Friday, June 03, 2011

Spotted: Dawn Metcalf + Luminous Giveaway!

Hi everyone! This week’s spotted author is Dawn Metcalf, the author of the unique and wonderful Luminous! I had the opportunity to ask her a few questions about Luminous. I hope you enjoy this week’s interview! Oh and don’t forget to stick around for a giveaway!

How is Consuela different from the usual YA heroine?

LOL! Well, she's a Mexican American female who can remove her skin and walks around as a pearly skeleton for most of the book when she isn't wearing fire, air, water, or a flock of butterflies. Yeah, I'd say she's a little different from the usual YA heroine! For more subtle differences, she's a happy, faithful Catholic from a loving, two-parent family in northern Illinois and wears size 16 jeans. Oddly enough, you don't see THAT in your everyday fiction, either!

What legend/myths/stories inspired you in writing Luminous?

Well, there's obviously a lot of the Day of the Dead symbolism for Consuela Chavez, but I also borrowed from the Bible, specifically the binding of Isaac and the Exodus from Egypt, old Greek blessings/curses, totems and one type of Native North American ritual, old English folk tales and more modern superstitions about mirrors and teeth, ancient Ursu myths, and popular symbolism from Japanese anime. I like my stories to have at least a toehold in the stories that shape our reality.

How did you mold the world of Flow, in terms of its culture, its environment and its people?

The Flow is a "place between" that borrows bits and runs alongside our own. Since the Flow is "surreal" it has its own unique character, but the world of the Flow is largely dependent on the people who inhabit it. Since everyone brings along a bit of their world, their culture and experience, the Flow grows and changes with each added new person. It reminded me a lot of college where lots of different people come together from different parts of the world and create a class that is wholly unique. They all have a common goal, but have different approaches to getting there.

In this story, there are people from California, Illinois, Washington, New York, the rez, a Yeshiva, a trailer park, a lake cottage, and come from all sorts of ethnic, social, and religious backgrounds. Mash those all together with a fluid travel package and a sense of impending doom and you're getting an idea of what it's like in the Flow.
   
“Of all the archetypal teens with extraordinary abilities” who is your favorite? Why?

Oh, wow. Well, I guess one of the ones with the strangest powers is Sissy who can remove pieces of her body which still work independently of the whole. It's creepy and cool and has all sorts of nifty applications. She is fun and funny as well as serious and bossy. Sissy is the best best-friend. In a world where very little makes sense, it's nice to have someone like Sissy looking out for everyone.

Of course, I have a soft spot for Wish and Abacus but that is because my best friends were geeky, artistic guys. Go fig.

In writing Luminous, which part did you like best: beginning, middle or end? Why?

For me, I like writing endings best. They mirror the beginning and tie up all the loose ends (except those you want to keep open for future stories!) and they *complete* the narrative. There is a real satisfying feeling I get when I can type the words "The End" that doesn't compare to drawing open the curtains or traveling through the tale. In fact, I usually have to rewrite or cut the first 1-3 chapters of a first draft anyway and most of the hack-and-slashing of editing is in the middle so the end if often the most solid and gratifying. 


Thank you for sharing, Dawn! :)

*Photo credit to Robert Charles Photography

*CLOSED* Giveaway: A copy of Luminous *CLOSED*

As reality slips and time stands still, Consuela finds herself thrust into the world of the Flow. Removed from all she loves into this shifting world overlapping our own, Consuela quickly discovers she has the power to step out of her earthly skin and cloak herself in new ones-skins made from the world around her, crafted from water, fire, air. She is joined by other teens...moreAs reality slips and time stands still, Consuela finds herself thrust into the world of the Flow. Removed from all she loves into this shifting world overlapping our own, Consuela quickly discovers she has the power to step out of her earthly skin and cloak herself in new ones-skins made from the world around her, crafted from water, fire, air. She is joined by other teens with extraordinary abilities, bound together to safeguard a world they can affect, but where they no longer belong.

When murder threatens to undo the Flow, the Watcher charges Consuela and elusive, attractive V to stop the killer. But the psychopath who threatens her new world may also hold the only key to Consuela's way home.


Dawn’s publicist, Anna Jarzab at Dutton was generous to offer a copy of Luminous to one lucky reader here at Fragments of Life!

Rules:

Be a follower.
Leave your email address (so I could contact you if you win)
Open to US residents. (But if you’re an international reader and you have a US address that Dutton can send to, you can join!)
Ends on June 30, 2011!

Extra Entry (not required):

+2 Spread the word: twitter, sidebar, etc (leave link)



35 comments:

  1. This is lovely. Thank you!
    I follow through GFC- Chey
    and I tweeted right here- http://twitter.com/#!/ohaiitschey/status/76571175614029824

    Thank you again! Seems like a great read. :D
    mcrs_venin(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks so much!
    GFC follower
    +2 spread here http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/120880-spotted-dawn-metcalf-luminous-giveaway

    thegirlonfire27 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks so much! Sounds great :)
    follower

    +2 spread here
    http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/120883-spotted-dawn-metcalf-luminous-giveaway

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I want to read this book since the moment I discovered it. It sounds so different, I'm glad the heroine isn't the usual girl in YA.

    magabygc at gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I can't wait to get my hands on this book, it looks so very good! Thanks for the chance at winning a copy :)

    jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  6. This one looks great. Thanks for the giveaway :)

    GFC Follower: Tiffany

    tiffanyinwonderland(at)hotmail(dot)com

    +2 tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/tiffanydearxo/status/76686382394900481

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for the giveaway

    Please enter me.

