Simplicity by the Sea by Jennifer Vido

Rich Bennett: 00:00:00

Before we begin today's pitch, I want to thank Harford's Heart magazine for sponsoring this episode.

Harford's Heart has spent more than two decades highlighting the people, businesses, artists, and organizations that make Harford county such a vibrant place to live.

If you enjoy discovering local talent and staying connected to community events and stories, visit harfordsheart.com and explore the latest issue.

Welcome to the Author Pitch, where writers from around the world deliver a powerful pitch for their book and read a short excerpt in their own voice.

I'm your host, Rich Bennett, and today's guest is somebody you heard on my other podcast, Conversations with Rich Bennett a while ago, Jennifer Vito.

And the she is the author of several books, but today we're focused on Simplicity by the Sea.

And correct me if I'm wrong, this is the final book of a series.

Jennifer Vido: 00:00:54

It sure is.

Third book in the series.

Rich Bennett: 00:00:57

What are the other two books in the series?

Which you're gonna have to come on and pitch them again too.

Jennifer Vido: 00:01:01

Yes.

Well, the first one is Serendipity by the Sea.

The second one is Serenity by the Sea.

And now we've got the third and final one, which is Simplicity by the Sea.

And it is an award winning low country romance series.

Low country, Low country.

Rich Bennett: 00:01:15

What's that mean?

Jennifer Vido: 00:01:17

Set in South Carolina in the low country.

Rich Bennett: 00:01:19

Oh, okay, we said low country.

I'm thinking, is that a new type.

Jennifer Vido: 00:01:25

Of low country or high country or low country?

Rich Bennett: 00:01:28

Just like people sing base all the time.

Jennifer Vido: 00:01:30

Yes.

Rich Bennett: 00:01:31

All right, well, let's go ahead and start with your pitch.

Give listeners a tight, high impact overview and we'll start with the first question about what the book is.

Jennifer Vido: 00:01:41

It's a heartfelt coastal romance set in the charming low country in South Carolina.

Simplicity by the Sea is a story about love, second chances, and finding your way home.

Rich Bennett: 00:01:51

Why the low country of South Carolina?

Jennifer Vido: 00:01:54

My family's been going to the low country for over 35 years and that's my happy place.

So.

So if I was it is a beautiful place.

And down in South Carolina, we particularly like Kiawah and Seabrook.

And the series actually is based on Frip Island, South Carolina, which was a new place for us, but we love the low country, so it just made sense to set the book down.

Rich Bennett: 00:02:17

All right, so who is this book actually for?

Jennifer Vido: 00:02:19

It is perfect for fans of the Hallmark Channel style stories and readers who love sweet and emotional romances with a satisfying happily ever after.

Rich Bennett: 00:02:28

And why does it matter?

Jennifer Vido: 00:02:30

Well, I think we all crave escape in our lives and this book delivers it Certainly does.

It's a feel good story that lets readers step away from your real life and immerse themselves in love and warmth and hope.

Rich Bennett: 00:02:43

And besides the fact that you wrote it, what makes it unique?

Jennifer Vido: 00:02:48

Well, this is book three in a beloved award winning trilogy and people love series.

Yes, because you get invested in the characters and you want to come back and see what they're doing.

It's set, like I said, in the picturesque low country, inspired by Frip Island, South Carolina.

And it has a rich sense of place that feels like a mini vacation.

Rich Bennett: 00:03:07

And it's just going to want people read it.

They're going to want to go there.

Jennifer Vido: 00:03:12

Exactly.

Rich Bennett: 00:03:12

Because I know when you were on the other podcast and you talked about Frip Island.

Jennifer Vido: 00:03:18

Frip Island, Frip island.

Rich Bennett: 00:03:19

And it was an oyster shack or something there.

Jennifer Vido: 00:03:21

Oh, there's the shrimp Shack.

That was memory.

The Shrimp Shack where they make shrimp burgers.

And that is in the books I have make sure I do pay homage to the shrimp Shack.

And it is our first place we stop when we go to for violin.

