Why Sometimes I Write Insta-Love and will Never Guarantee a Happily-Ever-After

Insta-love.

People either love it or hate it. Some people curl their nose up at the very thought of it and will refuse to read a book if it involves that storyline So why do I still write it sometimes?

Well, I'll tell you, my friends. Because it happens.

We all know or have heard of those couples that say when they met their true love, they "just knew." Hell, when my mom met my dad at a friend's house, the second he walked out the door she looked at her friend and said, "That's the man I'm going to marry." They were married after 12 dates and just celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary.

Now, I'll admit, I don't believe in love at first sight. Like a lot of people, I believe you can't truly love someone until you get to know them - their strengths, their weaknesses, their quirks, their flaws, the annoying way they leave their socks everywhere after you just cleaned the house. How they handle a crisis. The way they support you or let you support them when it is most needed.

But I do believe you can have a connection with someone almost immediately. I believe it because I can attest to it firsthand. Most of the people I've dated, I've had that connection. But some people haven't. They've never been blindsided like that. Their love affairs developed over months or years. Sometimes from friendship. Other times from working together and growing close. Everyone's story is unique. That's what makes them great. How boring would it be if every love story you read or movie you watched was the same? It might be fine the first few times, but then my guess is, it'd get pretty boring.

When I write, I listen to my characters and let them tell me their story. If my main male character hasn't had a great family life, he may be more eager to find or create a family of his own and therefore, be more apt to fall in love quicker than the average person. The same can be said if my female MC was dating someone, thinking marriage was on the table, and then had a sudden break-up. While some women need time to get over the last love or may vow to never date again, others are in that "relationship place." They may realize the person they were with wasn't right, but may still fear not finding someone so they may jump into the next relationship with both feet. It all depends on the person.

Often times, what may seem like insta-love, even while you're reading it, is really a visceral attraction, coupled with a strong connection between two people. We all have those people we met and have just gelled with - maybe it's a lover, maybe it's a co-worker, or maybe it's your best friend. And while the character may mistake those feelings for true love, most of the time they are basing it on intense emotions, believing that person will somehow become important to them. The love they feel so quickly isn't actual love, but more the acknowledgment that one day they could see themselves falling in love with someone.

At least that's usually the case with my characters, even if they don't know it.

With every character I write, I take every last detail of their life into account and develop their story accordingly. How they grew up, who their friends are, what types of relationships they were surrounded by, the kind of upbringing they had, their job, any other outside factors, and of course, their own hang-ups and insecurities determine their relationships. This may lead to insta-love or it may have my character erecting a ton of walls, terrified of love.

I think it is a writer's job to tell a story in the most realistic way possible. Which leads me to why I won't guarantee a happily-ever-after. Yes, I love them. Yes, I want them. But, in life, we don't always get them. If every story I penned was written with the goal of delivering a happy ending, my stories would be skewed. To write the best stories for my reader, I have to ask myself, what feels the most realistic and let the characters and story dictate where they go.

It also keeps people on their toes, which is something I love doing. It stops the story from becoming too predictable. If you know how something is going to end, you start envisioning how the writer will take you there. If you have no clue, it forces you to sit back and enjoy the ride and the world the author has created.

The two greatest compliments I have received as an author are 1) Being told my characters are so realistic, it feels like they are in the room with you or you're watching the scene play out in front of you. The other is being told my books transcend genres. And the reason I'm convinced I achieved that, at least according to this person, is because I listen to my characters and make no guarantees.

Well, that's not true. I'll make one guarantee. I promise if you give any of my books a try, you're in for one hell of a ride.

Please be sure to check out my books The Rise to Fame and The Cost of Fame, available on Amazon and other online retailers.

CLICK HERE to purchase

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

I am happy to announce The Cost of Fame is NOW AVAILABLE!!!

Here's what one reviewer had to say after reading an advanced copy of The Cost of Fame:

"Wow! Emotional, heartfelt and chilling! I couldn’t put this book down. I loved the characters and couldn’t get enough of them. Their story was a crazy whirlwind of love and suspense. It was dark and gritty with an ending that will leave you breathless. Contemporary romance isn’t my go to genre but I would definitely recommend this series to not only fans of the genre but also anyone looking for a beautiful haunting love story." - A. Martinez Goodreads

Now, if you haven't read the first book in The Fame Series, you may want to skip reading the next section and CLICK HERE to purchase THE RISE TO FAME.

What if getting everything you ever wanted cost you the only one you ever loved?

One night. One stupid night. That's all it took to tear Alex’s world apart and rip her heart in two. Thanks to Richard’s plan she believes Colin committed the ultimate betrayal and she can’t imagine ever forgiving him.

With Colin out of the way, Richard thinks his path to Alexandra is clear. But when he discovers a megastar is also vying for her affection, Richard is forced to up his game. With his obsession out of control, he takes drastic measures leaving Alex no choice. The only way to protect the people she loves is to agree to Richard’s terms and let Colin go forever.

After reluctantly giving her the space she requested, Colin returns home from a movie shoot determined to win Alex back. He won’t stop until she is back in his arms where she belongs. But she isn’t making it easy. Despite her continued attempts to push him away, it’s obvious she still loves him. Something isn’t right. If Colin doesn’t figure it out soon, one of them will be forced to pay the ultimate price.

Not all stories have a happy ending. Will Colin and Alex get theirs or will their love be The Cost of Fame?

CLICK HERE to purchase The Cost of Fame

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Excerpt from The Rise to Fame

Brief synopsis of The Rise to Fame: Against all odds, Colin Riley and Alexandra Vaughn are making names for themselves in Hollywood. But their dreams may crumble when the man with the power to destroy their careers becomes obsessed with the love of Colin's life.

Copyright 2018 Shay Stone

**Except for brief quotations to be used in reviews and other non-commercial uses, no part of this excerpt

 may be used or reproduced**

WARNING: CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE  (Although I used symbols in the for this post) 

The tension hung heavy in the air between them. Luckily, their characters spent a good portion of the play fighting, so the intensity worked. Sergio praised their performances telling them how impressed he was with their rewrite. “Let’s run through the last scene and then we can call it a night,” he said.

Like the true professional she was, Alex steeled herself, taking her place on stage ignoring her sweaty palms and pretending it didn’t feel like a pile of cinderblocks was crushing down on her chest. The last scene involved a kiss. The thought of Colin’s lips on hers was too much right now.

She knew he was blowing her off. Like a naïve school girl, she swallowed every line he fed her as though she was starving for it. Tears formed in her eyes as she resided herself to the fact that once again, she had allowed herself to be played. She blinked them away and sucked in a deep breath pushing it out quickly.

Colin stood on the opposite side of the stage watching her. She was doing an excellent job trying to hide her emotions. To the casual onlooker, they appeared to be nothing more than two actors rehearsing. No one would guess they were lovers on the brink of implosion. But he could see the confusion and disappointment taking its toll, stealing a bit of the light from her eyes. He felt it when she stiffened every time he touched her, as though the contact physically burned her.

The longer they rehearsed, the harder it was for her to keep up the façade. Oh s#%t. Her lower lids were getting shiny and watery. If she started crying right now, he would lose it. It was everything he could do not to wrap his arms around her and apologize for being so cold. He wanted to kiss away her tears, hating himself knowing he was the cause of them.

Alex recited her lines doing her best to get lost in the character, but it was difficult. The dialogue was emotional and echoed what they were going through – a couple on the verge of break up because of the secrets between them. She wondered if somehow, Colin had allowed his own fears to come out through the writing.

When it came time for the kiss, Alex tried to remain unaffected, but the moment their lips touched she knew all her efforts had been in vain. The kiss was tentative at first but quickly turned deep and sensual, like two lovers coming together after years apart.

The inexplicable response that overtook her body every time they touched was reacting inside her like sexual napalm blowing away all reason. She attempted to break away, but Colin tightened his hold around her waist until all the anger she was bottling up came flooding out. She pressed her hands to his chest pushing him away, pounding her fist against him, but he kept kissing her refusing to let her go. His hand gripped her hair almost violently, steadying her head until she finally succumbed allowing her fury to give way to passion and her carnal need for him to take over. Her hands framed his face and slid into his soft locks.

“Cut!” Sergio shouted for the second time before they heard him. “You guys are really going to have to tone it down for the play. Although, I do like the whole beating his chest thing. We should keep that.”

Alex pulled away breaking Colin’s hold. “You really are one hell of an actor.”

“Shall we run it one more time?” Sergio asked.

“No. I think I’ve had enough for one day. We’re done here,” she replied giving Colin a glare so icy he felt his balls shrink. She gathered her things, leaving him standing on stage alone.

Let her go, Riley. It’s for the best. He watched her walk away from him until she disappeared out the door.

“F#%k!” He leaped from the stage, chasing after her, running so hard and fast his feet almost came out from under him. Letting her go may be the right thing, but he couldn’t do it. She belonged with him.

Click the following link to purchase The Rise to Fame. 
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Author to Author: Shay Stone discusses The Rise to Fame

Welcome to Author to Author. This weeks featured guest is (drumroll please): Me! Yep! That's right, my book has finally been released. Please check out my video to hear about the book, join me in a brief non-choreographed happy dance, and hear how I made a fool of myself in front of author Tiffany Reisz.

The Rise to Fame

Colin Riley's past wasn't a pretty one. He'd worked hard to bury his demons. So when he crossed paths with Alexandra Vaughn, the daughter of the man that almost destroyed his life, he should have run. But he didn't. Instead, like an idiot, he fell in love. Alex was smart, talented, beautiful, and one of the most infuriating women Colin had ever met. From the second he laid eyes on her, he knew he'd do anything to make her his. Why else would he let her trick him into starring in some play?

It was just supposed to be a way to get close to her. How could he have known saying yes to the role would change their lives forever? But that's what happens when Richard Steed - the most sought-after agent in Hollywood swoops in promising to make all their dreams come true. It doesn't take long before the slick agent's true intentions become known turning him into their worst nightmare.

With a ghost from the past haunting them and an agent hell-bent on tearing them apart, is there any way Colin and Alex can survive The Rise to Fame?

The Rise to Fame is Book One in a two-book series. The second book, The Cost of Fame is due out September 2018.

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