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Makiia Lucier

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“Five hundred dragoners to capture and kill. And t “Five hundred dragoners to capture and kill. And then there was Hanalei.” 🐉🌺🐉

The DRAGONFRUIT audiobook is narrated by Hawaii born actor and singer Mapuana Makia, who does such a brilliant job of bringing Hanalei’s story to life. You can find it in all the usual book places, including your neighborhood library. 🌺

Big bonus-Mapuana also happens to be 100% human and 0% Al. This author supports #HumanVoicesOnly in audiobook production and the arts in general, today and forever after. 🌺
I am so pleased to share that DRAGONFRUIT is a rec I am so pleased to share that DRAGONFRUIT is a recipient of the Wisconsin Library Association’s Elizabeth Burr Award, which honors the most distinguished work in children’s and young adult literature each year. ♥️ When I graduated with a library degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, I fully intended to become a children’s librarian. Life has its own plot twists, however, and, well, you can see what I ended up doing instead. 😊

I’m delighted DRAGONFRUIT continues to find readers throughout the U.S. and around the world. Thank you very much to the Children’s Book Awards Committee of the Wisconsin Library Association, including chair Hanna Collins, and to librarians across the state who have championed Hanalei’s story. I am deeply grateful. ♥️
Four years ago today. 🖤 Four years ago today. 🖤
Very early in the process, but we are so excited a Very early in the process, but we are so excited about the possibility of sharing DRAGONFRUIT with a wider audience. There are some incredible writers, producers, and actors working on this project, many of them Pacific islanders. (Holy cow and Hafa Adai!) Cross your fingers for us! I can’t wait to see what comes next. 🌺🐉🌺
A fun and busy week for school visits. ♥️ Thank yo A fun and busy week for school visits. ♥️ Thank you to Teen Community Engagement Librarian @ashylibrarian for the invite and for pulling it all together. We didn’t have author visits when I was in school, and it feels like a huge privilege to be invited in to chat about books and publishing and the big secret of writing (There’s actually no big secret. You just have to write it). 😩

The last two pics are of my newest prized possessions: an etching of the DRAGONFRUIT cover, and a sinister black dragon egg, both courtesy of Abbey and the @schaumlib. 🐉🖤
I’m heading to the Chicago area next week for scho I’m heading to the Chicago area next week for school visits. 🌺 I also have one event open to all, so if you’re in the neighborhood, come on by and say hello!

🐉An Author Visit w/Makiia Lucier🐉
Wed., Oct. 29th
6:30pm-8pm
Central Library/
@schaumlib 

There will be snacks!, conversation, and a book signing with limited free copies of DRAGONFRUIT available. (Maybe bring your own copy just in case you really want it signed. I’ll have my sharpie). Hope to see you there! 🌺

And please don’t mind the new book draft littering my floor. 👀
UK readers! You can preorder the paperback edition UK readers! You can preorder the paperback edition of DRAGONFRUIT for 25% off by entering the promo code OCTOBER25 at checkout. Valid through October 17th, link in my stories. 🌺

And if you need a DRAGONFRUIT refresher, here you go:

In the old tales, it is written that the egg of a seadragon, dragonfruit, holds within it the power to undo a person’s greatest sorrow. An unwanted marriage, a painful illness, and unpaid debt...gone. But as with all things that promise the moon and the stars and offer hope when hope has gone, the tale comes with a warning.

Every wish demands a price.

Hanalei of Tamarind is the cherished daughter of an old island family. But when her father steals a seadragon egg meant for an ailing princess, she is forced into a life of exile. In the years that follow, Hanalei finds solace in studying the majestic seadragons that roam the Nominomi Sea. Until, one day, an encounter with a female dragon offers her what she desires most. A chance to return home, and to right a terrible wrong.

Samahtitamahenele, Sam, is the last remaining prince of Tamarind. But he can never inherit the throne, for Tamarind is a matriarchal society. With his mother ill and his grandmother nearing the end of her reign, Sam is left with two choices: to marry, or to find a cure for the sickness that has plagued his mother for ten long years. When a childhood companion returns from exile, she brings with her something he has not felt in a very long time-hope.