Rich Bennett: 00:03:35

I tried to make one from scratch and I guarantee you it's not as.

Jennifer Vido: 00:03:38

Good as what you're.

There's nothing better than fresh shrimp in a shrimp burger.

I highly recommend.

Rich Bennett: 00:03:44

All right, so let's go ahead and hear the excerpt that you actually brought for us today.

And go ahead, take your time, settle in and let her rip when you're ready.

Okay, so door or the seat or the microphone, whatever you want to call it is on.

Jennifer Vido: 00:03:59

All right, so I just want give you a little inspiration before I read it.

The opening scene is which I'm going to read.

It introduces Delaney Huger as she rushes and she's the lead character, the heroine.

She rushes back to Gold island for the wedding of the season and it immediately gives insight into her personality, her inner thoughts, and sets up key relationships and storylines.

Okay, so sit back and get ready.

A distant murmur of cheerful voices and melodic peals of laughter pierced through the night air, drawing Delaney Huger closer to the illuminated lighthouse nestled on the South Carolina coastline.

She sank onto a rock, twisting her dress in frustration.

She let them down.

Her partners in crime, notably her sister and best friend, were tucked inside the adjoining wedding tent, glasses clinking in joyful toasts celebrating the nuptials of childhood friends.

The imaginary scene played out in her mind.

Her friends in summer cocktail dresses, heels clicking on the parquet dance floor while she stumbled through Apologies, the traffic was terrible and you'll never believe what happened.

She could almost hear her voice faltering as she grasped for excuses for failing to arrive on Gull island as scheduled.

The charming small town affair wasn't just an ordinary island celebration where, with some random tourist couple exchanging vows in the lush low country amid crickets chirping and frogs trilling in the late May heat, the social event of the season.

The wedding of the beloved Kate Ainsworth and Knox Price, witnessed by her childhood friends, extended family, and an island neighbors, had unfolded nearly an hour ago at a picturesque sunset ceremony on the beach.

Painted in vibrant palettes of pastel hues, the town buzzed with excitement over their second chance romance.

Delaney recalled her sister's text blazing across the car's display screen, drawing her attention from the endless traffic jam.

The procession is starting.

A desperate follow up from the bride pierced her heart.

Delaney, Please hurry.

Moving as fast as I can.

Delaney shouted at her dashboard, the words hollow even to her own ears.

Guilt twisted in her stomach, sharp and insistent as she glanced at the time again.

Yet her ability to arrive promptly for the nuptials or the reception proved too big of an ask for a rising marketing executive who demanded others be punctual, if not early, regularly.

A frown tugged at the corners of her mouth.

If only she hadn't picked up that last minute call from her boss requesting her immediate and undivided attention to a satisfied, disgruntled big wig client.

She hitched a breath, hands fluttering like they lost track of what she should be doing.

She sighed, the distant celebration sounding miles away even though she was just outside.

Wrapping her arms around herself, she wished she could rewind the day.

Delaney tugged the itchy material clinging to the nape of her neck and and hooked her press on nail on a loophole, missing a button securing her small straw clutch between her knees.

She grabbed the lacy collar with both hands, refastening it from top to bottom.

Teetering on platform wedges, she was careful not to lose her balance with the three extra inches added to her already towering height.

She blew a tendril out of her eyes, satisfied with her quick fix.

Lesson learned.

Next time she'd opt to dress in the comfort of her apartment and not in a stall at the highway rest stop.

Delaney tiptoed around the perimeter, breathing in the salty air.

She was careful not to cast a shadow onto the tent, alerting those inside.

Not that they weren't fully aware of her delay.

Her phone buzzed with insistent texts from her younger sister, Haven, inquiring about her exact whereabouts.

Throughout the ceremony, Haven's messages grew increasingly frantic.

Where are you?

Tell me you're almost here.

I'm Going as fast as I can.

The word slipped out in a thin, quivering whisper.

Delaney swallowed hard, her remorse choking her.

She was thankful for her siblings resourceful quick thinking to utilize her speakerphone, enabling her to catch the ceremony while driving along the highway and back roads leading to the remote island.

