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 Illustration by Cynthia Hlady Does insta-love differ from real love?In exploring the dynamic between Jake Rocco and Dan in The Silent Road and A Blind Curve, we can delve into the intriguing contrast between insta-love and the deeper, more nuanced feelings that characterize real love. While insta-love often hinges on surface-level attraction and an immediate spark, Jake's feelings for Dan develop from a profound recognition of authenticity. Jake, with his charming exterior, has spent most of his life being the "nice guy"—the person everyone loves, but who often feels the weight of unseen expectations. He is well-liked for being agreeable, but this facade has left him longing for genuine connection. Dan, in contrast, does not play into societal niceties. He is grumpy, blunt, and unapologetically himself. This stark honesty is a breath of fresh air for Jake, who is accustomed to masking his own needs and desires to please others. Their relationship challenges the idea of insta-love, illustrating a different kind of connection that’s rooted in vulnerability and acceptance. Jake finds comfort in Dan's straightforwardness; he doesn't have to decipher layered meanings or play a role. Instead, what flourishes between them is a recognition of their true selves—Jake as the brilliant light often overshadowed by the expectations of others, and Dan as a grumpy yet sincere counterpart. Thus, while insta-love may offer fleeting excitement, Jake and Dan's relationship is a testament to the power of real love—a love that embraces imperfections, thrives on honesty, and allows both individuals to grow together. In a world where Jake has been celebrated for a version of himself that isn’t entirely genuine, being with Dan feels less like an infatuation and more like an awakening. Here, love is not about being universally adored, but rather about being truly understood and accepted. Ultimately, this connection emphasizes that real love is about finding someone who sees you for who you authentically are—beyond the charm and the grumpiness, into the depths of your true self. Thus proving insta-love might be the spark of attraction, and can turn into genuine love. But not always. Meet Jake RoccoJust in my MEET DAN PERRY character article, I have Jake's character sheet too! I develop my characters with a detailed outline because if I don't know them, I don't know how they will react. I've included my Character Outline for you to see. It has misspellings, grammar errors, and has not been copy edited. If you find a incorrectness, I'm not concerned about my imperfection. Point it out if you must, but I'm going to tell you, "I can't feel your pain". This outline isn't for publishing, it's for me and I'm showing it to you to get to know Dan better. Writer's here's a Character Outline you can steal, borrow, whatever. All I ask is please give me a link to your book so I can buy it if you use this template of mine. It will for sure be a great book!    The Diabolical MimiYou'll see Mimi, Jake's Korean Jindo, as part of Jake. The dog you see in the images above is a dead ringer for my very own Mimi I diabolically placed in the story. If you want to see more of her, my mom's Freisian horse, Okido, and all my other dogs, you can find them on my Instagram. If you see the "...short story describing a day in the life of this character..." and notice there is nothing, there's a reason for that. Jake doesn't have a short story because I plan on having one last sweet story that shows Dan & Jake at Jake's sister's wedding. You'll understand how Jake was able to roll Dan's vitriol off his back and Dan will see first hand what Jake had to put up with during his formative years. This short story is planned, and I have ideas in my head, but not outlined. If you have anything you want to see in that story, tell me now (before 2025)! If you haven't read The Silent Road, grab your FREE KU copy!  Marriage, parenting, and making ends meet is a long road to haul – and I’ve screwed it up. My ex thinks I'm a deadbeat – I’m worried my daughter does too. As a long-haul truck driver, I haven't been there for either of them. Then I got caught driving my rig without a license and proved them right. Now I’m on probation, forced to take a co-driver on the road and show that I can safely pass my commercial license. Like I haven’t been doing this for a decade! It’s my last shot to prove myself to my broken family. I’ve missed a lot but I’m going to make it up to my daughter. I’m not going to blow it. Not this time. There’s even a financial bonus in it that will get my daughter the money she needs – that’s if I can persuade my rule-following probationary officer and co-driver, Jake, into finishing the job early. Jake and I travel the long miles and somehow the road brings us close together – closer than I thought I was comfortable with. Suddenly, I'm feeling things I never thought possible with another man. Could Jake be the "ride or die" I've been yearning for my entire life? Is the road less traveled the one I've always needed? Am I scared? Hell, yes! If you're curious as to when A Blind Curve comes out, click here to check out the countdown! Until next time... ...happy reading! ~ Stephy  Comments are closed.
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Welcome to The Enclave Thanks for taking a look at my little hodgepodge of a blog. The format and subjects of my blog has changed through the years as it's my log of S.N.McKibben's writing journey. You've now been sufficiently forewarned, happy reading! Categories
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