Dawn Metcalf's Blog, page 52

I Lie for a Living

I've been tagged by John Rea-Hedrick with the "Creative Writer" Award (via Michele Schusterman)! The challenge: to tell six outrageous lies and one truth about yourself then see who can guess the truth.

BWAHAHAHAHA!



The List of Egregious Lies & One Truth

1. I once used a fake ID to crash an after-party of Six Flags clowns.
2. I learned that mint mentos + Diet Coke can blow a hole in the wall about 2" deep.
3. Between Hartford, CT and Albany, NY is a public "teacup garden" that features fake, ivy-...

Do The Write Thing for Nashville: A Confession

I have a confession. *ahem* I, Dawn Metcalf, make clothespin dolls.

I glue pieces of pipe cleaner and fabric onto small cylindrical objects and dress them up like people. I sit with needlenose pliers and tweezers for sometimes hours at a time making costumes that are about 4" tall. I have kept this a deep, dark secret to anyone who hasn't been to my house and seen them taking over my cabinetry.

So why fess up now? I have willingly been outed and inspired with my humble contribution to Do The...

My Happy Mother's Day: Muppets, Lilacs & Floofy Kerchiefs

In case you didn't know, Jim Henson is my hero. I grew up on Sesame Street and sat through every movie, scouring little-known resources for old commercials and clips of Rowlf the Dog on late-night TV. My favorite movie is The Dark Crystal and I wanted desperately to work for Henson & Company as a writer or a miniaturist. When he died, many students wore black bands in mourning. (Harry Belafonte's singing at his memorial was one of the most inspirational salutes to a man I'd ever seen.)

So, yea...

My Happy Mother's Day

In case you didn't know, Jim Henson is my hero. I grew up on Sesame Street and sat through every movie, scouring little-known resources for old commercials and clips of Rowlf the Dog on late-night TV. My favorite movie is The Dark Crystal and I wanted desperately to work for Henson & Company as a writer or a miniaturist. When he died, many students wore black bands in mourning. (Harry Belafonte's singing at his memorial was one of the most inspirational salutes to a man I'd ever seen.)

So, yea...

Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty!

Yesterday, I drove home and noticed (almost too late) there was a turtle curled-up in the middle of the road. I drove carefully over it, aiming between the wheels and thought, "Well that was close..." but then I thought about it some more: that turtle was half-way across a fairly busy street and might not make it on its own. I turned the car around just in time to see the bus coming. There was nothing I could do to stop it, but fortunately the driver also carefully drove past the turtle so wh...

And the D100D Winner Is...

*rustling of envelopes*

And here to present the winner is the author herself, the very talented A.S. King!

*wild applause and excess hooting & howling*

I loved these entries! Thanks so much for playing! People who know me and my contests know I'm all about rules, so those of you who used constellations and not stars, better luck next time. :( Doesn't mean I didn't love your entry. Just that I'm a rule freak. (Yes, I know I'm a horrible person. But in a Miss Snark kind of way, so I'm sure you wi...

Spreading the Awesome: 10 Star Must Reads & Contest!

Remember Elana Johnson's awesome idea about Paying It Forward author interviews? Well, she didn't stop there! Today I'm joining-in on another of her inspirational kicks answering the question, "What 10 Star 'Must Read' Book Would You Like To Share With the World?" Of course, the hubbub that erupted after such a question left many an author dazed and confused; it was kind of fun seeing the same titles come up over and over again and then the death-match throw-downs about who was going to win b...

Do You ILL?

On #kidlitchat yesterday, I discovered something: not everyone's library is part of an inter-library loan system. I was honestly shocked. Naive little me took it for granted that if my library didn't have a particular book that I'm jonesing for that I could easily request it from anywhere in my state and it would be delivered to my library with an instant notification that it was there. My comments were met with dumbfounded envy.

I was struck with the desire to go give my library a hug.

Inter-...

A Lesson From Ren & Stimpy, Kenny Rogers & The Muppets

I love writing. I get to meet all sorts of great characters and see all sorts of new worlds where there is adventure, excitement, drama, melodrama, angst, biting wit, painful tenderness, and one or two surprises I never expected to come out of my brain. I'll confess: it's a rush. Writing all the way through to those magic words "The End" is the journey I'm most familiar with; writing with an audience in mind, especially one with deadlines and money, is something entirely new. It's a game-chan...

A Lesson From The Gambler

I love writing. I get to meet all sorts of great characters and see all sorts of new worlds where there is adventure, excitement, drama, melodrama, angst, biting wit, painful tenderness, and one or two surprises I never expected to come out of my brain. I'll confess: it's a rush. Writing all the way through to those magic words "The End" is the journey I'm most familiar with; writing with an audience in mind, especially one with deadlines and money, is something entirely new. It's a game-chan...