
Raeve: Fidgits. Mumbles.
Andy: “Didn’t catch that.”
Raeve: “I said…” fades off.
Andy: “Come again?”
Raeve: “I SAID I THINK I LOVE HER, OKAY?”
Do you have favorite saying?
Prince Bane: “Unto death.”
Uncomfortable silence.
Andy: Leans over to Maeuveen. “Is he always such a buzz kill?”
Maeuveen: “I wouldn’t know. I only just met him.”
What is your favorite holiday?
Myra: Leans forward. “What are… holidays?”
Alastor: “The Feast of Boar.”
Evengel: “Any festival or celebration where I can perform.”
If you could go anywhere in [the book’s world], where would you go and why?
Castor: Cocks his head. “Have you SEEN our world?”
Prince Bane: Suppresses a laugh.
Maeuveen: “The forest. I would like to see the place where the Gods still roam.”
Myra: “It’s bleak, trust me.”
What do you do to relax?
Raeve: Wrinkles his nose. “Our world is in chaos. War is waging, the crops are rotten, every day women are disappearing… there is not time to relax.”
Clotho: Raises her hand. “I like to weave.”
What is your favorite food?
Everyone looks at each other.
Andy: “What a rude question.”
…
Myra: “I don’t eat.”
What is your favorite season?
Castor: Looks at Evengel. “Do we have seasons anymore?”
Evengel: “Not really. Just varying shades of brown.”
Castor: “Right.” Nods. “Light brown then.”
How would you define happiness?
Mary: “I believe my brother would define happiness as when he’s—”
Raeve: “MARY!”
Evengel: Slowly stretches one leg out until her dress slips away.
Raeve: Blushes.
Prince Bane: Coughs as he looks away.
What are you passionate about?
Craic: “Tending to the dea—”
Myra: “That isn’t a passion. That is an obsession.”
Craic: “How are they different?”
Myra: “They just are.”
Raeve: Mutters. “Barely.”
Craic: “Myra is passionate about reminding me of my mistakes.”
Myra: Smiles. “No, I’m obsessive.”
Raeve: Scans the room for anything that could be used as a weapon. “We should hide all the stabby objects.”
Andy: “On it.”
How do you feel about your government?
Everyone looks at Prince Bane.
Prince Bane: “Well this just became very uncomfortable.”
Maeuveen: Smiles. “Well, I liked you as a ruler.”
Prince Bane: Nods.
Castor: Leans over to Maeuveen. “You don’t count. You don’t live in Edania.”
If you could change one thing about [the book’s world], what would it be?
Raeve: “No more war.”
Castor: “No more disease.”
Maeuveen: “No more hunger.”
Evengel: “No more hate.”
Prince Bane: “No more tyranny.”
Alastor: Clears throat. “Perhaps, we should give a more attainable answer.”
…
Andy: “More cigarettes.”
What’s your biggest secret?
Maeuveen: Shakes her head. “Now, how are we supposed to answer without baring ourselves to thousands of undeserving souls?”
What do you hate?
Myra: “Answering questions.”
Craic: “Loneliness.”
Raeve: “Whore houses.”
Aisa: “Stillness.”
Clotho: “All… these… damn… knots.”
Lachesis: Stares at the ceiling.
Evengel: “Separation from the people I love.”
Castor: “Nothing. Everything has a purpose.”
Maeuveen: “Unsolved mysteries.”
Alastor: Looks around for Vide. “Where’d that shithead go?”
Prince Bane. “Me.”
…
Andy: “Fuuuuuck.”
What’s your biggest fear?
Prince Bane: “Dying before I find a way to rectify what my ancestors fucked up.”
…
Clotho: “Suffocating to death in the forest.”
…
Alastor: “Being chained, without free will.”
…
Evengel: “My brother dying.”
…
Raeve: “Losing my focus.”
…
Maeuveen: Whispers. “Destiny.”
What do you think your best quality is?
Myra: Sighs dramatically.
Castor: “Each of us tries our hardest to do what we think is best.”
Raeve: “Agreed. Though, some here have been misguided in the past.”
Maeuveen: Peers at Raeve. “Is that a jab in my direction?”
Alastor: “I think that was meant for me.”
Andy: Eyes dart to Mary. “As long as it wasn’t meant for me…”
Evengel: Clucks her tongue. “Stop worrying. That statement was definitely meant for me.”
Prince Bane: Runs a hand over his head. “Actually, it may have been meant—”
Raeve: “ALL OF YOU!” He looks at each one before continuing. “Each and every one of you.”
…
Evengel: “He’s just grumpy because last night we didn’t get a chance to—”
Castor: Waves his hands. “Look! FIRE!”
How would you describe the world you live in?
(Answering as if it’s at the end of the first book)
Maeuveen: Smiles slowly. “Rebirth.”
Evengel: Looks at Maeuveen. “Reincarnation.”
Aisa: Takes a deep breath. “Evolving.”
About the Author
Leslie Griffin has a B.A. in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies and a minor in English from the University of Kansas. Over the years she has completed courses on herbalism, Seichim Reiki, and Registered Behavioral Technician training. She is passionate about early childhood development and education as well as teaching others about Autism Spectrum Disorder. Of Water and Dance is her first published piece of fiction, and she’s previously written articles on herbalism, gardening, self-sufficiency, and traditional medicine in Mother Earth Living Magazine.
Leslie is an avid PC gamer who first fell in love with Fallout 1 when she was in middle school. Currently you can find her playing Kynseed, Medieval Dynasty, Anvil Saga, Sacred Fire, and Ambition. She has two small children, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, two guinea pigs, three chickens, and a husband whose ADHD has brought home dozens of guitars and speakers, medal smithing equipment in the shape of lathes and smelters, enough art supplies to fill a museum, and more DIY solutions than she thought possible.
Their family motto is: Sharesies! & “It takes as long as it takes.”
Finally: Leslie Griffin is a hat-stall between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor, eventually landing her in the Hufflepuff House.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeslieDianeG
Instagram: https://instagram.com/LeslieDianeG
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeslieDianeG
Website: https://www.lesliedianegriffin.com/
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