Cheryl Della Pietra Book order (chronological)

The road to hell is paved with good intentions, tequila, guns, and cocaine in this rambunctiously entertaining debut novel inspired by the author's time as Hunter S. Thompson's assistant. Alley Russo, a recent college grad, is struggling to break into the competitive world of New York publishing. With no connections, she settles for an unpaid internship while bartending on Bleecker Street. When she learns that the infamous Walker Reade is seeking an assistant after eight others have quit, Alley seizes the opportunity, hoping to get her manuscript noticed. What follows is a wild three-day trial filled with a .44 magnum, purple-pyramid acid, violent outbursts, brushes with fame and the law, and a lot of cocaine. Alley is invited to stay at Reade's compound, where she faces the challenge of coaxing his novel out of him amidst his procrastination, substance abuse, and chaotic lifestyle. As the months pass, Alley grapples with the toll the job takes on her psyche, realizing she is isolated in the Colorado Rockies, dependent on a drug-addicted literary icon who may never finish his work. This tale serves as a cautionary reflection on lost literary innocence, offering a loving portrait of a larger-than-life figure.