Maggie Blackbird

Today, I have author D.V. Stone in the interview chair.  We’re discussing her latest release Rock House Grill, book one in the Impact series, a romantic suspense.  Don’t forget to check out the excerpt.

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All About Rock House Grill:

1. First, what’s your favourite scene in the book? Not in regards to writing, but reading, and why?

D.V.:  When Aden, the main male character, is in rehabilitation for his injuries, he meets John. John shares a story about someone who like Aden suffered a loss but turned the bad situation into a life changing one for the better.

2. If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your book?

D.V.:  After considering this question for a while, no, I don’t think I would.

3. What do you love most about your two main characters?

D.V.:  Both Aden and Shay are overcomers who don’t lose the essence of who they are. Both take the cards life has dealt them and mistakes of the past, while continuing improve themselves, and care for those around them.

4. What makes you want to shake your two main characters?

D.V.:  Shay her often lack of self esteem. Aden trying to take care of everyone in his sphere while losing his way.

5. If you could spend time with one character from your book, who would it be? And what would you do during that day?

D.V.:  Margaret. She is Rock House’s Pastry Chef. She is loving, wise, and bakes.

6. Did the characters hijack the story or did you feel like you had control of your book?

D.V.:  Definitely a hijack. I created each one but then they told me who they were.

7. How did you come up with the title for your book?

D.V.:  Rock, because the music theme is classic rock. House, because the series will be centered around the House family. Grill, because of the food.

8. If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the leads?

D.V.:  Chris Pratt and Rachel Hurd-Wood

9. If your book was a candle, what scent would it be and why?

D.V.:  Fireside this scent melds notes of smoke and wood with touches of clove, amber, sandalwood, and patchouli. It’s a warm homey scent.

10. If your book had a theme song, what would it be and why?

D.V.:  Rock House has several songs that each character identifies with Aden’s is “Simple Man”. Shay is Nina Simone’s “Feelin Good”. Olivia, Aden’s twin sister identifies with Stevie Nicks’ “Landslide”.

11. If your book was a colour, what would it be and why?

D.V.:  Red and blue. They are the ambulance strobe lights indicating an emergency.

12. If a reader asked you why they should read your book, what would you tell them?

D.V.:  Family isn’t blood alone. When we let others in to help during difficult times, our lives become richer and fuller. Both Aden and Shay learn this sometime in a hard way.

13. What can we expect from you in the future?

D.V.:  I’m hoping Jazz House will be releasing soon. It’s the second book of the series with the new restaurant. You’ll meet familiar characters and a new female lead. The suspense is a bit amped up and the stakes high.

D.V. on Writing:

1. Tell us about your writing process.

D.V.:  For several years I worked the afternoon shift which gave me the mornings to write. Due to Covid, my work hours have changed and my writing time is very limited at this moment. Writing isn’t only putting words to a page but also the marketing. In May I retire. I hope to return to my more productive schedule.

2. How much research goes into your books?

D.V.:  Many things in Rock House were familiar to me. But that said years have passed since I was an EMT. The same with the restaurant business. I had to research the latest in both fields. Since the book takes place near the Delaware Water Gap, I visited some of the areas I wrote about.

3. What do you enjoy most about writing?

D.V.:  Hiding ‘Easter Eggs’. These are tiny tidbits from my life and incorporating them into the stories, people I know can recognize. Some things about localities and situations others can nod their head in understanding.

4. What do you enjoy least about writing?

D.V.:  Marketing is the easy answer not many like it. But the thing that frustrates me is time. Lack of it in writing and the process from fingertips to publication.

5. You can only recommend one of your novels to a reader, which would you choose from the books you’ve written so far, and why?

D.V.:  Rock House Grill is a work close to my heart. I put so much of me into it that I live in the characters and story.

6. What novel was your personal favourite to write, and why?

D.V.:  I have a work in progress. It is a huge epic fantasy with romance. Aimhirghin, Kingdom at a Crossroad stretches my writing chops and imagination. I look forward to retirement and moving forward with the trilogy.

All About D.V.!

