Guest Blog: Donna Jo Stone and Promise Me Tomorrow *E-Book Prize to Chosen Commenter **Winner: Debby
- ChristinaSinisi-Author
- Jun 8
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 18
Dear readers, I hope this post finds you healthy and well. The weather is getting hot here--may be able to jump in the pool soon! Are you more of a cold or hot weather person? You'd think I'd prefer cooler weather since I sunburn at the drop of a hat, but I adore swimming!
Now, please help me welcome Donna Jo Stone, from Texas--where I'm sure it gets plenty warm!
Introduce yourself—name, where you’re from, and something people notice when they meet you.
Hi! I’m Donna Jo Stone. I live in deep East Texas, not terribly far from the area where I grew up in rural NW Louisiana. People might notice how often I smile and laugh, and they may also notice that I have a tendency to make conversation and share stories with new acquaintances at the drop of a hat.
Tell us about your book—title and back cover blurb.
In Promise Me Tomorrow, sixteen-year-old Nina has all the typical stresses and issues of every high schooler—navigating friendships, boys, striving for good grades—but she also has difficulty communicating, sensory issues, and relationship struggles. She’s on the autism spectrum, as is her twin brother Will, although it manifests differently in Will than in does in Nina. (It’s common for ASD to look different females and males.) Nina has a lot to deal with, but the most devastating challenge she faces is coming to terms with the impending loss of her mother.
Sometimes the only way to hold on is by learning to let go.
For sixteen-year-old Nina, communicating her emotions is ridiculously hard. She expresses those best through art, the one thing she’s good at. When she’s chosen to design the school mural, she’s ecstatic. It’s a chance to connect with Mom and make her proud, because even though they don’t always see eye to eye, Mom always loves Nina’s art. But Nina’s joy is cut short by the news that her mother's cancer has returned, and this time it’s terminal.
Nina can't accept Mom's decision to refuse further treatment. There must be a way to save her.
If Mom won't find it, Nina will.
Consumed by her obsession to find a cure, Nina risks alienating the people she needs most—her friends, her family, and the boy who only wants to help.
Is it better to let Mom make her own choices about treatment, or should Nina keep pressing for a miracle, even if it builds an emotional wall between them?
Share one thing that you found difficult or challenging about writing this book.
The emotion-packed topic of loss had me in tears often and was difficult to write, as you can imagine, but perhaps the hardest part was getting the main character, Nina, absolutely right. It required multiple rewrites. I strove to immerse the reader into her mindset so they could come to understand her. I hope I’ve succeeded in portraying in a way that fosters understanding and empathy for young people (and others) on the spectrum dealing with grief and other challenges.
Ask the blog reader a quirky question or two? Let's get to know one another!
While Promise Me Tomorrow is a serious and emotional read, it has its lighter side.
For instance, Nina is put in charge of the art mural and must direct a group of three other students, one of whom happens to be a girl named Irene. Irene turns out to be the perfect, bubbly contrast to Nina’s serious manner. And, while Nina dresses in nondescript clothing and doesn’t seek attention in public, Irene wears color-coordinated outfits and uses a sparkly pen to write in her organizer. She is effusive over practically everything.
Do you have a friend who might seem a mismatch in some way (age, style, interests, life stage, etc.) but turned out to be the perfect person at the perfect time?
What’s the most fun you ever had working on a group project?
Share your social media and buy links!
Website: https://donnajostone.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donnajostone/
Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F3TSVZGF
Thank you, Donna, for being a guest!
Yes, I have a friend that does seem mismatched. We can share everything and anything with each other. It has been a while since I worked on a project with others. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
Book sounds and looks like a good read new author for me looking forward to reading print format of book.
Not really wish I could say had true friends
The most fun I ever had working on a group project was working together with a bunch of others on the Pep Rally back un high school
Hi Thanks for the great post. I am not sure I have read any of your books and would like to change that. Is there a book you have wanted to write but could not?