To celebrate my return to Gather - a SAUCY excerpt from HOLLYWOOD SINNERS

  What did you think I was going to do to say I'M BAAAA-A-AACK - a somersault?  I'd kill myself.  So here's a little bit from my most fabulous novel instead: 

"You don't mind if people use you like that?"

"Not if I can use them right back. Whoever said life was fair?  I heard what they say about the casting couch. I have nothing against any couch.  Don't knock it.  It's better than the floor." 

"You want to come back with me to my car."

"For what?"

"A picnic."

"What kind?"

"My kind."

He unbuttoned his fly and left it that way.  "I know a nice little alley.  There's a locked gate so nobody will bother us."

Karin asked, "How you going to get in if it's locked?"

"I open it from the other side.  The hinges are loose.  If it didn't stay locked, it'd fall off."

Karin said, "Sure, okay.  It'll set you back a quarter."

He nodded knowingly.  "I know the score."

"I hope your car isn't far."

"It's down the block.  You stay there.  I'll come pick you up."

"Give me your tin first.  Then I'll be waiting for you like a good girl."

"What if you run?  What if you try and chisel me?"

Karin smiled wickedly.  "Then run me over."

He smiled like it might be fun.  "Here."  He gave her some coins.  "I like your style.  You stay right there, dollface, and I'll be back in a heartbeat.  I feel my heartbeat already, and it ain't beating anywhere near my heart anymore.  Oh glory!"

"And give me a cigarette."

He lit one up for her," and repeated, "In a heartbeat."  He fluttered his hands over his heart for a moment like he was going to sing an Al Jolson song, and then ran off.

As she blew smoke all around like she was something important, all Karin could think was, "Men."  She didn't know whether to laugh or scream.

She saw his car coming.  She saw the giant smile on his face.  She saw that he didn't look for traffic at the cross street.  She saw a truck plow into his side of his car.  He pounded down sideways onto his seat, bounced back up like on a trampoline, and then fell back down. When he bounced back up again, she could see he was knocked out.  When he fell down out of sight for a final time, she frowned and walked away.  She wondered if she was cursed.

Read the reviews at Amazon and at the publisher at http://stonegarden.net/ (in general fiction) !!!

And yay I'm back !!!