Welcome to the Campfire with D. V. Stone

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Welcome to the Campfire.
One of my favorite things is sitting around the fire. Whether it’s away in a campground, or at home in front the chiminea, some of the best conversations I’ve ever had, have been with a cozy flame and sparks drifting up into the night sky joining the stars. I think what I enjoy about camping, besides the owlishly good time, is the sense of community. It reminds me of past days sitting on the porch, talking to the passing neighbors. A time when kids weren't afraid to say hello to strangers. So, wherever you’re joining us from, click on the campfire video (from the Pocono's this week) and relax. I hope you enjoy our conversation. Please feel free to leave comments or questions below. Also, if you would like to keep up with Around the Campfire and information, don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter. Okay, without further delay…
 
Today I’m welcoming Daryl Devoré, author to the Around the Campfire.  What’s your preference, coffee, tea, cocoa, or wine?
Cocoa, please. And can I add that I am female. Most people think of Daryl as a male. But it is also a female name – old Celtic. When it rhymes with Karl, then it is female. When it rhymes with Carol, then it is male.

One cocoa coming up. I thought you were male at first. It's so interesting about your name. I Iove the history and etymology of words and names. Tell me, have you ever camped, or as I call what I do, Glamp. If so, tent, trailer, RV? Where? Did you like it? If not, and no judgment here, would you like to someday? Where?
In my third year of my phys.ed degree, we did an outdoor education course. We went camping – in February – in northern Ontario. It was -40. We camped outdoors for 8 days. Luckily, my cousin is in the Canadian Armed Forces, and he had a military grade Arctic sleeping bag. The class had been divided into groups of 9 or 10. One night, it was so cold that all 9 of us slept in a 3-man tent. It was an experience.
Now when I go camping, it is with my parents and family, and we camp in their RV, which is nicknamed Harvey. After my winter camping experience, I prefer a built-in bathroom, shower, kitchen, and comfy beds.
 
I understand. This girl doesn't sleep on the ground anymore. I do like my comforts. So, Daryl, tell us about your latest project. What’s the title and genre?
Love My Fate is a reboot of a book that I received my rights back for. I created a new cover and added back in a couple of scenes that the publisher wanted deleted.
It is a hot romance about a business woman who meets the man of her dreams, except he isn’t real.
 
Sounds very interesting. I'm glad you got your rights back.  That's big for an author. I'm curious, do you have a tagline?
What's a woman to do when a voice follows her home and makes mad, passionate love to her?
 
That will definitely pull readers in. If you don’t mind me asking, can you tell us how long it took from conception to fruition? It’s the most asked question for me.
Only a couple of months. This was a fun, easy write.
 
Isn't it great when you get to do what you love and things flow, but did you ever hit the place where you threw your arms up in the air and said nope this is not going to work? If so, how did you get past it?
When I realized that I had to write a sex scene between a physical human being and voice, I knew I’d written myself into a tight corner. I do love a challenge.
 
When we challenge ourselves that's when things get interesting. Tell us. I have a myriad of projects at various stages of development, how about you? Anything you’re itching to get to?
I have one more book from the five that I got my rights back for. I have gone through it and adjusted and rewrote some little bits. Now I am making the cover.
I have several that are sitting on my hard drive waiting for their moment.
Also, I wrote a fantasy complete with dragons then sent it off to my beta. She’s fabulous. She came up with an idea of stretching the one book into an epic three. I am itching to get to that, but summer came along, and it is short and cherished, so I’ve been picking strawberries, weeding my garden and sitting on the dock eating ice cream instead.
 
Good for you. You have to take time to enjoy and participate in life.   Looking over your shoulder, is there something you would tell your beginning self?
Write your stories for you. There are a lot of people who will tell you how you are supposed to write. They will pontificate that this is the only way or never do that or that won’t sell, so don’t waste your time.
Ignore them. Write what you want to write. Every story is real.

​There's a lesson for everyone in that statement. Now, on a more personal note. Do you have a tattoo? If yes, what is it? If you feel brave, where? Does it have a story you feel you could tell us? If not and you were to get a tattoo, what would it be?
LOL – no tattoos. My friend and neighbour is a fantastic tattoo artist, and she is always saying – ooh – that spot (on my arm, my thigh, my back) I have the perfect tattoo for you. It’d be stunning.
So I don’t have one and have gotten really good at changing the subject. But I do have a henna tattoo at the moment. It is on the inside of my left wrist, and it is the word Shanti, which means peace. I love yoga. I attend several classes a week, and the Shanti is honouring a moment in my yoga practice.
At the end of each class, there is savasana – a moment of total relaxation. The music for this particular day created the vision in my head of a woman standing on the shore, and the wind is blowing her hair. She was looking for something. I became that person. At the end of the song, still in my head, I looked at my wrist and the word Shanti was there. I told my yoga instructor, and she got excited saying – you’re getting a tattoo. I laughed and said – nope! (Kinda scared of needles.)
But every so often, I have gotten a henna one, and it has been the simple word Shanti.

