D.V. Stone
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  • Books By D. V. Stone
  • About Me
  • Around the Fire Blog
  • Shop
    • Do you like my graphics?
  • Events
    • Insider Looks
  • D. V.'s Reviews

Welcome to the Campfire

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Join the Campfire Crew
​Light a campfire and everyone’s a storyteller.
~John Geddes~

One of my favorite things to do is sit around the campfire with friends. Each week at my virtual fire I'll bring new and old friend to chat about life, books, and writing. So now that you're here, kick back, relax, and join the conversation. Use the comment box to ask questions or leave a bit of wisdom. We'd love to hear from you.

Welcome to the Campfire, Wendy Rich Stetson.

8/21/2021

 
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Hi Wendy! I'm so glad you popped by today. Let's get settled with something to sip on while we chat. What can I get for you?
I’m a sweet tea girl.

I happen to have a Cold Brewed Sweet Tea on board. So while I pour a couple of icy ones can you get started and tell us about any camping adventures you've had?  

I have camped my whole life, and in fact, a 1979 pop top camper is practically a main character in “Hometown.”  I think my hero is as in love with my heroine’s van as he is with her!  I grew up traveling the country in a VW poptop, and now my husband, daughter and I take epic road trips and tent camp.  I have to say…I have my eye on some campers.  The ground feels a little harder than it did twenty years ago!  I think we’ll soon be ready to upgrade.  I love a vintage teardrop camper and there are some pretty sweet little rigs made by Happier Camper.

I'm with you about on the ground. Also, last weekend was a bit of a rainfest in the Pocono's. The tent campers around us packed it in early. I don't blame them. One year my bestie, Tina, and I camped in Wallenpaupack PA and ended up in the car for the night when the tent leaked and the trench we'd dug overflowed. I hear you have a new release. Can you t
ell us about your latest project?
My debut novel, Hometown, is a sweet and clean, small-town Amish romance.  Just out of acting school and twiddling my thumbs as I waited for the phone to ring, I saw an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show featuring romance writers.  “I could do that,” I thought, every bit as naïve as I was to think a starring role on Broadway would land on my doorstep, wrapped in shiny paper and tied up with a satin bow.  Still, inspired by those Oprah writers with the often-heard advice to “write what I knew” I came up with a simple premise: what would happen if a girl moved back to her hometown in central Pennsylvania and fell in love with an Amish guy.  Twenty years and endless edits later…Hometown is finally making its way into the hands of readers.

The words of Marie Curie come to mind, "I was taught the way of progress is neither swift nor easy." I think as published  authors, perseverance is a must have character trait. That said, how are you persevering as an author? Do you have something else you’re working on? 
I’m currently working on book 2 in The Hearts of the Ridge Series, Heartsong Hills.

Do you have a tagline or life motto? 
Just before the doors close on the New York City subway, the announcer says, “step in and stand clear.”  Something about that direction always rings true to me.  Jump in with both feet and don’t let the door hit you on the backside!

I love that! 
Who are your inspirations for writing? Or would you like to give a shout-out to anyone or their books? (see Oprah answer above)

Life Hacks for Authors. Do you have any tips, tricks, or anything you specialize in that you would share with others? 
An author’s best friend is her crock pot!  Dump in all the ingredients for a hearty chili in the morning, and by dinner time, you’ll feel like the elves came in and made you a delicious meal!

Yes! I have two one big for having folks over and one small just for Pete and I.


Now the fun questions 
  1. If you could only choose one song to play every time you walked into a room for the rest of your life, what would it be? “Your Smiling Face” by James Taylor.  I love it so much, I’ve even included it in my next book!
  2. What weird talent do you have? I’m crazy good at catching things that fall out of overhead cabinets when I open the doors.  Our NYC apartment has very little space for food storage.  Every time I swing open a door, a can of spray oil or a container of salt catapults from the top shelf.  My reflexes have definitely sharpened.
  3. If you could eat anything in the world right now, what would it be? My daughter makes a killer peanut butter cake with peanut butter frosting.  I’d eat it morning, noon, and night if I could.
  4. Worst household chore?  I hate cleaning out the drain after doing the dishes!  It gives me the willies!  Second to that is cleaning the peanut butter out of the jar before tossing it in recycling.  YUCK!
  5. Would you rather have unlimited international first-class tickets or never have to pay for food at restaurants?  This is such a good question.  One thousand percent the tickets!  I am 5’10” and my husband is 6’1”, and airplane seats just aren’t made for us.  I don’t need the champagne or the newspapers or any of that stuff.  Just give me legroom!  On a trip to France several years ago, we were making the long walk out of the plane from coach, and we passed through first class.  My daughter looked at the large, comfy seats and said, “Ohhhh, this is where the old people sit.”  If only that were true!
  6. Most campers play board games. What games do you like? We are a huge gaming family.  Current favorites are Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, Unstable Unicorns, and our House Rules Uno which usually involves a lot of shouting and hilarity.
We just played Uno with our grandkids. So much fun! Wendy, thanks for joining us at the Campfire. Before you leave, can you give us a taste of your writing and maybe where to find out more about Hometown and you?

