Dawn Metcalf's Blog, page 54

Paying It Forward with Guadalupe Garcia McCall

Welcome on Wednesday! This week I'm joining Elana Johnson's brilliant idea of Paying It Forward: author interviews about upcoming folks & books you *have* to check out! And I quote:

"This week I'm bringing in the big guns: People who've traveled down this long and winding road toward publication. Some of them already have book deals. Some have agents. Some have both. They've "made" it. I want to spotlight someone each day this week to hopefully inspire you, provide a beam of hope along your...

Paying It Forward with Colleen Ryckert Cook

Hey! We're back. If you haven't read already, this week I'm joining Elana Johnson's brilliant idea of Paying It Forward: author interviews about upcoming folks & books you *have* to check out! And I quote:

"This week I'm bringing in the big guns: People who've traveled down this long and winding road toward publication. Some of them already have book deals. Some have agents. Some have both. They've "made" it. I want to spotlight someone each day this week to hopefully inspire you, provide a ...

Paying It Forward with Maurissa Guibord

Hey! This week I'm joining Elana Johnson's brilliant idea of Paying It Forward: author interviews about upcoming folks & books you *have* to check out! And I quote:

"This week I'm bringing in the big guns: People who've traveled down this long and winding road toward publication. Some of them already have book deals. Some have agents. Some have both. They've "made" it. I want to spotlight someone each day this week to hopefully inspire you, provide a beam of hope along your way, and really...

Autism Awareness Challenge

Thanks to MundieMoms for pointing this out online; Pixie from Page Turners is hosting a contest for Autism Awareness Month. This not only appeals to me as something close to my heart, but also features a giveaway for one of my fellow Tenners' debut novel, Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly (ready for pre-order here)! Good deeds and good books? Who can say "no"? DON'T YOU SAY NO! This is a *great* idea for expanding your own definition of diversity and increasing empathy and understanding of your...

What I'm Working On Now...

I'm listening to the poll & re-familiarizing myself with a revision of a certain kidnapping tale.

Fave line in current WIP: "Clowns shouldn't kiss people in full makeup. It's weird."

:-)

Why Getting Published is like Waiting for Ice Cream

Ever get a taste for ice cream? There's dairy farm across the river that makes their own ice cream and it's a favorite local landmark. People come from everywhere to place their order with high school kids in tie-dye-T-shirts emblazoned with the farm's logo. Smooth, creamy ice cream. Mmmmm! The funny thing is that everyone has their favorite flavor, or toppings, or whether they're a cup, sugar cone, or waffle cone sort of person. Getting the perfect ice cream is highly personal and takes some...

In Awe of Us

I'm struck today that
Everyone is struggling with something painful and
Everyone has triumphed over personal adversity
Every day.

Because we're all still alive.

Writing Human Beings

There is an interesting discussion brewing at The Enchanted Inkpot – go check it out and I'll wait here.

♫ Hmm-mm-mmm...♫ *munches on cocoa-dipped cookie*

Welcome back! Aren't intelligent people fascinating? This particular discussion grew out of an online debate with fellow Inkies along with a lot of personal angel-wrestling as authors. Diversity is TOUGH, but Cindy Pon bravely asked good questions of "White" authors who wrote POC characters: why we did it and why we thought reflecting divers...

After "Happily Ever After"

I recently saw Disney's latest, "The Princess and the Frog" and while my husband lauded it as having that "old-fashioned feel" to the art and music that he remembered from his childhood, I was struck by something else. Besides the "Finally!" reaction of having a great African-American Disney heroine (along with all the merchandising, dolls, dresses, toys, music, games you could hope for the little girls everywhere), I was *thrilled* that audiences got a glimpse of exactly what happened after ...

Where Have All The Young Men Gone? : Guys In YA

I had a very interesting conversation last night with fellow author-folks, Adam Selzer and Heather Petty about guys in YA. Look at the section in your local bookstore: see many guys on the cover? Read some back copy: see much non-romance plot? We agreed that the market seems to clamor for "boys books" (the Gender Studies part of me shudders at the mere phrase) but marketing is geared mostly for girls. Boys "adventure/humor" is found mostly in MG, yet if we grab those supposedly reluctant read...