Bye, bye 2019. Hello, 2020.
Happy New Year to all! I can't' believe it's 2020. Does anyone remember Y2K? What a big fuss about nada. Here we are twenty years later, alive and connected more than we probably should. I have so much and so many to be thankful for and to. This list is by no means complete but a start. Thanks to Wild Rose Press for bringing me into the garden. And it's from that Rose Garden I've met some amazing people. A special shout out to Elf my editor, Amber my second eyes. Rene the queen of commas. How about a hand for all the guests on Welcome to the Campfire. Week in and out you all amaze me. Then there are the family and friends who support and encourage. Judy, Deb, and Noemi you guys rock. My family especially my biggest cheerleader, Pete. You are the hubby extraordinaire. An not least of all my Creator and Sustainer, the Lord Jesus for all His mercies, which are new every morning.

This year has been filled with many ups and downs but mostly ups. Here are some of my personal highlights.

• January we were rescued by Hali with the help of Father John's Animal House. www.fatherjohns.org/ She is a black-mouthed cur breed dog. One of the sweetest I've ever met.
• February was an amazing month. It was when I came under contract with Wild Rose Press for Rock House Grill. The editing process has been grueling but so worth it.
• March found us on our first camping trip of the year. We stayed on Pine Island near Fort Myers. It was then we realized Hali made the perfect camping companion. 
• April had us celebrating my Father-in-Laws 92 birthday.  Spring brought out our garden and the flowers were stunning. 
• May is usually a busy month for me. On May 14th we celebrated our 25th anniversary by camping Upstate NY and visiting one of my favorite actor's hometowns. Jamestown NY is the birthplace of Lucille Ball. Then a weekend with my sister who also has an RV, at Camp Taylor. Shout out to the www.lakotawolf.com/  Unfortunately,  with the good comes the bad. My birthday falls on May 30th and it was the day I ended up in the hospital with acute respiratory failure. Obviously, I lived so hooray.  
• June my poor granddaughter and I were both in the hospital at the same time. At 6 years old she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Our thanks to both Lehigh Valley Hospital and Newton Medical Center for seeing us through. But not all bad. The week we got home we ended up in Honesdale KOA for a long weekend altogether.
• July rolled around and we spent a weekend at the Pocono KOA with friends one day and the Grands another. I was also feeling well enough by this time for a short hike at Tillman's Ravine www.njhiking.com/tillman-ravine/
• August in NJ is beautiful. Hot but beautiful. We ended up at the top of the state for a weekend at Pleasant Acres Campground with another set of friends. Then later in the month, we set off on a week's adventure to Hagerstown Maryland. Not far from there was the Antietam Battlefield. A somber yet beautiful place. We also spent a day at Harper's Ferry West Virginia where I got to dip my toes in the Potomac River. A stopover in Lancaster on the way home rounded out the trip. 
• September our wheels kept rolling first to the local Great Divide Campground with our niece and nephew, where we found the fork in the road. The NJ Firefighters convention is held in Wildwood NJ. We camped at the Cape May KOA where Hali found a deep and profound love of golf carts. Then it was off for a long weekend with friends near Weston Vermont. 
• October had one more camping trip for the year. Honesdale KOA is near the kids and holds a fall festival. Pumpkins, costumes, and trick or treating. Since my granddaughter is diabetic we visited the dollar store and played let's make a deal for her candy. She was happy. Her doctor was happy. Score one for grandma. We also toured the neighboring town and enjoyed their annual Scarecrow Contest.
• November showed up and brought about the winterizing of 2Hoots, our RV. It was a sad day. We do visit her and do "driveway" camping though. It's hard to go cold turkey. Speaking of turkey, Thanksgiving was quiet. Dear husband and son had to work. 
• December brings all things Christmas. My hubby was born on St. Nicholas day, December 6th. I think it may have something to do with his love of all things Christmas. All year he works building displays that get turned on the day after Thanksgiving.  Throughout the month we hosted friends and family for different events culminating in our annual Christmas morning brunch. Pete wields the frying pans and makes everyone omelets. 

