Dust Blog Tour Stop #12 and Interview

Hey Lost Boys and Girls welcome to the Dust Blog Tour which features my friend author Kara Swanson with her amazing Peter Pan retelling called Dust. It will debut on July 21, 2020 and I would highly recommend a pre-order. By participating in the whole blog tour, you can read many interviews with her and also win gorgeous swag. But watch out for Captain Hook along the way!

To get in the mood, I brought all my treasures together with Peter Pan and Wendy and the family – including this map and teapot and mug. And pixie dust. So, without further ado…

Let me introduce you!

Kara, share a bit about yourself.

I write whimsical, raw, adventure-filled YA novels. I grew up overseas in the jungles of Papua New Guinea as the daughter of missionaries, spending my childhood running barefoot through tropical jungles. That sense of unique adventure eventually let me to spin stories of my own and I love the creative aspects of writing fantasy. I now work full time in the publishing industry as an author, marketing consultant, and author coach. I’m passionate about telling powerful stories, helping others find their voices, and living out a beautiful story in my own life.

What is your inspiration for the novels? (Yes, there’s a sequel coming out in 2021 too!)

I was inspired to try my hand at my own unique take on a Peter Pan retelling after discussing with a friend how much I loved Peter Pan, and yet felt like few retellings truly did the character justice. I’d told her that if I wrote a Peter Pan retelling, I would want to keep it as true to the “original” Peter, the character Barrie created, as possible, while still building off of that foundation. I also told her that I would probably include a side character of my own, someone who maybe had to grow up too fast and could be the exact opposite of Peter, but push him to grow as he helped her rediscover her own belief in magic. Someone who, like me, knew what it was like to deal with anxiety and depression and have to fight to see the stars through the dark of the night sky, sometimes. I honestly was a little terrified of even trying a story like that, but when I had the chance to mention my concept for Dust to a few publishers at a writer’s conference, and they all loved the idea, I realized that I had something kind of special and needed the courage to just try and write it.

How do you touch on the theme of hope in the most challenging moments in life?

Being a person of faith, each of my novels carries a sense of hope simply because I believe, and my characters come to believe, that no one and no situation is ever beyond redemption. There is always a new dawn that brings with it light that can pour through the shattered places.

Beyond the amazing story itself, what magical things have you learned in the process of writing Dust?

That I am capable of more than I ever expected. Tackling a classic character like this is huge and such a massive responsibility, but somehow it happened. <3 I’ve also learned to just embrace my sparkly, brightly-colored pixie dust aesthetic 🙂

How do you hope your story will connect with this generation of readers?

I really hope that DUST will connect with people’s hearts and remind them that there is always light and life and whimsy, even in the darker moments, and that I can whisk people away on a magical adventure, even for just a little while.

 

About Dust

The truth about Neverland is far more dangerous than a fairy tale.

Claire Kenton believes the world is too dark for magic to be real–since her twin brother was stolen away as a child. Now Claire’s desperate search points to London… and a boy who shouldn’t exist.

Peter Pan is having a beastly time getting back to Neverland. Grounded in London and hunted by his own Lost Boys, Peter searches for the last hope of restoring his crumbling island: a lass with magic in her veins.

The girl who fears her own destiny is on a collision course with the boy who never wanted to grow up. The truth behind this fairy tale is about to unravel everything Claire thought she knew about Peter Pan–and herself.

Amazon    Goodreads

The scoop about the tour. This POST has all the details about how the blog is working. Over the month of June, blog posts will be published every day of the month containing one key word. You’ll have 36 total. Here’s the one for this stop:

Anyone who completes the blog tour hunt wins some Dust merch that includes:

• Bookmarks
• Print of Dust art
• Peter + Claire Character Cards
• Signed Bookplate

The first person who finishes the hunt receives all of the above AND:

• An autographed Advanced Reader Copy of Dust with exclusive notes from Kara in the margins

Second star to the right!! Now here’s your coordinates:

Stop #11

Stop #13

KARA’S SOCIALS:

Instagram

Blog

CHECK OUT DUST:

Amazon

Goodreads

Thanks for visiting Thorn & Vine blog! Hope to see you around these parts, or Neverland, again!

Elizabeth Van Tassel writes compelling middle-grade fantasy. She brings her knowledge and expertise in the field of gemology to the page and infuses her love of folklore into modern adventures filled with mystery. A wildfire survivor, Elizabeth also understands the both power of loss and the power of hope. And she’s always on the hunt for a great story. Elizabeth currently resides in the Bay Area with her husband and two sons. She can be found wandering the gardens of Filoli House, enjoying her favorite coffee shops, and engaging with other writers. You can subscribe to her newsletter and blogs about gems, family fun, book reviews, and more HERE.