The cell phone reception faded in and out, but she caught the vows and the grand applause of the attendees, confirming the couple sealed it with a kiss.

Dusk fell, painting the sky with brushstrokes of yellow and red, a welcome distraction from Delaney's pangs of regret.

The beacon shining down from atop the lighthouse lit up the grounds near the tent, providing glimpses of tall seagrasses waving in the breeze.

The soothing sound of waves breaking at the shoreline temporarily slowed her heartbeat.

She couldn't help but remember all the summer days exploring the lighthouse grounds in her childhood with her sister and island friends and sharing ghost stories at night in her teenage years huddled around a beach bonfire.

Despite her love of the sun, sand, and sea, she constantly struggled to find time in her hectic schedule to return home to visit her family and friends.

Delaney tucked under the guyline, securing the temporary structure while being mindful of its purpose.

The last thing she needed was to collapse the tent with the guests carousing inside.

A bright light peeked through an opening less than 15 yards away, beckoning her to enter.

She inhaled a deep breath, hopeful this access would allow her to be discreet.

Straightening her rumpled dress, she threw her shoulders back, standing tall, all 5ft 11 inches of her, plus some thanks to her fancy shoes.

She drew open the white tent flap with a firm hand and slipped inside the the clinking of glasses greeted Delaney, signaling the newlyweds to appease the crowd with an obligatory kiss.

Come on, Mr. And Mrs. Price, the disc jockey teased over the loudspeaker.

Every guest turned to stare at the couple seated directly in front of Delaney.

She caught Mrs. Price, the newly minted title sitting unsettling on her tongue, angling her severe light brown chon ever so slightly toward her new husband.

His tousled blond hair was more suited to a surfer crashing waves than a groom at the most lavish wedding Gull island had hosted this season.

She scratched at her stiff lace dress, already planning her escape back to Virginia.

The spotlight shimmered unexpectedly on Delaney's face.

Displaying a grin to the entire audience, she offered a lackluster wave to the gawking, wide eyed islanders.

Congratulations, Kate and Knox, she squeaked.

And there you go.

Rich Bennett: 00:10:55

Oh God, I love it.

Jennifer Vido: 00:10:57

Thank you.

Rich Bennett: 00:10:58

Oh my God, I the whole time you're reading that all.

As I.

And I told you before we started, how we just went to North Carolina for a wedding.

I'm picturing that wedding the whole time.

And a lot of the things that you read in that reminded me of where you were that were going on.

And it just.

The.

Of course, the first thing I had in my mind was the lighthouse.

Talk about the lighthouse on the beach.

And it's just something about the Carolinas.

Jennifer Vido: 00:11:27

And lighthouses, they go hand in hand.

Yes, yes.

Rich Bennett: 00:11:31

And it's just so beautiful.

Jennifer Vido: 00:11:35

It's rich history, plus, plus a landmark, plus just the island kind of operates around it.

And it's just.

It's like the feeling of home.

You see that lighthouse, you know you're home.

Rich Bennett: 00:11:48

So what actually, why that particular excerpt that you read,.

Jennifer Vido: 00:11:54

That was the whole catalyst for the whole story.

Because I do.

Spoiler alert.

If you haven't read the books yet, Kate and Knox are the first story that it is their love story in Serendipity by the Sea.

So I knew since it was the conclusion of the series, we had to bring them back in a big way.

So that's why when I got the idea for Simplicity by the Sea, I thought, well, how am I gonna start this?

Because not only am I telling a different story, I'm telling Delaney's story, but I do have to wrap up the whole series.

And I thought, well, those readers would really wanna know, well, what happened to Kate and Knox?

Where are they?

What's going on?

So that was the catalyst for the whole book.

So that's why I wanted to read that.

Because if you're a reader that you knew, you read book one or both, book one and two, you'd be like, oh, my gosh, they're back.

So that's why I decided to read that section.

Rich Bennett: 00:12:44

So with this series, did you.

Were you on the beach when you did most of your writing?

Jennifer Vido: 00:12:51

No, I do mostly do most of this writing when I'm in Bel Air, Maryland.

