Dear Reader,

I originally set out to write a traditional, heart-tugging romance. I wanted to explore what happens when two people who love each other hit a massive milestone: their tenth wedding anniversary.

But as a writer who thrives on realistic fiction, reality quickly crashed the party. I realized that real-world relationships are rarely smooth, predictable lines. They are beautifully messy, complicated, and sometimes, entirely absurd. That is how Love, Story transformed from a straightforward romance into a fractured, humorous look at modern marriage.

The Heart of the Story

The book follows Sally Story and Wes, an artistic couple living in the vibrant, competitive heart of Chicago.

• Sally is an impulsive, blue-collar artisan who hand-crafts furniture.
• Wes is a sensitive, practical painter on the verge of massive national breakout fame.

Their dynamic works perfectly until Wes’s career takes off. Paralyzed by a sudden, intense fear of vulnerability and a belief that she will no longer be needed, Sally makes a preemptive strike against heartbreak. She kicks Wes out of the house.

What follows is a bittersweet journey through self-sabotage, mixed signals, and the dangerous power of self-fulfilling prophecies. They get so tangled up in their own defensive walls that by the time their actual tenth anniversary arrives, they are celebrating on dates with entirely different people.

Why I Wrote It

As a poet and author, I am fascinated by the moments where human communication breaks down. This novella is an exploration of the ways we try to protect our hearts, only to accidentally break them ourselves. It is full of witty dialogue and uncomfortable truths that anyone who has ever been in a long-term relationship will recognize—situations that are deeply frustrating when you are living them, but incredibly funny when you are looking at them from the outside.

Whether you love contemporary indie romance, emotionally honest marital dramas, or just a fast-paced story set against the backdrop of the Chicago art scene, I hope Sally and Wes’s fractured tale resonates with you.

Thank you for reading, and for stepping into their world.

Warmly,

Thomas Cannon

Author of Love, Story

 Selected Book: Love, Story
 ISBN: 9798223694427
 Current Price: $3.99
 Promo Price:$1.99