If you've clicked through my site you can't help but notice I like to camp. My Dear Husband, hereafter referred to as DH, and I love to travel and are now coming to the place in our life where we get to do that. Everyone has their own tale of why they put it off, but time and money held us back. We thank the Lord each day for our jobs and the life we are now able to lead. Nope, not rich. Nope, still working. But retirement is closer than ever.
DH hates to fly. I can't stand most hotel accommodations. Can I have an amen at how gross the bed spreads are? I've taken them off and stuffed them in the closet but diligent maids find them and put them right back on. 
With that in mind, and retirement coming, how were we going to see all we want to in this great country of ours? At home we basically live outside. Over the years DH has built decks, patios and pathways lined with landscaping. If the weather is nice we are out. It wasn't a far leap then to think-camping.
We've done it before. Tents, pop-ups, and my sister has had a motor-home for years. It wasn't a hard decision to come to especially when we saw what was available to us.
So, we've begun our travels. Near and far, in the time we can spare, practicing for the future. Recently we were in Hagerstown, Maryland and Lancaster Pennsylvania. During the day we took trips to local places of interest. Historical, architectural; wine and craft beer tasting is a bonus. And we've found some hidden gems. 

Every time were in Lancaster our money is well spent at Town Clock Cheese Shoppe in Gap, Pa. The owner will take you on a trip around the world through cheeses. This years favorite, cheese aged in a cave in France. How cool is that.
You can find them here
www.facebook.com/Town-Clock-Cheese-Shoppe-117385518271578/

​And what is cheese without a glass of wine to go with it? You never know when you're going to stumble upon a gem. The Blue Mountain Wine Crafters was just the ticket. Located in---you're going to love the name---Funkstown Maryland, and it had an added bonus. If you follow my Instagram of Facebook you'll see it right away. Here's the link to a very nice, fun, and knowledgeable staff www.bluemountainwinecrafters.com/ You even get to paint.

My final traveling gem for this trip? Last post I showed you a picture of a Black Beauty book I picked up. One of my other favorite childhood reads was Heidi, by Joanna Spyri, and guess what? Yes, I did. Heidi now sits on my shelf alongside Black Beauty. She's a little tattered and worn but aren't all well read books and well lived people? Next on my list, is to finish my C.S. Lewis' Narnia collection. I need the Silver Chair and The Last Battle. Each trip out, instead of collecting rocks like Lucy did in the Long Long Trailer, I think maybe I'll relive my childhood through the stories I find on the shelves of the bookshops lining the roads of the good ole USA. 
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What books remind you of good times or gems have you found in travels?

Once upon a time...

That's the way so many tale began. As early as I can remember books were an important part of my life. My mom will tell you that from the time I was a baby, books were my toys. She says I never tore the pages or wrote in them. That they were always clutched in my hands. Little Golden Books are some of my earliest memories. The Pokey Little Puppy in particular sticks out. 
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As I grew older the love of reading never left me. There were two apple trees on our property. One green and one red. The green tree was my favorite. On any nice day if you looked up, there you'd find me with my nose buried in a book. Animal books were some of my favorites and if they had horses extra bonus. This year during a trip to Lancaster Pa as one of our regular stops I found this

This edition of Black Beauty by Anna Sewell has no date. I realized that I don't have any of my childhood books. We moved quite a bit when I was young and what you didn't need you didn't take. After picking this up memories of other horsey books came to mind. Seabiscuit, War Admiral, National Velvet. How many of you held Misty of Chincoteague and dreamed of having your own horse? How about the Black Stallion? I still think it was one of the most beautiful scenic movies made. 

I was one of the lucky girls. Three horses made their way into my life. Cocoa was an old man my parents bought from a riding stable. I still laugh when I remember how he was the houdini of the horse world. He could untie knots and open latches faster than Secretariat (If you're a horse person you know who that is). 

Carrie was my second horse. She was a beauty. A dark bay mare with a star (a white mark on her forehead) and one white sock. She was a quarter-horse/thoroughbred. It broke my heart to leave her behind after my father died and we had to sell the farm.