Very cool. I wouldn't do needles either, but Henna would be a fun way to temporarily express yourself.  Next question. What was the best vacation you ever took? Why?
Oh, wow. Too many to choose from. My family has always vacationed together.  But if I have to choose one, it would be the Cayman Islands a long time ago. I was snuggled down in a hammock strung between two palm trees, on the shore. I had a Diet Coke and journal and was happily writing. That’s when I decided that was my perfect place and I needed to be next to the sea.
 
I visited Grand Cayman on my honeymoon. I know exactly what you experienced. Along those lines, years ago, there was a commercial which talked about a “Kodak Moment.” It’s a time you catch in a picture. One you never want to forget. What is yours?
Again, it would be a family moment after a vacation. We were all lined up outside the condo in the Caymans, and we are tanned and happy except my 6 yr old daughter. She is pouting. The vacation is over, and we have to go back to a cold Canadian winter.
 
A beautiful memory.  I lived in Minnesota on a dairy farm for a couple of years. Not a lot of people understand that kind of cold. Are there any mentors, authors, or books, other than yours, you would like to give a shout-out to?
I’d tell you who my fabulous beta is – she is also an amazing author – but then you would all want her to beta for you. So, I am greedily going to keep her name secret and keep her all to myself. But she knows who she is.
 
Girl's got to have her secrets. Okay, final question. What does literary success look like to you?
Actually having a fan chat with me. I have corresponded with and am FB friends with several who are fans of my work. To have someone like your work so much that they want to chat with you – wow – that makes you feel pretty special.
 
How great is that! I'm sure you have many more of those experiences in your future. Daryl, thank you so much for joining me around the campfire today. I would appreciate you leaving us a blurb and excerpt from your work. Don’t forget to add where we can purchase your book and how we can find out more about you below.

​Daryl's book is erotic romance and meant for 18+.

​Corporate businesswoman, Capricious Gray, is dragged to a sex toy convention by her best friend. After a mysterious disembodied voice helps her with her purchases, it follows her home. Passion ensues, leaving Capri torn between lust for her fantasy lover and the desperate need for reality in her life.
 
Thall, son of one of the Fates, harbours the irrepressible need to be with the woman he's desired from afar for years. In order to make her his, once and for all, he must help Capri get past her fears, including the fear of what he represents - a fantasy.
 
Can fantasy become a reality for these two lovers?
 
Note: This book was previously published by New Dawning Bookfair under the title Capri’s Fate. The edition has a new title, new cover and has restored previously deleted scenes.
 
Excerpt
My erotic adventure began the moment he whispered, "Do you happen to own a pair of red, fuzzy handcuffs?"
~ * * ~
Well okay, it didn't exactly start there. If I'm going to be perfectly honest, I think it started with Kat's text: "Meet me at - insert name of five-star restaurant here."
Kat’s always getting me to take her out for expensive dinners. I don't mind, I'm a highly-paid executive, in a large global corporation, while she's a receptionist in a small dental office. Besides, I like good food and her company.
Kat and I have been BFFs since third grade. We were in each other's wedding parties and cried on each other's shoulders at our subsequent divorces. Now, we're each other's go-to person whenever the mood strikes. Obviously, the mood struck and it involved my credit card. I texted back a reply –"Xavier's. 6 pm."
~ * * ~
Kat waited outside the restaurant when my cab pulled up to the curb. "Timing or what? I just got here."
After the requisite cheek kiss, we stepped up to the Maitre D'. He smiled his I-must-be-friendly-because-they're-guests smile and escorted us to our table. We ordered drinks and chatted. We talked about the weather, her new dress, my job—you know, just old—no, scratch old, put long-time—girlfriend stuff.
After a diet conscious meal, followed by a calorie-loaded dessert, we waited outside for a taxi.
"Do you trust me?" With a goofy grin on her face, Kat's dark chocolate mellowed-from-too-much-wine, eyes gazed at me.
Having seen that innocent demeanour before; it meant nothing but trouble, I was a bit wary. Okay, a lot wary! The last time she'd gawked at me like that and asked the same brainless question, we ended up at a frat house beer slosh during Homecoming and I wasn't in college anymore.
A cab pulled up and stopped. She grabbed my arm and dragged me into it. "Convention Centre."
I slid next to her and shut the car door. "What's at the convention centre?"
"That's the trust me bit." She raised her hands and flicked two fingers up and down at the words trust me.
You have to love air quotes.
I checked my cell for messages then glanced at her. "Is this going to get me arrested? Again?"
She shook her head.
"Is it going to get me hit on—again—by horny, beer-soaked, college drunks?"
Kat giggled.
"Is that a yes or a no?"
"Nope. Not going to tell you. You need to trust me."
Air quotes.
Again.
 

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Amazon US - ebook
Amazon US- print
Amazon Canada - ebook
Amazon Canada - print
Amazon UK – link coming later
Amazon UK - print
Amazon Australia - ebook
Amazon Australia - print
 
Pinterest page for Love My Fate

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In the spirit of invisible voices this weeks recommended movies are

Ghost with Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir Jean Tierney and Rex Harrison

And in honor of our Canadian guest today's Recipe 

Maple Pecan Pie