Black Widow (38 page)
I started
Black Widow
before
Unwritten
was actually released, on a high of my author debut. Not knowing yet, truly, of the high and lows of publishing. One day you’re seeing sales and five star reviews, the next everything slows down and you don’t know why. My books were named best book of the year by three blogs on the same day that someone left a review saying
Unwritten
was the worst book of the year… Talk about a rollercoaster of emotions!
This is where Jeannine Colette was my savior. She was the one person I could contact any time and she knew exactly what I was going through and, more importantly, knew the perfect thing to say with her, “Say it with me, I suck!” and a link to a
Friends
episode in a text. I couldn’t have a better author bestie than her!
I’d also like to thank the wonderful people I’ve met online who have made this entire process worth it. Especially Giovanna Bovenzi Cruz, Aubrie Brown, Laurie Breitsprecher, Nancy Butler, Dale Gardiner and Nancy Parken. A special thank you to Ana Rita Clemente who was my biggest supporter in finishing
Black Widow
and would check in to see how I was doing and encourage me to finish it.
None of my books would have gotten out there without the help of Wordsmith Publicity and Autumn Hull along with blogs who read my books and helped promote them. A huge thank you to Marina Skinner of MI Bookshelf, Kimberly Lucia from Kimmy Loves to Read, Christine Tovey from Sweet & Spicy Reads, Tanya Baikie from I <3 Books, Wilmari Carrasquillo-Delgado from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Book Boyfriend, Naomi Hopkins from Naomi’s Paranormal Palace, Arabella Bright from RedRoom Bookreviews, Innergoddess Booklover and Maryse’s Book Blog for posting the sales of both
Unwritten
and
Rewritten
. A special shout-out to Cassandra Delorie from Nerd Girl Official who I met online and it randomly turned out that we lived in the same hometown! What are the crazy odds?!
And of course, I always have to thank my family and friends the most who put up with my endless talks of books, hours of working with my laptop and what my husband calls “the blogisphere.” To Amy Gentili, Lacy Pryde and Sonia Aguero who got the first few chapters of
Black Widow
and text me with amazing comments, encouraging me to finish it. And to my amazing new beta reader, Stefanie Pace, who was the first person to finish the entire book and wasn’t afraid to tell me it needed more. Her one small suggestion turned into 13,000 more words and the book that you hold today. Stefanie, I can’t thank you enough for your support!
Lastly, to every reader who’s contacted me, bought my books and left me reviews. I couldn’t do this without you. Thank you!
Lauren Runow is the author of two other Adult Contemporary Romance novels,
Unwritten
and
Rewritten
.
When Lauren isn’t writing, you’ll find her listening to music that speaks to her, at her local CrossFit, reading, or at the baseball field or skatepark with her boys. Her only vice is coffee, and she swears it makes her a better mom!
Lauren is a graduate from the Academy of Art in San Francisco and is the founder and co-owner of the community magazine she and her husband publish. She lives in Northern California with her husband and two sons.
Sign up for her newsletter through her website at
www.LaurenRunow.com
to keep up to date about new releases.
She’d love to hear your comments and feedback. Please take the time to leave a review on Goodreads, Amazon, iBooks or wherever you purchased
Black Widow
.
You can also stay in touch through the social media links below.
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Want more books by Lauren Runow? Check out
Unwritten
and
Rewritten
that are both out now.
Charlie Ashley, or Mr. Ashley as his clients know him, is a high-end male escort who gets paid thousands for whatever services his clients require. He’s lived the last ten years alone, not letting anyone in, enjoying his success and provocative lifestyle.
Allison Hayes has no idea the man she is falling in love with is a male escort. She connects with Charlie through their love of music, playing a taunting game asking herself if she loves him, hates him or if she is going to save him.
After meeting Allison, Charlie enters a world where everything he knows no longer makes sense, leaving him too scared to move forward, yet making it impossible to look back.
But can he give up his entire life for love?
T
he memories that flood through me as I walk through the door of Slim’s make me stop and smile. The smell of beer mixed with years of smoke and sweat is something that brings me back in time. Memories of my first few months in San Francisco normally haunt me but as I stand here all I can do is smile.
I can’t believe ten years have flown by. I was barely eighteen and living out of my car at the time. I had no money, and even though I’m not proud of some of the things I did, I had to do what I had to do to get by.
One night I pick-pocketed a man for his wallet, only so I could buy food, I swear. I’ll admit that I chose him, though, because I thought we looked a lot alike and I was looking for an ID that I could use. Everything in the City was 21 and over and it just flat out sucked being only eighteen. After that, Slim’s quickly became my new hangout. I wasn’t there to get drunk, like most teenagers would have been, I was only there to listen to the bands perform. Music became my solace and gave me a sense of home when there was no place left to go.
That’s how I first heard of Unwritten Law. They played at Slim’s the first night I was able to get in. They quickly became my favorite band, and even though I’m so far removed from the punk scene now, when I heard they were in town there was no way I was going to miss the show.
“No fucking way!” I hear someone yell through the crowd as a hand grabs my shoulder abruptly turning me around. Everyone inside Slim’s turns, staring at me, wondering if a fight is about to brew.
I clench my fist and just like old times, I’m ready to throw down with whoever it is in an instant. That is, until I see Mark, an old friend, standing behind me. A big smile comes across both of our faces as we complete our handshake combination from years ago without skipping a beat.
It’s been years since I’ve seen anyone from my old crew and seeing Mark here now, I’m reminded why. His hard life is getting to him and it shows on his rough skin.
“Where the hell have you been the last few years, man?” Mark quizzes me, looking me up and down, noticing the designer clothes and Gucci shoes.
Damn, I should have been more thoughtful with my wardrobe so I would fit in more.
I shrug my shoulders, trying to think of how to change the subject just as a guitar string squeals over the speakers, way too loud, startling me as the crowd erupts in applause as Unwritten Law takes to the stage. I know I’ve dodged a bullet, at least for the moment, as I turn to the band and start to sing along.
The song
California Sky
plays, reminding me even more of the good ‘ol days, where life was harder, but I knew nothing better. I was thrown into this life at such a young age and survived. Shit, I not only survived, I succeeded to where I am now. I smile at the thought as I start to sing along.
I glance around the room to see if anyone else I know is there and that’s when I spot her. She’s standing by herself and just the sight of her makes my chest ache and my dick twitch. I stare as my breath begins to rush. My heart starts to beat so hard that I quickly have to look away.