Years later Apache came into my life for a short while. He belonged to a friend who let me pretend he was mine. Apache was a cantankerous meanie at times, but we worked it out.
To this day the soulful eyes and smell of a horse brings me peace. My fantasy work in progress, Aimhirghin, Kingdom at a Crossroad, show the special relationship between Haana and her mare Fianna. 

Do you have a special animal in your life? Many of us do. Whether it's a horse, dog, cat, or some.other, leave me a note and tell me about them.  

I plan to explore the relationship of books and animals in our lives over the next months and hope you'll join me. Below is a tribute to one of the greatest horses. Do you remember when he won? I still get chocked up thinking about him.

The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact 
with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit and freedom. 
​Sharon Ralls Lemon

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Hi Everyone,
 
My name is Donna and I write under D.V. Stone. Not for any particular reason except that is how I sign my name. I have two independently published books. Felice, Shield-Mates of Dar is a fantasy/romance. Agent Carter and the Mystery at Branch Lake is a mid-grade. Recently I have been signed by Wild Rose Press for Rock House Grill. This is a contemporary romance and first in the Impact Series.
I love all different types of books and my writing reflect this. Fantasy, romance, mystery I read it all and write the same. The common denominator is hope and love (whether romantic, family or friend).A friend gave me a key chain that says Live the Life You Love. I consider writing to be my career. One which I love. I still work a paying job, but every chance I get, out comes the laptop, pen, or camera. 


My husband, Pete and I purchased an RV. One of the requirements for the purchase was a place for me to work. Taking my passion for writing on the road with me.
Ideas and inspiration are everywhere. 

Recently, another friend asked if I needed to be at my desk to create. The answer was a resounding no for me. Take for instance, one of the songs in a work in progress called Kingdom at a Crossroad was written while I worked the lumber desk at one of my jobs. 

Books have always been a major part of my life. From Little Golden Books, through the children’s classics like Heidi, Black Beauty, and Misty of Chincoteague, I’ve always enjoyed slipping away to another world. 

The authors and genres over the years have by turn made me laugh and cry. Sometimes they scared me to death or pushed me to the edge of my seat. 

So, in that spirit I hope to one day gift others with those emotions. Sit and laugh, cry, scream, or quietly contemplate. To take an adventure and visit new places. Make new friends and conquer some enemies.

Maybe you to have the wanderlust and we’ll meet in a campground or rest stop. 
In the words of J.R.R. Tolkien.

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost. 

J. R. R. Tolkien
Why do I write?
Get the paddles STAT!
Developing a story line is like an ECG. It must move along at a steady pace. Unlike a healthy heartbeat there also needs to be regular surges caused by Adrenalin. These would be the exciting parts. 

Unfortunately, too often writing hits irregular beats where a good critique is needed. If adjustments aren't made in time, an Author risks the dreaded block or flat line.

The good thing is if you have good characters and are willing to consider changing your "lifestyle" and make hard choices the work can be resuscitated. 

I'm in that place now. My work in process Jazz House is on the stretcher. I have a decision to make about a recurring character in the Impact Series and it's going to be painful. 

How about you? What in your life needs to be assessed and changed
Why do I write?
My delete button is tired
My husband has a love hate relationship with a Holly bush in front of my house. For years he’s tried trimming it to keep it under control. This past spring he’d had enough. Grabbing his saw, he went to the ground and cut it down. Funny thing, a couple of weeks later green started sprouting from the stump. Now he is carefully trimming to keep it from becoming an overpowering entity it once was. Not only is the Holly healthier so are the plants around it.

Many people think editing is chasing down grammar and punctuation issues. That’s true, but editing a novel is so much more. Often, it’s like pruning a tree or a bush. 

In a rush of emotion, words pour over the page often in an unruly fashion. Cohesion and logic take a back seat to growth. Once you take a step back the delete key becomes your surgical scalpel and critique partners your nurses. 

Editing used to be my arch nemesis but over the years I’ve come to that same love/hate relationship as Pete and his Holly bush. Sometimes my work is overwrought and drastic steps need to be taken. 

In the end though I’ve found the worth of a worn out delete button.