Yes.

But we go to the Charleston area every year, sometimes a couple times a year.

But like I said, I've been going there for over 35 years.

Rich Bennett: 00:13:04

So you're used to it.

Jennifer Vido: 00:13:04

I'm so used to it.

But also, I grew up on the Jersey shore, so that.

That's.

That's my home is the Jersey Shore.

Rich Bennett: 00:13:10

Big difference.

Jennifer Vido: 00:13:11

There's a very busy shore and low country.

There sure is.

But I just think the sea is in my soul, so.

And I think it does come through in my writing, so.

Rich Bennett: 00:13:20

It absolutely does.

It does.

I mean, I'm just The whole time I'm just picturing myself sitting there on the beach watching this wedding in the.

Jennifer Vido: 00:13:29

Distance as she's sneaking into the tent, hoping no one's gonna see her.

And of all the places she has to get in the tent, she gets right where the bride and groom are.

Rich Bennett: 00:13:40

Normally I ask what sparked this book for you, but I have to ask you differently because this was a series.

So what sparked the series for you?

Jennifer Vido: 00:13:49

I've.

I love Hallmark Channel, right?

And one day I certainly hope my books are on Hallmark.

That's my goal.

A lot of people are like, well, I want to hit the New York Times bestseller list, which I'd love to do that too.

But for me, I want my book to become a Hallmark movie.

I love a series, or even just, I'll take one.

But so Hallmark is my happy place.

And so that's why I wanted to write a series that was very relaxing, a tribute to the low country, which I love, and just a nice, easy, happy escape.

Rich Bennett: 00:14:26

I think your books are better than Hallmark.

Jennifer Vido: 00:14:28

Oh, you're so sweet.

A little biased, but sweet.

Rich Bennett: 00:14:32

So what do you hope that readers feel after finishing this book?

Series, I should say.

Jennifer Vido: 00:14:38

Well, I have to say each romance is a slow burn romance.

So if you'd like books that are more than pg, this is not your book.

This is Hallmarkish.

They're definitely a perfect beach read.

They have vivid coastal settings that make you wish you could visit the low country.

And if you never get to the low country, I want you to feel as if you've already visited by reading my series.

Like that you've been there.

And the great thing I think about all three of the books, there's really strong character connection for the reader with an emotional depth with the reader with the books.

But also they're recurring characters.

And you know, my favorite character of all three books, and I always say this is Old man Henry.

You know, we all in our communities have that one person, whether a man or a woman, who just knows, has been around, knows the town, knows the people and, and just wants the best for everybody.

And that's Old man Henry in my series.

And so that's what I want people to think.

Like, if you.

We've got so much going on in our lives, right?

It's so nice to be able to sit down and read a book and just escape for a little while to a place that maybe you'd like to visit and make friends with the characters that are there and come back to the next book to visit with them and come back again.

Rich Bennett: 00:15:58

You think old man Henry will get his own book?

Jennifer Vido: 00:16:01

You know what?

You're the first person ever to ask me that.

Rich Bennett: 00:16:04

Really?

Jennifer Vido: 00:16:05

Yes.

And quite frankly, I've never thought about that.

Rich Bennett: 00:16:08

You know, he's got a lot of stories to tell.

Jennifer Vido: 00:16:11

Henry's got.

But the thing about Henry, though, is he's there to save the day when everything goes awry.

He's there to save the day.

Rich Bennett: 00:16:20

He's the true local superhero.

Jennifer Vido: 00:16:21

He's the true local local local.

And he's the guy.

If you want to know where to get anything, you ask Henry.

But that's a really good question.

Very good.

Rich Bennett: 00:16:32

I think he deserves one.

Jennifer Vido: 00:16:34

Yes.

Rich Bennett: 00:16:35

You never know.

Jennifer Vido: 00:16:36

Yes.

Rich Bennett: 00:16:36

All right, so here's a very hard question.

What's next for Jennifer Vito as an author?

Jennifer Vido: 00:16:43

I am already writing my next book.

I am 43,000 words in, so I'm more than halfway done.

