Author Spotlight: Lauren Runow

“Unwritten” by Lauren Runow

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1McbNpa

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?

 

I am so excited for you to meet Lauren! After connecting through our publicist, me and this mom of two from Vacaville, California have bonded and doing a crazy amount of late night texting – sharing everything from our excitement of new reviews to anxiety of “why isn’t it selling!” She is a kind spirit who I am honored to feature in this Author Spotlight.

SO, SHALL WE…

ME: Charlie Ashley…sigh. Who is the inspiration behind the main man? 

Lauren: Haha! My husband, Chris. He is 100% a FIGJAM (using S.C. Stephens’ term from Thoughtless – Fuck I’m Good, Just Ask Me) I love call him my figgy but he can totally back it up. I promise he was never a male escort – though I think he would have jumped on the chance in his younger years, or if he wasn’t married now. LOL! I even described him down to his clothes but my husband doesn’t CrossFit. He’s naturally skinny and I secretly hate him for it! Originally the book had actual songs lyrics in it (that had to be taken out due to copyright laws) and we tend to sing lyrics back and forth to each other a lot. Though ours are more funny lyrics and not romantic at all.

ME: I’ve heard you say a lot of this book is based on your real life. So – does that mean you’ve moonlighted as a male escort…or with one? 

Lauren: No, sorry, I definitely don’t know any male (or female for that matter) escorts. But the book is a lot of my life. I graduated from the Academy of Art in San Francisco, grew up in Vacaville, I’m a CrossFit addict who is a HUGE Unwritten Law fan. All the places they visit in the book are my favorite places to go and my husband and I were married at Glen Alpine Falls in South Lake Tahoe. All the names in the book are of my friends and even my kid’s names are in it. Some scenes are exact things that happen to me, but I’ll keep you guessing as to what is real and what is fiction…

ME: Where in the world did you come up for the premise of this novel?

Lauren: The shower – of course! Haha! I always wanted to write a novel but never could think of a complete story. Then once I started reading the Contemporary Romance genre I was hooked and knew this was the genre for me. I was in the shower thinking about what I could write that involved sex but not in a pure erotic way – I wanted a story line but I wanted it to be steamy. Originally there was more to the story and their escort service but once I started writing it just flowed in this direction. I’ve heard writers say things like, “I’m just happy my characters chose me to tell their story,” and that statement is so true! It took on a mind of it’s own and I couldn’t type fast enough to keep up!

ME: Do you picture yourself as one or all of the characters when you write? 

Lauren: Yes! Both Charlie and Allison are parts of me.

ME: What was the scariest part of self publishing?

Lauren: Getting it out there. Without a publisher behind you it’s hard to spread the word. I’m so thankful for Wordsmith Publicity and everything they have done. They took a chance on a new author and offered me so much support. I really owe them everything!

ME: This book ends in a cliffhanger. WTF! When do I get book 2????

Lauren: Rewritten will come out December 1^st! Mark it on Goodreads by clicking here.

Now for a little GET TO KNOW…        

ME: Where did you meet your husband?

Lauren: We actually went to high school together though we were more acquaintances then. He dated my friend and they actually set me up with his friend for his prom, he was a year older. So we have pictures together at prom with other dates! It was not until years later that we ran into each other at a local bar when he was in town on leave from the military. I was waiting for another guy to show up and my friend had to leave so I grabbed him and said, “Don’t leave me,” and he never has!

ME: If you could eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?

Lauren: Mexican food! It’s a family joke that when we don’t know what to have for dinner we say, “What fine burrito establishment are we going to?”

ME: Naughtiest thing you’ve ever done that you’d die if your mother/father ever found out?

Lauren: LOL!!! I once climbed a fence into a back yard of who we thought was our friend’s house. When they weren’t there we had sex in the side yard only to find out it wasn’t his house! Wow – no one knows that story except for the guy! Haha! And I guess the world now. LOL!

ME: What would be the nicest thing someone could say about you?

Lauren: When I started writing this book my best friend said she was amazed that I didn’t seem to think ceilings even existed because I was constantly trying to break through them. When I have a dream, I do anything in my power to make that dream realty. Whether it’s starting a local magazine, forming a non-profit kids science museum or writing a book. I don’t let anything stop me from following my heart and my dreams.

ME: If you could pick two celebrities to be your parents, who would they be and why?

Lauren: Janis Joplin and Tom Petty. What can I say; I’m a music girl. Music really is the doctor!

Book Questions!

ME: Favorite book on your kindle?

I read everything from my phone so I always have a book wherever I am! Favorite one… The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski. The first and only book that made me cry. I didn’t read it until after mine was written and I loved that both of our books had a lot to do with songs and lyrics. If you never took the time to Google the songs they sing – do it! Made the story that much better!!!

ME: Last book you read? 

Heart-Shaped Hack by Tracey Garvis-Graves. I enjoyed it and now everything I do on my computer I wonder how easy it is for someone to see what I’m doing!

ME: Book you wanted to throw against the wall…and why?

Thoughtless by S. C. Stephens. Kiera drove me nuts with her back and forth and how stupid she could be. But I loved Kellan so the book truly was a love/hate situation.

ME: Favorite book boyfriend?

Kellen from Thoughtless by S. C. Stephens, Master Aidan from Bared by Stacey Kennedy and of course Christian from Fifty Shades. Oh and how can I forget, my own Charlie!