Hi, Shannon! Thanks for stopping by my blog for a chat. All righty, let’s get started.
Shannon McDowell but I go by Shay
What do you look like?
I’m 5”7 Medium build say 145 lbs. Chestnut hair Hazel eyes (Quite attractive but doesn’t realize it.)
What time period does your story take place?
Today
What’s your goal in this story?
What’s your goal in this story?
I’m an EMT and I love it…but my dream has always been to be a chef.
What conflicts are you facing?
What conflicts are you facing?
Ugh…dealing with my ex-husband’s girlfriend. She got me fired from my job as in a good restaurant. I want to be a chef and didn’t know how I was going to get that kind of job without culinary school behind me. And new relationships? Sometimes they can be difficult to navigate.
What is your occupation?
What is your occupation?
I’m a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician and I work, sorry— worked— as Front of House at Mario’s. That means hostess plus. I kind of manage everything but the food. And now? Because of Rock House Grill, I’m beginning to live the dream.
Are you any good at it?
I’m good but there’s always room for improvement.
Do you like it?
At Mario’s? Well, I did for a time, but I wanted more. I don’t think I could ever give up being an EMT. And now at Rock House, I don’t like it—I love it.
What skill do you have that you’re proud of?
What did you think the first time you saw Aden House?
What skill do you have that you’re proud of?
I can read people.
Why?
Whether I’m dealing with a medical issue or a customer issue, it helps to take control of the situation and make it better.
What did you think the first time you saw Aden House?
He’s was as wrecked as his car in the accident. It’s a miracle he survived. Especially his legs. But he had the nicest eyes. Brown. Warm.
What is your family like?
What is your family like?
My mother and father are not part of my life. After they dumped me on Grandma Grace, they never bother me unless they need something. Grandma taught me about life. I lost her a couple of years ago. Then I married my ex, Nick. I thought it would be forever. It didn’t and now I’m finally able to move on.
What is the best piece of advice you ever received?
What is the best piece of advice you ever received?
Grandma Grace said Assess the past. Learn from your mistakes, Shannon. Move forward and don’t let fear hold you back.
Do you see morality as black-and-white, or with shades of gray?
Do you see morality as black-and-white, or with shades of gray?
Gray and more than 50 shades. LOL. Good people do bad things sometimes, bad people do good things. If I were in someone else’s shoes what decision would I make? There is a quote from somewhere that goes something like this. But for the grace of God, there I go. There is true morality. For instance, I know I can’t just walk up to you and punch you in the face. But if someone does. Could it be mental illness? Do they need help? I try not to judge without facts. But even when people do bad things I believe in redemption.
What’s your quirkiest habit?
Blurb
Hi, my name is D. V. Stone. I am 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. Recently, Rock House Grill, a contemporary romance has been signed with Wild Rose Press. I also host Welcome to the Campfire, a weekly blog.
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 adopted Hali, a mixed breed from the local shelter, who is still working things out with 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 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.
"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
What’s your quirkiest habit?
It’s not quirky it’s disgusting. Look at this thumb nail.
If you could go back in time, what one thing would you change in your life?
If you could go back in time, what one thing would you change in your life?
Life can be bad at times. I do have regrets, but would I change things? I don’t think so. Really, it’s the tough things that develop you as a person.
Why do you think your author chose to write about you?
Why do you think your author chose to write about you?
I think she wants to tell people to never give up. To believe in love. To embrace each day knowing what’s important because you’re never guaranteed tomorrow.
What other character from your book do you think your author should write a book about? Care to tell us why?
What other character from your book do you think your author should write a book about? Care to tell us why?
Olivia House is my best friend and Aden’s sister. She is an amazing woman who know a lot about tomorrows without guarantees.
One man’s choices—One woman’s impact
Rock House Grill
Coming in 2020
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?
Excerpt
“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. “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 you injure yourself further.” 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.
“It’s dark because we’re covered while we extricate you. The noise is from the rescue crew cutting the car away.”
Even in his pain, Aden winced at the thought of his baby being chopped up. The voice was busy shuffling something around. While she worked in the dark, he tried piecing together what happened. He grabbed at her hand when she began to place something over his face.
“Stop. It’s just an oxygen mask. It won’t hurt.” The steady order was backed up by compassion in the tone.
His angel meant business.
“Hold on, Shannon. We’re going to pop the lid.” A man’s voice called from outside their inky cocoon.
“Told him not to call me that,” she muttered under her breath.
Shannon, my angel's name is Shannon. A loud pop came from the front end, and then scree. Some metal-eating monster was taking a big bite out of his baby. The car jostled, sending a flame of pain shooting up his legs. He moaned.
“Shh, I’m sorry. There’s no way to make this not hurt.”
His car screamed again, and the steering wheel pinning him began to pull free of his legs. Even in the dark, there were spots of light before his eyes. Bile burned in the back of his throat. Everything started to fade away, as he recognized her taking his blood pressure.
“Aden?”
He felt muddy. Then tapping at his face.
“Aden!” The tap came harder. “That’s his name, right?”
“Yeah, it’s who the plates are registered to,” a male voice answered.
“Aden, come on, open your eyes. You need to stay with me.”
He forced his eyes open but could barely make out any features behind the helmet’s shield. He latched onto the woman’s voice like a lifeline.
