Monday, October 24, 2011

Dina Sleiman's "Dance of the Dandelion"


 Title: Dance of the Dandelion

 Publisher: WhiteFire Publishing


Cover blurb: Love's quest leads her the world over.

Dandelion Dering was born a peasant in the English village of Arun, but her soul yearned for another life, another world. One filled with color and music, with adventure and passion  . . . with more. Haunted by childhood memories, Dandelion determines to find a better existence than the life every peasant in the village contents themselves with. Even if her sweetheart William’s predictions prove true, and her journey leads straight to heartache.

From her sleepy hamlet to the intrigue of castle life, from the heart of London to the adventurous seas, Dandelion flees from the mistakes of her past, always seeking that something, that someone who will satisfy her longings.


Will Dandelion ever find the rhythm to her life's dance . . . or did she leave her chance for true love at home in Arun village?

1) How did this story come to you?
I first had the idea for this book in 2001. It was based roughly on a plot from an old Eugene O’Neil play where the heroine loses her true love in a war and spends the rest of the story looking for a man who can take his place. I combined this idea with the Biblical Greek definitions of love. Then I set it in medieval England to remove it from our current religious mindset and schisms. Et voila…Dance of the Dandelion was born.


2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
This book was a hard sell because of the medieval setting. Of course, when I wrote it I had no idea the time period would create a problem. Lots of agents and editors turned it down for this reason alone. However, they all seemed to agree that the writing was strong, so I didn’t give up. WhiteFire Publishing is a small press that specializes in hard to market books, so it was a perfect fit.


3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) For one thing, my nose is pierced. I wear a small crystal stud and a lot of people don’t even notice it.
2) My daughter is the cover model for my book. I had based the childhood version of the heroine on her years ago, so it was a wonderful blessing to get to use her for the photo shoot.
3) I’ve lead worship dance ministries for the better part of seventeen years.


4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Early next year I’ll have an inspirational nonfiction book coming out with WhiteFire that will take a deeper look into many of the subjects I cover in Dandelion, including freedom in Christ, intimacy with Christ, worship, and inner healing. The book is an unconventional mix of memoir, essay, poetry, even some short stories.


Currently, my agent is shopping a contemporary series I’ve written. This one is women’s fiction with a heaping helping of romance and a sprinkle of comedy. It features a veiled Muslim, a blonde ballerina, and a bi-racial hippie chick who search together for meaning and truth.

5) Parting comments?
I would say that while I’m still finding my genre niche as an author, there are some things you can always expect from me like authentic Christianity, inner healing themes, a focus on intimacy with Christ, and a lyrical style. My tagline is “Dance with Passion,” and I hope that comes through in all my writing.


6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://dinasleiman.com – blog and website
http://inkwellinspirations.com – group website
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1573808600 - facebook

18 comments:

  1. Please add my name!

    Sarah
    sarahsantanablogs@gmail.com

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  2. thanks for the chance to read dina's fabulous novel :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  3. I love the location and time period of this story!
    Many thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  4. I love the name for your character - Dandelion Dering. The story sounds wonderful. Your daughter looks beautiful on the cover. Like a free spirit.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  5. Thanks everyone. Can't wait for one of you to enjoy the book :)

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  6. Windy Cindy, it does my heart good to hear that someone else actually loves this time and place. Through our "Week of Dina" on my group blog, Inkwell Inspirations, I ended up making friends with a British history student who loves this time. She got a kindle this weekend and downloaded it right away. Then, to top it all off, turns out the story is set right where she lives in Sussex :) That one sounded like a God appointment to me.

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  7. Marybelle, thanks for all your kind comments. Christi does have that free spirited side. I was so excited that we caught it in this picture because it portrays Dandelion perfectly. Fortunately for me as a mom, though, she's a really good kid with a true heart for God and responsible too. I wouldn't want her getting into all the trouble that Dandelion does. Her free spirit comes out mostly in her drama and dancing and her occasional proclivity to wear crazy "get ups" as I call them :)

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  8. A hard sell? I love medieval fiction!
    twinwillowsfarm at gmail dot com

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  9. would love to win.
    nakiassgeorge@yahoo.com

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  10. love to be included in this book giveaway thanks

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  11. Sounds really good! I just love the cover! Thanks for the giveaway!

    Margaret
    singitm@hotmail.com

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  12. Dear Dina, How lovely that your daughter is on the front cover - it is a beautiful cover! I admire you for adding the 'inner-healing' aspects in your book, so needed for so many! I would love to read your 'Dance of the Dandelion' novel!! Your novel and your tagline to Dance with passion encourages me to dance more!! Thank you!!! :o)
    ~Dawn Adams
    daisyflower.adams@gmail.com

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  13. Yay!!! More medieval fans. Be sure to spread the word ladies. And for whoever doesn't win, the kindle version is only $3.03 right now. It's a great deal.

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  14. Dawn, yes, I love the inner healing elements. I had some there all along, but it was when I really incorporated them strongly into the climax that I got an agent and started getting some serious attention with this book. It was challenging sometimes to put them in medieval terms, but I think it all came together nicely.

    Now go forth and dance :)

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  15. I love reading books in different time periods. I learn a lot, and I may see things in a new light, not clouded by all the "stuff" in our world, today. Thanks for the chance to win a book.
    Linda
    dlarock (at) wolfenet (dot) com

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  16. That's exactly why I chose this time period, Linda. That's awesome.

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  17. I want a hard copy of this book so I can reread it again in a different format. Please pick me!

    joyfulhutch@msn.com

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  18. Michelle! I plan to send you one as soon as I get my box of them. It just hasn't arrived yet :) Michelle's been my single biggest supporter of this book.

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