And it's called a Nashville Noel.

I went to school in Nashville.

I went to Vanderbilt University.

Rich Bennett: 00:16:56

Okay.

Jennifer Vido: 00:16:57

My husband and I both did.

My brother did, my brother in law, my sister in law.

We've got a lot of Vanderbilt in our family.

And so I decided I wanted to write about Nashville.

And it's about.

I don't want to give too much away, but it's a Christmas book set in Nashville.

Yes.

And so I'm very excited about it.

It's the first of three books, a new series that I hope to sell.

So.

Yes.

So.

So that's all I really can tell you about it now, but I go to Nashville every year to visit with friends.

So luckily I'm back in the Nashville scene.

And so I was able to pull from my experiences of going to college there, as well as being able to visit now in present day.

So I'm really excited about this new series.

Rich Bennett: 00:17:46

Okay.

And this series is not your first book.

How many books have you written so far?

Jennifer Vido: 00:17:50

So my first series were three books.

This is three books.

This is number seven.

Seventh book.

Yes.

Rich Bennett: 00:17:58

Wow.

Jennifer Vido: 00:17:59

Yes.

And I like to write.

I do things in threes.

Three is my lucky number.

I like to do things in threes.

So this series, the Gull island series, was three.

This new one, I'm going to pitch it as a three book series.

So we'll see what happens.

I'm very excited about.

Rich Bennett: 00:18:15

Are you working full time, too?

Jennifer Vido: 00:18:16

I do work full time, yes.

I do work full time as executive director of the Harford County Bar Foundation.

I've been there 10 years.

I love my job.

I love the people I work with.

I love the community I serve.

But my escape is at night.

I sit down 8 o' clock every night, and I write.

That's what I do.

Rich Bennett: 00:18:35

Do you find time to read as well?

Jennifer Vido: 00:18:37

I do.

I do read as well.

I read before I go to bed every night.

Rich Bennett: 00:18:41

Because that's got to be important as well.

Jennifer Vido: 00:18:42

It is.

And it's funny you should say that, because my current publisher, it's really important for them for us to continue reading because you want to see, like, what are other writers, you know, exploring now and, you know, even patterns in writing.

And you learn a lot from reading other people's writing, other people's books.

Rich Bennett: 00:19:01

Never asked this, but I have a funny feeling that you are.

You may not know it, and you may know it, but do you feel like you're also a mentor to other aspiring authors?

Jennifer Vido: 00:19:13

Absolutely.

And I.

And I find that especially when I'm doing book signings, people come and say, listen, I read your book, and I decided, you know what I want to do, that I want to write it.

And it really does.

And I try to give back as best as I can.

And, you know, I also have a column that I write, Jen's Jewels, which appears on freshfiction.com every Friday.

And it's exciting because I get to meet people that have mentored me and I feature their books.

And so it always goes full circle.

You know, you give.

You give back when you can, and things get returned.

And so it's, It's.

It's.

Rich Bennett: 00:19:49

You know, I'm still surprised you haven't started your own podcast talking to other authors.

Jennifer Vido: 00:19:54

I.

That you don't want.

Rich Bennett: 00:19:56

You don't want all that extra work.

Jennifer Vido: 00:19:57

Well, it's on the bucket list.

It's something I would really like to do.

I really do enjoy podcasts and talking to other artists and find out what their inspiration is and, and how they get it done.

Thank you so much.

You do learn so much when you talk to others.

Rich Bennett: 00:20:12

I've been doing this for over 10 years, and I'm still learning.

I think we talked about it before we started recording.

I'm still learning things from authors and not.

And when I mentioned it to other authors, they're like, oh, my God, that's a great idea.

Jennifer Vido: 00:20:26

Yeah.

Rich Bennett: 00:20:27

So something very important.

Where can people purchase your books?

Books and follow you?

Jennifer Vido: 00:20:34

So you can purchase my books wherever books are sold, my book comes in print.

Ebook.

You can get it from Harford County Public Library.

They do have it on hoopla as well as on the shelves.

And you can go to my website, jennifervito.com to learn about all Whatever I'm.

