jl_merrow | Cover reveal for Raising the Rent

Don’t you just love the guy’s attitude? Winking smile

I’m delighted to say this story, a much shorter version of which originally appeared in the Sindustry anthology (now out of print) is being completely re-worked and re-edited and will be out from Samhain on 14th October 2014.

When I wrote the original version, I was desperately trying to keep to the anthology word limit of 12k, and my goodness, it showed! It’s been fantastic to let the story breathe and grow to its proper length – it’s now roughly twice as long, and much better (I think) for it.

I’ve also made a few improvements along the way – nice to feel I’ve learned something in the last few years of writing! Open-mouthed smile

And here be the (draft) blurb:

Never fall in love with a customer—especially if it’s sex you’re selling

Rent boy Nathan’s determined to get an education and get off the streets for good. But when he turns up for his first day at college he’s horrified to find his English teacher is one of his regular customers: Stephen, the one Nathan dubbed The Voice because of his educated, honeyed tones.

Stephen’s just as shocked to see Nathan sitting in his class, not to mention terrified he’s about to be exposed as having paid for sex with a student. This could mean public humiliation and maybe the loss of his job. But when Nathan shows he’s only interested in getting his A Levels, not in blackmail, Stephen realises there’s more to the nineteen-year-old than meets the eye.

Nathan still has to earn a living, though—and when a customer turns ugly, he finds himself unable to work and homeless as well. Stephen steps in to help, and Nathan starts to think they could have a future together—but Stephen’s guilt and lack of trust could end this back-to-front romance before it even starts.

Warning: Contains unfashionable haircuts, unreasonably long words and a May-December romance between a not-so-streetwise rent boy and an erudite English teacher.