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(Originally published on Instagram, @makiialucier)

One of the great pleasures of writing Dragonfruit was in choosing my character and place names, because they are island names. I didn’t limit myself to any one island or region. They come from all over the Pacific, beautiful, unique names. I’ve shared a few below. (The island kingdom of Tamarind is named after a favorite childhood snack, by the way. The tamarind seed. And Garapan comes from a village on the Northern Mariana island of Saipan, where I was born.) ♥️ DRAGONFRUIT will be on bookshelves April 9, 2024.



Anaa
Catamara
Chesa
Emere
Fetu
Gafao
Garapan
Hanalei
Isko
Jejomar
Kalama
Liko
Moa
Nominomi
Oke
Oliana
Olifat
Penina
Piti
Papeete
Rakakala
Rona
Salamasina
Saudeleur
Tamarind
Taga
Tarisso
Vaea
Viti

(Originally posted on Instagram, @makiialucier)



Sometimes I write about plague. Sometimes I write about seadragons. 😍 I am delighted to share the cover of my next YA fantasy, Dragonfruit, coming your way 4.9.24. Thank you to illustrator @mynameistran and designer @mollyfehr for their brilliant work. I had hoped for a cover that would capture the beauty and spirit of the Pacific islands, and I think it turned out perfectly (there are canoes in her hair!!).

What’s inside DRAGONFRUIT:

*A seadragon scholar
*A stressed-out prince
*Villains everywhere
*Sand
*Sea
*Fruit bats

More soon. Thank you for adding Dragonfruit to your "want to read" lists!