Stacy Green - Into the Dark



Thanks to Linda for letting me visit today. Since her blog is about the good things in life, I thought I’d talk a little bit about love stories.
  
I’m not a true romance author. I write suspense and thrillers, but I love to have a good romance in the book as well, even if it comes second to the main plot. In my debut novel, INTO THE DARK, my heroine Emilie hasn’t had a bit of luck in the romance department, and she’s not looking to change that. But when she’s held hostage and ultimately stalked, she winds up falling for the hostage negotiator who helped to save her.

Of course Nathan has his own issues, and because their budding romance is driven by the main plot, the love story develops on a slow burn.
 
And I wouldn’t have it any other way, because the best part about falling in love is the dance in the beginning. Don’t get me wrong–I’ve been happily married over 13 years and we still have an amazing time together–but I have a lot of special memories about our first months together. Everything was exciting and new, and I got butterflies in my stomach every time I saw him. There was no sense of comfort or ease yet. Every moment was filled with anticipation of what happens next.
  
I love writing that part of a romance. It’s so much fun to bring two characters together and watch them go from strangers to nervous dance partners.
  
One of my favorite love stories is the one between Marianne and Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility. Marianne is young and interested in the kind Colonel, and it takes her years of trials, tribulations, and discovery to realize that he in fact, is the one she’s meant for. For me, it’s about seeing the characters evolve and learn who they are, and then watching them fall in love. I think that’s very reminiscent of real life. We may fall in love often in our early years, but it’s not until we know who we truly are that we are ready for a lifelong commitment.
  
What are your favorite love stories?
  
An Excerpt from INTO THE DARK
 
“Emilie.”
 
“I’m not a mistake.” Wetness ran down her cheeks. “I’m a good person. People care about me. Mémé cared. Jeremy and Sarah care. They would miss me when I’m gone. Do you think that coldhearted woman could say the same? People will dance on her grave.” Her voice was loud in her ears.
   
She could barely see Nathan as he moved into the booth beside her. She felt the warmth of his strong arm around her waist and inhaled his now familiar scent as he pulled her close.
  
“You’re not a mistake,” he whispered. “Not by a mile. People do care about you. I care.”
 
Emilie pressed her face into his chest as the sobs erupted. “I hate her. Why didn’t she just give me to Mémé and stay out of my life? Why did she have to punish me for her actions?”
 
“Because blaming you made her feel better about herself. She’s a narcissist. None of this is your fault.”
   
“Doesn’t really matter, does it? I’m the one suffering and humiliated yet again.”
   
“No. You were the one who stood up to her.” Nathan seized her shoulders and pulled her back to look into her eyes. “You didn’t let her manipulate you this time. She’s the loser, Emilie. She always has been.”
  
She stared into his eyes, gratitude and desire spreading over her like fire. Her hands snaked up his chest. She rested them on his scruff-covered cheeks. “Nathan.” Her voice was filled with a longing she hadn’t realized existed until this very moment. “Take me home.”
  



  
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Stacy Green, Author
 
To celebrate the release of INTO THE DARK, I’m giving you TWO ways to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card! Both options will get your name into the drawing, which runs from November 5th until the end of my blog tour on January 30th.
   
Entry Option 1: Earns FIVE entries in the contest. Email Stacy your receipt of purchase (simply copy and paste proof of the order into the email, excluding personal information) of INTO THE DARK or the answer to this question: in what state was the Taker born and raised?
  
Entry Option 2: Earns TWO entries in the Contest. Donate to HELP of Southern Nevada and help the homeless. Readers can go to HELP of Southern Nevada, the organization that aids the homeless featured in INTO THE DARK, and donate. Email Stacy the receipt (personal information excluded). No donation is too small
  
   
The homeless living in the storm drains of Las Vegas played a vital part in INTO THE DARK, and I want to give back. From November 1st until February 28th, participants will have several options to enter the raffle, including donating to HELP of Southern Nevada. The grand prize will be a $100 donation from me in the winner’s name to the homeless shelter of their choice.
   
Thank you so much for reading, and I hope you enjoy INTO THE DARK!

 
BIO
 
Stacy Green is fascinated by the workings of the criminal mind and explores true crime on her popular Thriller Thursday posts at her blog, Turning the Page

After earning her degree in journalism, Stacy worked in advertising before becoming a stay-at-home mom to her miracle child. She rediscovered her love of writing and wrote several articles for Women’s Edition Magazine of Cedar Rapids, profiling local businesses, before penning her first novel. Her debut novel, INTO THE DARK, is set in Las Vegas and features a heroine on the edge of disaster, a tormented villain, and the city’s infamous storm drains that house hundreds of homeless. INTO THE DARK is available on all digital formats and paperback November 30th.

Comments

Kath Fearing said…
I love that you say falling in love is like a dance, because you can see how people skirt around each other like animals each trying to figure out the other. Good luck with your jump into romance. There's no better way to go.
Stacy Green said…
Thanks, Kath. My writing will still be much more geared toward suspense, but I have to have some romantic elements. A book is too boring with that. Great description about fallin in love on your part!

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