Rich Bennett: 00:20:52

Doing, it's V I D O.

Jennifer Vido: 00:20:53

Thank you for that.

That's right.

I'm on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook threads x.

And the most important thing is I'm on Amazon and I'm on Goodreads.

So if you are an avid reader, please follow me on Amazon or please follow me on Goodreads.

And you know, the most important thing is reviews are really important for writers because quite simply, that's how other readers find your books.

So if you recommend a book, then you tell a friend and tell a friend and then others find your books as well.

So please, if you loved it, please leave a review.

Rich Bennett: 00:21:25

And you never know, somebody like Dana Perino may say, oh, I have to get Jennifer's book and read it.

Jennifer Vido: 00:21:31

You never know, you never know who might be reading your books.

Rich Bennett: 00:21:34

Jennifer, is there anything you would like to add?

Jennifer Vido: 00:21:37

Well, if you'd like to follow me on Instagram or TikTok, I just wanted to let you know I recently launched a new social media series called Jen's Book Mail.

I get a lot of books sent to me for my column and just authors sharing their books and I pretty much, I try every day to get on there on my Instagram stories or on TikTok to show you what I got in the mail to see what books are coming out.

So, so come follow me on both and you could see some really good books.

I'm a big fan of pre ordering books.

Pre ordering books really helps authors.

But also I love to be in the know.

So when a book drops, you could say, well, I'm currently reading it.

And so you know when, when you're engaging with other people and you're out and about, it's so nice when you find someone who has a common interest in what you read and to have that conversation.

One book that I just recently read is Theo of Golden.

I don't know if you read it.

Phenomenal book, Theo of Golden.

I don't know the author's name off the top of my head.

Phenomenal book.

And Judge Stone by Viola Davis and James Patterson.

If you're looking for a great audiobook, I listened to it on audiobook.

Fantastic.

So yes, I'm just sharing on Jen's Book mail.

Just some books that I've received in the mail that maybe would be of interest to you.

So please give me a follow.

Rich Bennett: 00:22:54

You got my brain.

You got the get.

You got that hamster in my, on that wheel on my head spinning now.

Yeah, I'm coming up with ideas.

Jennifer Vido: 00:23:02

Huh.

Rich Bennett: 00:23:02

I'm giving Jenner.

I'm gonna be giving Jennifer more work.

Jennifer Vido: 00:23:05

There you go.

Rich Bennett: 00:23:06

Jennifer, thank you so much.

It's always great seeing you, and I'm just so excited to see how well you're doing with this.

Jennifer Vido: 00:23:14

Thank you.

Rich Bennett: 00:23:14

I mean, for those of you that don't know Jennifer, I see it on social media because it seems like she's never around here, has just been going everywhere promoting this book, which is important, too.

Jennifer Vido: 00:23:28

Very important.

Rich Bennett: 00:23:29

But all these different signings and readings, and I'm not just talking about in Maryland.

You've been going everywhere.

Jennifer Vido: 00:23:36

Yeah.

And I'll be my next big set.

Next leg of my book tour, I'm going back to South Carolina.

I'll be there July 18th through the 25th.

I'll be at McIntosh Bookshop in Beaufort, South Carolina.

I'll be at Indigo Books in Kiawah Island.

I'll also be on Fripp island at Springtide Market.

So that shrimp burger that get my shrimp burger before I go to the book signing.

And so all those dates are listed on my website as.

And there's some other appearances.

I'll be at Spark in the park and Severna Park.

That's in August.

So lots of good things coming up.

Rich Bennett: 00:24:09

Amazing.

You are, when it comes to entrepreneurs, you are like the.

I guess the gold statue or whatever.

Jennifer Vido: 00:24:21

Oh, that's right.

Rich Bennett: 00:24:21

You're doing everything that you should be doing.

Jennifer Vido: 00:24:24

Thank you.

Thank you.

Rich Bennett: 00:24:25

Wow.

Thanks for listening to the author pitch.

I'm Rich Bennett, and until next time, keep turning pages and discovering new voices.