Author Bio:
Hi, my name is D. V. Stone. I am a multi-genre author. I also host Welcome to the Campfire and A Peek Through the Window, both weekly blogs. Here’s a little more about me.
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.
During the poor economy, she was laid–off from a long-time position she cared about. Devastated, D.V. wondered what to do with her life. Finding comfort in her love of reading, she realized it was now time to follow her dream of writing. It’s been a long road but worth every minute of it. Now a published author, she also works in a people medical office again.
What inspires you to write?
From the time I was a little girl, books were my go-to "toys". Something that never left me was the love of a good story. To transport someone to another place and give them ease in today's complicated world is a driving force. I think it's why I love romance. The story is always going to be a Happily Ever After.
Tell us about your writing process.
First books are definitely by the seat of my pants. I'll get a nugget of something in my head. It may be a picture or a song lyric, and once I couldn't get the name Gloriana Jones out of my head. Then the process starts at the beginning and I work my way toward that Happily Ever After I mentioned. That's the easy part. Going back and filling in the blanks and editing are the hard part. Second books in a series are more difficult. I use a weird outline system. Each header in my document is a chapter description so with a glance I can keep track of my characters and what they are up to. Keeping things straight from the first book can be a challenge.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Fantasy is one of my genres. I keep a sword in my office to help choreograph fight scenes. If my neighbors looked in my window it might make them nervous. When I get stuck with a character I'll ask them "What do you want?"
Who are your favorite authors?
My taste in books is eclectic. I'm totally inspired by J. R. R. Tolkein. My shelves include Jan Karon, Thea Harrison, C. L Wilson, Kathryn Shay. I still pull out some of my childhood favorites. Heidi, Black Beauty, The Chronicles of Narnia.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
My publishing career began with self-publishing. However, last year my first contracted book was with Wild Rose Press. I've recently contracted a second book with them. They are a wonderful small press publisher and have been fabulous with nurturing me and my books. I see my self being a hybrid author. Continuing to be both.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
Oh my! It's crystal ball time. I don't know much but this I do, people will always read and they like both ebook and print. So many times I hear, "I just love holding a book in my hands." Also, audiobooks are coming into their own. I'm hearing impaired so it's not something I ever really thought about, but recently many people are saying I should think about it.
What genres do you write?
Romance, Fantasy, Contemporary, Suspense, Mid-Grade
What formats are your books in?
eBook
Website(s)
D. V. Stone Home Page Link
Follow D. V. Stone On Amazon
Link to Author Page on Bookbub
Author’s Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
All information is provided by the author and is presented as it was submitted so you the reader get to hear the author’s own “voice” in their interview.