But Hanalei and Sam are not the only ones searching for the dragonfruit. And as they battle enemies both near and far, there is another danger they cannot escape...that of the dragonfruit itself. 🐉🌺🐉
Taking a break from seadragons to talk about Spani Taking a break from seadragons to talk about Spanish flu. 🖤 I was surprised and delighted when @nwacademy.pdx invited me to talk about my first book, A DEATH-STRUCK YEAR, which is set here in Portland in 1918. The middle schoolers read the book over the summer, then participated in a scavenger hunt where they tracked down all the locations in the story (swipe for a look at their map project). ⭐️ It’s amazing! And they are too. Thank you very much to English teacher and dean Lisa Colombo for the invitation. 🖤
If you’re in the Portland area, you can find a sig If you’re in the Portland area, you can find a signed copy of YEAR OF THE REAPER in @multnomahvillagepdx. The (adorable!) Little Free Library is located right next to the flower shop. ♥️🖤♥️
It was a pleasure to spend Saturday morning in Eug It was a pleasure to spend Saturday morning in Eugene with librarians from @oasloregon, and to share the stage with Trudy and Will. We talked about many things, including inspiration and deadlines and a writer’s responsibility to young readers. It was a great chat! Thank you very much to @oasloregon for the invitation and the very warm welcome. ♥️
DRAGONFRUIT art detail from @blacksirencreates. Wh DRAGONFRUIT art detail from @blacksirencreates. What a beauty. 🌺♥️🌺
Goodbye for now, beautiful island. Grateful for ti Goodbye for now, beautiful island. Grateful for time spent with family, my cousin Reyna in particular. Love and apologies to everyone I missed. I promise not to wait another eighteen years before I come home again. ♥️

🦎cooking breadfruit in an underground oven, or umw 

🦎sunset rowers 

🦎canons on the beach 

🦎the Spanish governor’s palace-ruins 

🦎thatched roof

🦎a gift from Rey 

🦎last sunset
A very unexpected trip home. 🌺 *a warm welcome fr A very unexpected trip home. 🌺

*a warm welcome from old friends
 
*sand, sea, air

*hotel chickens

*geckos everywhere

*neighborhood pub

*the church in the south

*archbishop reserved parking

*popsicle colors

*handmade on Guam

*latte stones

*after the rain 

*always a pleasure to come home
Spent a wonderful day at the Marianas Festival her Spent a wonderful day at the Marianas Festival here in Oregon. I’ve never seen so many Guam flags or Hafa Adai t-shirts in one place; it was a beautiful sight. ♥️ It runs through tomorrow, so if you’re in the neighborhood, come visit and come hungry. I highly recommend everything, but especially @bbqsguam. We ordered the chicken kelaguen wraps, the empanadas, the shrimp patties, and the Bombest Fried Rice. (It really was the bombest). 🇬🇺♥️🇬🇺 

So much hard work went into planning this celebration of the heritage and traditions of the Pacific islands, and the people of the Marianas in particular. Thank you very much to the @marianasfestival for the hospitality. ♥️
This deadline appeared in my inbox, and I wanted t This deadline appeared in my inbox, and I wanted to make sure you saw it too. (I call this photo my terrified award speech photo). ♥️ Here’s the info from @literaryarts:

Literary Arts’ Oregon Book Awards (OBA) program honors the state’s finest accomplishments by Oregon writers who work in genres of poetry, fiction, graphic literature, drama, literary nonfiction, and literature for young readers.

Books must be published between September 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025. The award for Graphic Literature is biennial and will be awarded in 2026. 

Visit the Literary Arts website for the full guidelines, including separate guidelines and application for the award for Graphic Literature. OBA submissions close September 5, 2025!
Spotted at Powell’s. 🐉🐉🖤 Spotted at Powell’s. 🐉🐉🖤
My first ever attempt at making a lei po’o. It doe My first ever attempt at making a lei po’o. It doesn’t stay on my head long-the dahlias I brought are very floppy and unstable. 😊🌺 But I spent a great evening in wonderful company learning how it’s done. Thank you very much to @kalohcc for the hospitality! ♥️
I’ve been keeping my head down this summer trying I’ve been keeping my head down this summer trying to power through this draft (working title ‘In Over My Head’ 😬) but I wanted to post a quick reminder about Rose City Comic Con. As in, I will be there! And so will DRAGONFRUIT. I hope you’ll join me September 5-7 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. I’m so pleased to be a part of this year’s author lineup-swipe for a look at the amazing titles. I’ll share my panel details soon. In the meantime, I hope you’ll save the date! ♥️
Currently reading. Highly recommend. Currently reading. Highly recommend.
Happy Birthday to our sweet girl, who turns 22 tod Happy Birthday to our sweet girl, who turns 22 today! ♥️🥳♥️ We love you, Mia!
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