This week’s guest is D. V. Stone with a story most of us an relate to. (Grab a tissue or two)
May 11th, 2008 was a beautiful day. The sun was shining a light breeze. My husband was getting ready for work. Pretty normal. Then the phone rang. It was my younger sister. While driving home from a mother’s day camping trip, her forty-one-year-old husband had a heart attack. He’d died behind the wheel with her and their two young sons in the RV.
I thank God to this day they weren’t’ injured when the vehicle rolled into a ditch. There was enough tragedy that day—one with far-reaching repercussions. You see that day, not only he died, so did dreams. Everything they’d worked toward and planned for—gone.
As an author, writing is a way to deal with issues in life. As we all worked through my sister and her sons grief, several things came to mind for me to write. One of them called The Trouble With Firsts. I don’t want to wallow here in tragedy. It’s more important that we move forward. It’s twelve years later. She still misses her first love, but she’s doing okay. The kids are grown and branching out on their own.
There are several things about my sister. She’s strong. She has a heart the size of Jupiter. She is tenacious. Though she struggled to give her kids the life she and her husband planned, they all survived and came through, a little battle-weary but strong.
My sister was a very young widow. After a time, she tried dating, and I remember her saying once she didn’t want to grow old alone, but wrong guys were all too many. I think sometimes it’s easier to give up and accept our circumstances. Not her. She put her heart on the line, again and again, to have it wounded. It’s a tough world more so today than in the past for people to find someone.
I am happy to report here in 2020, and she is in a committed monogamous relationship with a great man. They even have puppies together. It was a long winding and often potholed road, but I’m proud of her and the woman she’s become.
I never wrote The Trouble With Firsts, though it’s not off the table, I did write a book called Rainbow Sprinkles. I dedicated it to my sister.
This story is dedicated to my sister, who lost her husband at an early age. I’m glad you never stopped looking for your rainbow.
Rainbow Sprinkles isn’t in anyway biographical. But the struggles Gloriana Jones deals with are very real. I’ve taken a mash-up of life experiences to write and be part of a new series by Wild Rose Press. This was so much fun and at the same time poignant. I also enjoyed bringing correction officers to the page and show them as caring human beings. Since I worked for many years in a state prison medical department, I learned so much about these unsung heroes of which my husband and son both are.
Title: Rainbow Sprinkles
Series One Scoop or Two
Author: D. V. Stone
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Cover artist: Tina Lynn Stout
Pages 63
Genre/heat rating Sweet
Retired and widowed Gloriana Jones is forging on with the plans she and her late husband dreamed of—bringing joy and happiness, one ice cream cone at a time, to Lake Unami. But bad weather is drowning her dream.
A trip to Upstate NY is bittersweet for Nathan James. He is excited to see his first granddaughter but without his wife he’s lonely. When his car breaks down, he heads to the only light he can see, an ice cream shop.
With aid from a heavenly source, electricity sparks, but will the two weather the summer storms and find love a second time? Or will their hopes and dreams melt away?
Excerpt
“Do you mind if I wait until the tow truck gets here?” He plucked the wet shirt away from his chest with the long fingers of one tanned hand. “It must be electrical, even the radio stopped working.”
“No, you’re welcome to hang around as long as you need.” Gloriana riffled through a cardboard box under the counter, pulled out an extra-large t-shirt, and tossed it to him. “Here you go. The restroom is through there.”
Mr. Gorgeous beamed a perfect toothy smile. “Thanks. I’ll be right back.”
When he disappeared into the hallway, and the door clicked shut, Gloriana fanned her face. What the hot fudge was wrong with her? “Coffee. Make coffee.”
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Meet D.V. Stone
D. V. Stone is a multi-genre author of two independently published books. Felice, Shield-Mates of Dar is a fantasy romance. Agent Sam Carter and the Mystery at Branch Lake is a mid-grade paranormal. Rock House Grill was released by Wild Rose Press and July 2020 Rainbow Sprinkles will follow. As host of two blogs, she enjoys sharing not only her life but introducing other authors via Welcome to the Campfire and A Peek Through the Window.
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. D. V. brings much of her life experience to her writing as a former EMT, restaurant and coffee shop owner among other things. Throughout her wandering, she considers herself a Jersey Girl especially after meeting and marrying the love of her life, Peter—a lifelong Jersey Man, and moving to Sussex County. They live with Hali, a mixed breed from the local shelter and their cat Baby.
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Rock House Grill is a sweet, contemporary, romantic suspense.
Australia Burns D. V. is a contributing author to this charitable publication.
Felice, Shield-Mates of Dar a clean fantasy romance.
Agent Sam Carter and the Mystery at Branch Lake is a mid-grade paranormal.
One response to “Never Stop Looking For Your Rainbow. #tragedy #newlife #romance”
Kudos to your sister for not giving up and to you for your writing success!