Editing Stafford Camp's book, The Camps and Sebrells of Barn Tavern, was a pleasure. "S.V." as he is most often called, is a character who can make you laugh in the midst of editorial frustration. Gail, his wife, is steady, beautiful, and wise. It was fun to experience their world in Courtland, VA, and Nags Head, NC. Though related to the Camps associated with Union Camp of Franklin, VA, Stafford, who seems to play life "by ear," charted his own business course. With Gail's help, he has been very successful.

A civil engineer, surveyor, farmer, developer, former casino owner, and, now, an author and local historian, Stafford seldom stays still. The history portion of his book has a freshness to it that comes from Stafford's insatiable curiosity and serious research. The memories he shares of his life range from the tender, in family matters, to the outrageous - his tangles with Union bosses during co-ownership of the Tallyho complex in Wilmington, Delaware, and his amusing forays into foreign business deals.

Often, "LOL" is an exaggerated term, but I did laugh out loud many times while working through Stafford's manuscript and sometimes when recalling off-the-cuff remarks he made during our work sessions. To the other extreme, some of his sweet thoughts about family brought tears to my eyes. It seems impossible to read his book without an engagement of feelings. The Camps and Sebrells of Barn Tavern will be available soon on amazon.com.