Inspired by actual events, Too Many Stones is the story of Evelyn Toraason. It begins in 1930 when Evelyn is a bright eleven-year-old girl with the potential to go far beyond the poor, rural, and beautiful, almost spiritual Wisconsin coulee farm where she lives. The bond between Evelyn and her father, Olav, cannot quite fill the void created by her failing mother who continues to retreat within herself over the years. Evelyn’s teacher and mentor, Miss Johnson, sees her potential as the fulfillment of her own lost dreams.

As Evelyn grows into a young woman, she suffers abuse at the hands of Alfred, a second cousin eight years her elder, that forever changes the course of her life. Evelyn’s courage sustains her in the face of multiple setbacks and crushing losses.

But even as she rises to these challenges, her own insecurities plague her as she navigates life. And in the end, Evelyn searches for a path to reconciliation, and the means to embrace both success and failure as a life well lived.

Inspired by actual events, Too Many Stones is the story of Evelyn Toraason. It begins in 1930 when Evelyn is a bright eleven-year-old girl with the potential to go far beyond the poor, rural, and beautiful, almost spiritual Wisconsin coulee farm where she lives. The bond between Evelyn and her father, Olav, cannot quite fill the void created by her failing mother who continues to retreat within herself over the years. Evelyn’s teacher and mentor, Miss Johnson, sees her potential as the fulfillment of her own lost dreams.

As Evelyn grows into a young woman, she suffers abuse at the hands of Alfred, a second cousin eight years her elder, that forever changes the course of her life. Evelyn’s courage sustains her in the face of multiple setbacks and crushing losses.

But even as she rises to these challenges, her own insecurities plague her as she navigates life. And in the end, Evelyn searches for a path to reconciliation, and the means to embrace both success and failure as a life well lived.

This is not Evelyn's story alone. Our deepest relationships have a symbiotic effect, for better or worse, with the people in our lives and Too Many Stones brings to light the full impact these relationships can have on us. In the end, despite the good and bad in our lives, each of us must decide if we have made the most of our relationships, ourselves, and of life itself.

Rodney Nelsestuen has published more than a dozen works of fiction and nonfiction in a variety of literary journals. In addition, his writing has won or been honored in a number of literary contests. In 2024 he has published two novels: Too Many Stones, which has a 5.0 review rating from IndieReader, and Quiet Desperation. He's frequently served as a judge in several writing contests including the Minnesota Book Awards, the Pacific Northwest Writers' Association, and the national Eric Hoffer Award. He has written professionally on financial services and technology. Rod holds an MFA from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota and has previously taught at The Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis.