The Divine Heart
Danielle R. Mani
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publisher: Crooked Cat Publishing
Date of Publication: September 27, 2017
Number of pages: 180
Word Count: 58,000
Tagline: Elle spent her life waiting for someone else to die…
Book Description:
Seventeen-year-old Elle Collins spent most her life waiting for someone else to die…
When a heart donor is found, Elle awakes from surgery gifted with more than just a new heart—clairaudient messages and spiritual apparitions haunt her until she is convinced that she must be insane. Either that, or her donor is sending a message.
Desperate for answers the medical community can’t provide, Elle’s divination leads her to the family of her donor—a young girl named, Cas. With the help of her best friend, Rob—the guy who’s a testament that her new heart is capable of love, Elle must make sense of the clues Cas is sending.
As pieces of Cas’s life and death emerge, Elle will discover that she and Cas share more than just a heart.
Excerpt 1:
As I step under the
spray, the water hits my face in hard pellets. It feels good. Begrudgingly, I
reach down to grab a bar of soap. A sharp pain shoots down the left side of my
arm. For a moment, I feel paralyzed. My immediate thought is to yell for help,
but I can’t find my voice. I try to take a deep breath, but can’t. I crumple to
the tub and feel a strange, tingling sensation zip through my fingertips.
spray, the water hits my face in hard pellets. It feels good. Begrudgingly, I
reach down to grab a bar of soap. A sharp pain shoots down the left side of my
arm. For a moment, I feel paralyzed. My immediate thought is to yell for help,
but I can’t find my voice. I try to take a deep breath, but can’t. I crumple to
the tub and feel a strange, tingling sensation zip through my fingertips.
“Mom!” I let out a
bloodcurdling squeal in a voice I don’t even recognize.
bloodcurdling squeal in a voice I don’t even recognize.
My mother runs into the bathroom and slams the
shower door open.
shower door open.
“What is it?” She is
the color of her bleached white towels. “What’s wrong?”
the color of her bleached white towels. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s my heart!
Something is wrong. Call the hospital.”
Something is wrong. Call the hospital.”
“I’ll be right back!” She
runs out and I wait, helpless, as the running water beats down on my back. A
few seconds later, she returns, holding the phone, her hands shaking as she
dials 911. She soaks her sleeve reaching into the shower to turn off the
running water. The phone is on speaker and is wedged tightly between her face
and neck as she pulls me from the tub.
runs out and I wait, helpless, as the running water beats down on my back. A
few seconds later, she returns, holding the phone, her hands shaking as she
dials 911. She soaks her sleeve reaching into the shower to turn off the
running water. The phone is on speaker and is wedged tightly between her face
and neck as she pulls me from the tub.
“911, what’s the
emergency?”
emergency?”
“It’s my daughter! I think she’s having a
heart attack! I live at 42 Chauncy Way.”
heart attack! I live at 42 Chauncy Way.”
“We have an address for
you, Mam. An ambulance will there right away. Is your daughter breathing?”
you, Mam. An ambulance will there right away. Is your daughter breathing?”
“Yes, she . . . she has
a heart condition.” Kate rips our “show” towel off the rack and drapes it
around my arms and neck. She drags my limp body to the couch. I wish I had the
strength to help her.
a heart condition.” Kate rips our “show” towel off the rack and drapes it
around my arms and neck. She drags my limp body to the couch. I wish I had the
strength to help her.
“Ma’am, do you have any
aspirin in the house?” the voice on the line asks.
aspirin in the house?” the voice on the line asks.
“That’s
not going to help!” Kate shouts. “I’ll wait for the ambulance, but I need to
call her doctor now!” Kate ends the call.
not going to help!” Kate shouts. “I’ll wait for the ambulance, but I need to
call her doctor now!” Kate ends the call.
About the Author:
Danielle R. Mani is a fan of the paranormal in both print and film. In her first book, The Divine One, Ms. Mani combines supernatural fiction with the everyday dramas of young adulthood. Her newest YA paranormal novel, The Divine Heart, is scheduled to be released later this year. Ms. Mani holds a Bachelor of Arts in education and a Master of Science in communications. She is currently a doctoral student studying parapsychology. She resides in Westchester, New York, with her husband, four children, two dogs, and two rescue cats.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8141987.Danielle_R_Mani
Interview with Danielle R. Mani
Where do you get inspiration for your stories?
I am inspired by the many paranormal and supernatural shows that I have been watching since I was a kid. I also read a lot of non-fiction books, especially books that pertain to life after death.
How did you do research for your book?
The protagonist in my book has a severe heart condition and requires a heart transplant, so I conducted research on heart transplants and organ donor recipients. I also researched cases of people who experienced paranormal events after their transplant.
Do you have another profession besides writing?
Yes, I was an Account Executive at a public relations firm before changing careers to become a teacher. I taught elementary school for about seven years before leaving to start a family. I am currently a freelance writer and homemaker raising four kids and four fur babies (two cats and two dogs).
If you could go back in time, where would you go?
I would like to travel to the late 1800’s/early 1900’s. I am secretly obsessed with Little House on the Prairie and love the simplicity of their lifestyle. I adore animals and would love to live on a farm spending some of my day riding horses, fishing, and making things by hand.
What is your next project?
I am working on another paranormal story (since it’s what I love) and I’m currently developing the idea for a really surprising plot twist!
Interview with Danielle R. Mani
Where do you get inspiration for your stories?
I am inspired by the many paranormal and supernatural shows that I have been watching since I was a kid. I also read a lot of non-fiction books, especially books that pertain to life after death.
How did you do research for your book?
The protagonist in my book has a severe heart condition and requires a heart transplant, so I conducted research on heart transplants and organ donor recipients. I also researched cases of people who experienced paranormal events after their transplant.
Do you have another profession besides writing?
Yes, I was an Account Executive at a public relations firm before changing careers to become a teacher. I taught elementary school for about seven years before leaving to start a family. I am currently a freelance writer and homemaker raising four kids and four fur babies (two cats and two dogs).
If you could go back in time, where would you go?
I would like to travel to the late 1800’s/early 1900’s. I am secretly obsessed with Little House on the Prairie and love the simplicity of their lifestyle. I adore animals and would love to live on a farm spending some of my day riding horses, fishing, and making things by hand.
What is your next project?
I am working on another paranormal story (since it’s what I love) and I’m currently developing the idea for a really surprising plot twist!
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