“We’re almost ready to move you, Aden. I don’t want you to fight us or try and help. Let us do all the work.”
After a few more minutes of torturous screeching, the tarp covering him pulled up and away. Glass tinkled to the ground and crunched under boots. The air was thick with the smell of diesel.
He couldn’t lift his head. Right, they’d strapped it to a board. His gaze skittered around, taking in red, yellow, and blue flashing lights. At first, he was grateful when they uncovered him. But when they began to remove him from the remains of the car, the pain grew unbearable. He groaned.
There were moments of clarity as he slipped in and out of consciousness. The noise and the flashing lights gave a dreamlike quality to the scene. The world slithered by in slow motion. Flat on his back, he floated through the air as they carefully carried the stretcher toward the flashing red-and-blue lights of an ambulance.
“Angel?” He’d lost her.
“I’m here.”
She grasped his flailing hand.
The warmth of her hand and sound of her voice cut through everything else, calming and encouraging him. Things he could lock onto. Her face now visible, free from the protective shield, held his gaze. Worry creased the space between her eyes.
“Aden, right?
“Yeah.” He licked his split lip and could taste the metallic tang of blood. A man’s shout cut through the increasing buzz in his ears.
“He’s crashing!”
“Hold on, Aden.”
For the first time since he initially heard her voice, she sounded unsure—shaky.
I’m dying. Visions of what this would do to Olivia filled him with regret.
When they loaded him into the ambulance, the pain in his legs overwhelmed all other thoughts. Darkness seeped back into the edge of his vision. The last thing he heard was his angel curse.
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?
Excerpt
“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. “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 you injure yourself further.” 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.
“It’s dark because we’re covered while we extricate you. The noise is from the rescue crew cutting the car away.”
Even in his pain, Aden winced at the thought of his baby being chopped up. The voice was busy shuffling something around. While she worked in the dark, he tried piecing together what happened. He grabbed at her hand when she began to place something over his face.
“Stop. It’s just an oxygen mask. It won’t hurt.” The steady order was backed up by compassion in the tone.
His angel meant business.
“Hold on, Shannon. We’re going to pop the lid.” A man’s voice called from outside their inky cocoon.
“Told him not to call me that,” she muttered under her breath.
Shannon, my angel's name is Shannon. A loud pop came from the front end, and then scree. Some metal-eating monster was taking a big bite out of his baby. The car jostled, sending a flame of pain shooting up his legs. He moaned.
“Shh, I’m sorry. There’s no way to make this not hurt.”
His car screamed again, and the steering wheel pinning him began to pull free of his legs. Even in the dark, there were spots of light before his eyes. Bile burned in the back of his throat. Everything started to fade away, as he recognized her taking his blood pressure.
“Aden?”
He felt muddy. Then tapping at his face.
“Aden!” The tap came harder. “That’s his name, right?”
“Yeah, it’s who the plates are registered to,” a male voice answered.
“Aden, come on, open your eyes. You need to stay with me.”
He forced his eyes open but could barely make out any features behind the helmet’s shield. He latched onto the woman’s voice like a lifeline.
“We’re almost ready to move you, Aden. I don’t want you to fight us or try and help. Let us do all the work.”
After a few more minutes of torturous screeching, the tarp covering him pulled up and away. Glass tinkled to the ground and crunched under boots. The air was thick with the smell of diesel.
He couldn’t lift his head. Right, they’d strapped it to a board. His gaze skittered around, taking in red, yellow, and blue flashing lights. At first, he was grateful when they uncovered him. But when they began to remove him from the remains of the car, the pain grew unbearable. He groaned.
There were moments of clarity as he slipped in and out of consciousness. The noise and the flashing lights gave a dreamlike quality to the scene. The world slithered by in slow motion. Flat on his back, he floated through the air as they carefully carried the stretcher toward the flashing red-and-blue lights of an ambulance.
“Angel?” He’d lost her.
“I’m here.”
She grasped his flailing hand.
The warmth of her hand and sound of her voice cut through everything else, calming and encouraging him. Things he could lock onto. Her face now visible, free from the protective shield, held his gaze. Worry creased the space between her eyes.
“Aden, right?
“Yeah.” He licked his split lip and could taste the metallic tang of blood. A man’s shout cut through the increasing buzz in his ears.
“He’s crashing!”
“Hold on, Aden.”
For the first time since he initially heard her voice, she sounded unsure—shaky.
I’m dying. Visions of what this would do to Olivia filled him with regret.
When they loaded him into the ambulance, the pain in his legs overwhelmed all other thoughts. Darkness seeped back into the edge of his vision. The last thing he heard was his angel curse.
Hi, my name is D. V. Stone. I am 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. Recently, Rock House Grill, a contemporary romance has been signed with Wild Rose Press. I also host Welcome to the Campfire, a weekly blog.
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 adopted Hali, a mixed breed from the local shelter, who is still working things out with 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 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.
"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
Hi, Amber.
ReplyDeleteThanks for having me and Shay here today. D. V. 🦉
You're welcome. Anytime!
DeleteGreat post, Amber! I really enjoyed reading this book. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys a good romantic suspense.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I read this book, too, and really enjoyed it.
DeleteThank you, CB.
ReplyDelete