1. Readers know about the writer you, but what about the everyday you?

D.V.:  I am a wife, mom, not your average grandma and a woman of faith have worked for forty years in either the medical or restaurant industry. Full-time right now. I’ve been involved in both nursing home and prison ministry. Animal rescue is one of my favorite things to talk about along with ‘Glamping’ which is my version of camping in a 41ft 5th Wheel named 2Hoots. Cooking over the open fire, reading around the campfire with a glass of wine. Game nights with friends, playing Dominoes, Kings in the Corner, Whist. I drive a white Camaro named Snowball. I’m also a collector of owls.

2. What is something unique/quirky about you?

D.V.:  I can’t stand crooked and have been known to straighten pictures in other peoples homes and even once in a museum (I have Meniere’s disease and crooked makes me dizzy).

3. What are some of your pet peeves?

D.V.:  Mean people. Lack of respectful debate. Disregard of personal space.

4. Where were you born/grew up at?

D.V.:  Brooklyn NY is my birthplace. Grew into a teenager in Hunterdon County NJ. Graduated from High School in Minnesota wear my family had a dairy farm. North Eastern Pa was were I volunteered as an EMT while working in a women’s prison in NJ. I’m now in Northwest NJ.

5. Describe yourself in five words or less!

D.V.:  Persistent, empathetic, often funny.

D.V. on Reading:

1. What book do you think everyone should read?

D.V.:  Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard.

2. What fiction genre(s) do you read the most?

D.V.:  I read multiple genres depending on my mood. Fantasy/paranormal with romance, contemporary romance, Science fiction.

3. Share your favourite character from a book that you’ve read, and why they are your fave.

D.V.:  Claire Frasier from the Outlander series. She’s strong, loyal, smart, with a tender heart.

4. On average, how much do you read every week?

D.V.:  Usually everyday. I’m a quick reader and depending on my schedule and the length can read a book a day. If something grabs me, I’ll stay up until it’s finished. I’m not much of a T.V. person though I love cooking competition shows.

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Title: Rock House Grill
Series: Impact, book #1
Author: D.V. Stone
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Heat Rating: Sweet
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Book Length: 296 pages
Release Date: April 6, 2020

One man’s choices. One woman’s impact.

Blurb:  Aden House, successful but driven chef and TV personality, refuses to slow down. His life implodes one night, damaging him both physically and emotionally. He’s rescued by a woman he thinks of as his angel.

Shay McDowell has rebuilt her life after her divorce. She juggles volunteer EMT duties and her job, while dreaming of becoming a chef. She finds her way to Rock House Grill and back into the life of the man she helped save.

Can love be the ingredient needed to survive the many obstacles they face?

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“Easy, you’re going to be okay.” A soft voice eased through the chaos around him. The owner of the voice grabbed his arms and held them in a firm but gentle grip. “I’m right here with you. You are not alone.” “Can hardly m-move.” His voice slurred. “C-can’t see anything.” “You’ve been in an accident. I’m an EMT with the ambulance squad,” the velvety voice calmly explained. “You can’t see well because we’re under a tarp. Hold still, okay?” “‘K.” A small light flickered at the edge of his vision. It shone into a bag next to him. Penlight. “You’re restrained to a board. It’s to keep your head from moving and causing more injury.” She continued to talk to him. The voice reached down somewhere inside him, calming and peaceful, so he focused on it. A glow from spotlights on the outside lit whatever covered them. The shadow gave the woman the appearance of a halo—like an angel.

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Born in Brooklyn, D.V. Stone has moved around a bit and even lived for a time on a dairy farm in Minnesota before moving back east. Throughout her wandering, she always considered herself a Jersey Girl. She met and married the love of her life, Pete—a lifelong Jersey Man, and moved this time to Sussex County. They live with Hali, a mixed breed from the local shelter, and their cat Baby.

D.V.’s career path varied from working with the disabled to become a volunteer EMT, which in turn led to working in hospital emergency rooms and then in a women’s state prison. After a few years, she took a break from medicine and became the owner of Heavenly Brew, a specialty coffee shop in Sparta, NJ, and a small restaurant in Lafayette. Life handed some setbacks, and she ended up back in the medical field, but this time in a veterinary emergency hospital.

“Thank you for taking the time to read about me. Each time you open the pages to one of my books, I hope you’ll be swept away by the story and find encouragement in your own life, never to give up on hope.” D.V. Stone

Find D.V.:  Web Site | Blog | Facebook Page | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub | Instagram