    I Follow via GFC

    vidishamun@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. This sounds like a really unique novel. I love what Sissy can do. The author is right, I've never heard of anything like it and it is creepy cool. Thanks for the giveaway!

    I'm a GFC follower (anjohnston) and my email is Amberinblunderland@yahoo.com. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  9. great interview :) thanks so much for hosting this awesome giveaway :) please count me in!

    Diana
    lovelygetaway@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Luminous sounds so cool! (And Sissy sounds a little freaky...) Thanks for the giveaway!

    +2 https://twitter.com/#!/bookishinabox/status/76737752250589184

    whatinabox at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for the giveaway!

    booksbytheirstory@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sounds interesting. Thanks for the giveaway!

    GFC: Candice
    candicerjames (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Awesome!!!

    gfc- Book Brunette
    thebookishbrunette@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'd love to read this. Thanks for the giveaway!
    GFC name:Erinberry

    erinberry12 at charter dot net

    ReplyDelete
  15. I can't wait to read this book.
    Follower Name-Pokadots1121
    +2 http://twitter.com/#!/Onuoha96/status/77043558149918720
    Thanks a lot!!
    Pokadots1121@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I can't wait to read this! Thanks for the giveaway! I'm a GFC follower.

    +2 Tweet'd: http://twitter.com/#!/RavishingReads/status/77104799006474240
    +2 Facebook'd: http://www.facebook.com/misslaurenwilk/posts/214641178557246
    +2 Link'd on blog sidebar: http://ravishingreads.blogspot.com

    Miss Lauren
    ravishingreads(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thanks for the awesome contest!

    GFC: Zareen T
    Tweet: http://twitter.com/ShiningStar786/statuses/77105550067900416

    mizzbookworm@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. This book looks really good!

    I follow via GFC.

    ajiehuang1997@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. thanks for the giveaway(:

    twizzlertwist28(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I really want to win this book! It's on my TBR list and any book I don't have to buy is great for my pocketbook!! Thanks for a great giveaway:)
    jwitt33 at live dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Really want to read this one! Can't wait!

    Thanks for the giveaway! I'm a follower, please enter me!

    +2 Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/bookishbaggins/status/77575591255216128

    Thanks!

    Baggins
    bookishbaggins(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Sounds really interesting.
    GFC follower.
    juliecookies(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. I've been dying to read this!!! :D Thanks so much! :D
    I tweeted!
    http://twitter.com/#!/TotalBookNerd/status/77737691847983104
    Also a follower!

    msKpopper@yahoo.com
    ♥Cathy

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thanks for hosting - this one looks great. Please enter me. I am an old follower.
    bevsharp@desch.org

    ReplyDelete
  25. this giveaway looks great!
    +2 twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/michelledluvsu/status/79709032469905408
    starlightgirl678 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thanks for the giveaway!!! I follow you via GFC.

    crazypplrok at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Great Giveaway! I am a GFC Follower
    +2 Also Tweeted Giveaway http://twitter.com/#!/thelifeofiction/status/80811455842230272
    carole.mckenzie@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I've been dying to read this one - it sounds awesome, and I love the fact that we have a heroine of color. That seems to be rare in YA lit, though it's getting less rare as the years go by and the genre expands. Refreshing. :3

    GFC: usagi, the golden witch
    tweet: (with other dystopian mentions) http://twitter.com/#!/usagiko/status/82064061763821568

    Usagi
    usagiko at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Thanks for the giveaway!! I absolutely love this cover and I can't wait to read this book.

    GFC: Alice D

    FB share: http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=232100620133700&id=100000177055945

    alice13188 AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  30. This book sounds great and I just love the cover SO much! It is so cool looking. thx for the giveaway!

    spicedice45@gmail.com
    kristina shields- follower

    ReplyDelete
  31. I've been interested in reading this book, thanks for the chance to win it!

    +2 Sidebar at http://booksobsession.blogspot.com

    booksobsession(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  32. This one sounds really good!

    I am a GFC follower (Aydrea)!

    Tweeted it - http://twitter.com/#!/arick01/status/84429631146565634

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    danceislove27(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Sorry I put the wrong email on my comment. Sorry! :( Here's my email...

    misslaurenwilk at gmail dot com
    Miss Lauren

    ReplyDelete
  34. I'm a follower and would love the chance to win this book (it sounds great)

    Mare
    tommygirl828 (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Awesome contest :)

    GFC follower: cyc

    http://twitter.com/#!/nodizzies/status/86580223818211329

    jadedlittlegirlx[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete