Thursday, April 13, 2017

The Power of Storytelling - Guest Blog with Susan V Vaughn



Humans are emotional creatures that crave personal connection. Stories have always been a way for people to connect and communicate. Myths have been passed down since the beginning of human existence. Storytelling is timeless. It's a way to link us to our ancient ancestors, and assist us in understanding our past. By passing down our traditions, legends, and fairy tales, we connect to something that is bigger than ourselves. 

And yet, we are living in a time where storytelling is becoming obsolete. All those fantastic folklore from the past are becoming forgotten. Writing and reading are both powerful tools to combat this loss. I write because I have a story I want to tell, and a message I want to leave for future generations. Every story I write has a theme central to past legends and myths. Reading and writing are about connecting a whole new generation to those stories. 
In, Beyond Fate, I write about the power of love. Both the hero and heroine have lessons they must learn, and changes they must make, on their journey to one another. This is the universal truth in every good romance. Lovers must learn to open their hearts, and become less selfish before they can fall in love.

Stories are how we think, and how we make meaning of life. They provide us something familiar, and comforting. They can be road maps to how we make decisions that aligned with our morals and character. But, stronger than that, stories are the gateway to our imagination which is the foundation of self-discovery and change. 

We have a responsibility as humans to pass these stories on to future generations. To read, to write, and to imagine. If we give these things up, then we lose our traditions, our connections, and our empathy for one another.      
   



Beyond Fate
Susan V. Vaughn

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Inkspell Publishing

Date of Publication: March 24th 2017

ISBN: 978-1-945910-11-1
ASIN: B06XQ4G49P

Number of pages: 215
Word Count: 61,838

Cover Artist: Najla Qamber

Tagline: Fate has a way of pushing you in ways you never thought possible

Book Description:

Years of separation mean nothing when love is in the air…

Julia Diaz never wanted to fall for her friend's older brother, especially at a college frat party. But, for some reason, her heart was stolen by Russell that night. Eight years after, she never forgot him. Now destiny has brought them together. Only this time Russell is no longer a boy. He’s a man who knows what he wants and will not be denied.

Russell Webb used to be optimistic, and fun loving until a family tragedy turned his world on its side. Putting all his focus on work, he picked himself back up, and managed to turn his grief into something resembling a life. When a woman from his past reappears, and gives him a glimpse of true happiness, he’ll do anything to secure her heart. Even face the darkness he has avoided for so long. 

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Excerpt:

His heart pounded as he made up the distance between them. He’d fought the urge to hold her in his arms all week. He no longer could.
“Hey! What are you doing?” Her question was lost as he pulled her against him, and covered her lips with his own. She sank desperately into his embrace for a moment, before pushing him back. “Russ, stop.”
“Why?” He grabbed one of her hands, and kissed the soft skin of her palm. She smiled, her face flushing red, her eyes flashing hazel.
“Because we are supposed to be friends, and we’re at work.” She glanced nervously around the deserted hallway.
“Nah, work’s over,” he said lightly, refusing to address the friendship statement. “It’s time for us.” He secured her hand in his, and led them toward the parking lot with single focus. “I’m taking you to dinner.”
“Wait! I have to grab my things from the music room.”
“No time for that.” He quickened his pace through the parking lot, determined to take her to dinner, not caring who witnessed his desperation. He’d waited all week for this opportunity.
“I guess you’re not giving me a choice then?” She sounded amused, not annoyed, a good sign.
“Now you get it.” He winked back at her. “I am your boss, after all.”

She sighed loudly in exasperation, and then began to giggle. It made him grin like a man who had never been happier in his life.

About the Author:

Romance Author, Susan V. Vaughn understood the meaning of sarcasm before she could walk. Her childhood in the suburbs of Detroit was spent mainly trying to outwit her six creative siblings. When she wasn’t working on the next soul-crushing jab, she sharpened her imagination on romantic literature and day dreamed about her knight in shining armor.

It didn’t take long for this hairdresser by trade to turn her passion for reading romances into writing her own unique love stories. Susan lives her life finding laughter in all situations, and delights in marrying sarcasm with romance to create realistic falling-in-love stories in the unlikeliest of scenarios.  

Susan lives on the shores of Lake Huron with her real life knight in shining armor and enjoys watching their three children learn the art of sarcasm and wit.





Amazon Author Page:

1 comment:

Stacey E. Bryan said...

What could be better than the art of sarcasm? I totally agree! And your story of unrequited "love" having a second chance...always an intriguing choice. Congrats!

 
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