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Hometown

by 
Wendy Rich Stetson

When Tessa's big-city plans take the A Train to disaster, she lands in her sleepy hometown, smack in the middle of the most unlikely love triangle ever to hit Pennsylvania's Amish Country.
Hot-shot Dr. Richard Bruce is bound to Green Ridge by loyalty that runs deep. Deeper still is Jonas Rishel's tie to the land and his family's Amish community. Behind the wheel of a 1979 camper van, Tessa idles at a fork in the road. Will she cruise the superhighway to the future? Or take a slow trot to the past and a mysterious society she never dreamed she'd glimpse from the inside?

Really? You need further encouragement?
Okay, here's a review from N. N. Light  VINE VOICE
5.0 out of 5 stars Such a fantastic reading experience from start to finish!
Hometown is a heartwarming, emotional story about finding your path, following your heart and falling in love. The theme of small town versus big city plays a big role in Hometown, as does discovering where you want to be in life. What you thought you wanted may not be where you end up.

Get your copy today at
Amazon 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097NVNFDF/
Barnes and Noble 
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hometown-wendy-rich-stetson/1139719240

And find out more about Wendy at these links
Website: www.wendyrichstetson.com
Social Media Links
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StetsonRiches
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WendyRichStetsonRomance
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyrichstetson_author/?hl=en
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/wendy_stetson/_saved/

Wendy Rich Stetson link
8/21/2021 09:29:20 am

Thanks for the super fun visit! Tent camping in the rain is legit the worst! A camper is so cozy in nasty weather. Hope to visit around the fire again!

D. V. Stone
8/21/2021 09:52:48 am

I enjoyed having you. Thanks for sharing your books with us.

Wendy Rich Stetson link
8/21/2021 04:56:40 pm

Meant to say, my husband is a Pete, too! We are Peter and Wendy. Makes it easy to remember our names.

Pamela S Thibodeaux link
8/21/2021 02:30:55 pm

Sounds like a lovely book and I can definitely identify with "twenty years and endless edits later" as can most of us in this industry. Good luck and God's blessings.
PamT

Wendy Rich Stetson link
8/21/2021 04:53:20 pm

Thank you so much!

Anna Taylor Sweringen
8/21/2021 04:34:42 pm

Thanks for sharing, especially about the James Taylor song. I can hear it now.

Wendy Rich Stetson link
8/21/2021 04:54:09 pm

Oh, isn't he the best. I heard him live at Tanglewood a few years ago and it was a dream.

Tena link
8/21/2021 09:01:00 pm

I just love Donna’s campfire chats! Hometown sound like a winner! Good luck. I’ll be adding it to my TBR list.

Wendy Rich Stetson link
8/21/2021 11:39:48 pm

Thank you so much! Loved the night around the campfire!

D. V. Stone
8/21/2021 09:28:26 pm

Thanks for stopping by! I'm glamping at Panther Lake in NJ. Though it's been cloudy there's been no rain until now. We hiked the rails to trails today and had surf and turf kabobs. No thanks to 5th Wheeling we're snug as a bug let the rain fall. D.V.


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    Welcome to the Campfire

    Welcome to the Campfire is a weekly Saturday blog by D. V. Stone, author of Sweet, Contemporary and Fantasy Romance. Most genres are welcome including non-fiction. I would also love to interview editors, agents, cover artists, marketing gurus, and publishers. If you have a specialty such as English teacher, cowboy, or First Responder, etc.

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