When the World Gets Too Loud, Where Do You Go?

It's late at night.

 The house is quiet. 

Curled in bed, my phone in hand, a thrill of anticipation runs through me.

 It is time. 

Finally, the moment to reconnect with characters who've been waiting patiently in the wings of my day has arrived.

This is my sanctuary.

My ritual to shed the day's weight, the tension, the movements and simply be.

More than just reading, opening a book is an act of escape.

 I dive headfirst into worlds where the conflicts aren't mine, where the impossible unfolds, and fictional people become cherished friends.

Within those pages, I feel alive, scared, heartbroken, hopeful, indignant – all on behalf of someone else's story. 

I journey to alternate universes with different rules, experience lives I can only dream of, witness confessions that would leave me breathless in reality, and forge connections with souls bound by ink and paper and given life through the author’s wonderful imaginations.

I become the daring heroine, the fiercely loved woman…sometimes, the ruthless villain. 

 I run with mythical creatures, find destined love, and fight for survival in the wildest landscapes.

In these moments, held within the safe embrace of a story, I am not just entertained,- I am mentally and emotionally ignited, empowered by the knowledge that I control when the journey begins and ends- sometimes by snapping the book close or as easy as a push of a button on my tablet/mobile.

Sometimes, amidst the whirlwind of writing, deadlines, and sharing my own stories, I forget just how impactful stories  really are and why I not only write, but also ensure to share them.

They are more than the fleeting validation of algorithms or the empty promise of ‘likes’. 

I share not for the significance of the clicks or the cold, hard numbers.

But for the people.

The stories are for the people, for those yearning for a reason to smile, a spark to feel, a gentle nudge towards love and release.

For the readers who bond with characters as if they were real, who find echoes of their own experiences in fictional journeys, who seek solace and guidance, and for anyone desperately needing a safe harbor when the world's storms rage too fiercely.

This is why I created Ashlee Unscripted. 

For you.

For anyone who has ever found refuge in a story, a lifeline in ink and paper- digital or not.

For those who crave a shift in perspective, a chance to explore different realities, skills, and emotions.

Ashlee Unscripted is the place that holds space for fiction that transports, connection that heals, inspiration that ignites, raw emotion that resonates, and the sweet escape of love in its myriad forms.

Have you ever leaned on stories to get through?

 To find laughter when tears felt inevitable?

 To rediscover love when your heart felt numb? 

To dream audaciously when reality felt suffocating?

Then know this: You are not alone.

The stories are here. The books are waiting. The worlds are ready to be explored.

We are here with you, always.

Tell me, where do you escape when the world feels like too much?

 What stories have held you when you needed it most?

Join me on Patreon, and share your own safe havens with us- let's build a community of story-lovers who understand the power of a good book and the value of sharing the real stories.