The books for the Apron Strings Book Series keep releasing and this month it is Joann by Donna Stone.

The series features books about women in each decade from 1920 to 2020 and they are connected by one recipe/cookery book, but otherwise the books can be read individually.

Today I am interviewing Donna about her writing and her book, which releases today. See the bottom of this post for a link to the book.

1.       Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’ve always loved the written word and books. The bookstore or library is my favorite hangout. Growing up, I used to climb up into a tree in search of a quiet spot to read a book, away from my siblings. I’ve given up tree climbing, but still enjoy a bit of peace and quiet with a book. 

Writing has been a big part of my life for as far back as I remember. During the years my children were young, I wrote for magazines and for fun—when I could find time. We homeschooled and were very active in the homeschool community, with church, and with dance and theater. 

A few years ago, I started writing novels with the intent of publishing. This was a different world than writing short fiction and nonfiction! I entered a few writing contests and to my surprise did quite well, which encouraged me to think I might be able to make a go of this novel writing thing. Right now, I have five completed novels that are scheduled to be published in 2024 and 2025. I regularly contribute to Almost an Author, a site for writers about craft.

2. What is your latest book about? Who are the main characters and when and where does it take place?

Joann is part of the Apron Strings series. The story takes place in 1965 in the small rural community of Pecan Grove, Louisiana. Joann works in her family’s store and it’s her dream to one day share proprietorship with her younger sister and continue a long family legacy. She has a deep loyalty to the family business and believes serving her community in this way is her true calling. Joann’s father would rather his girls got married. In truth, Joann wants both, but during the 60s a married woman rarely had a career or business. Then there’s the not-so-small matter of whether or not Nathan, the only guy she’s ever loved, is serious enough about her to commit to marriage. Besides romance and Joann facing all the challenges of her expected role in society, the story explores family relationships, especially between Joann and her younger sister. 

3.       What is the overarching message of your latest book?

Because of past abandonment and her personality, Joann struggles with letting others, including God, take the lead. This causes her unnecessary heartache, even as she tries her best to seek God and understand what it means to “lean not unto your own understanding”.

4.       Did you learn anything about writing or yourself as you were writing the book?

When writing, I often use music to inspire me, and with this book, I found out I know a lot of the lyrics to songs of the 60s! The music of the times was all over the place, reflecting the changes and issues of the day. Listening to those songs from the 1960s definitely gave me a feel for the era. 

On the spiritual side, writing Joann reminded me of truths I already know, but all to often lose sight of. In the busyness of tending to a family with special needs, I’m called on to smooth out the bumps, which can feed into a reliance on self. That’s not a bad thing, as long as it doesn’t become my go-to so much that I forget to lean on God make space to listen to Him. In our culture of hurry, the practice of waiting and listening is hard to nurture.

5.       Where can readers find out more about you and your projects?

Website: https://donnajostone.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556916105499

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donnajostone/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7768860.Donna_Jo_Stone

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donna-Jo-Stone/author/B0CR8VJT1S