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With 200 million copies of her books sold in more than 40 countries, Jackie Collins is one of the world's top-selling writers. In a series of controversial bestsellers, she has blown the lid off Hollywood life and loves. "I write about real people in disguise," she says. "If anything, my characters are toned down -- the truth is much more bizarre."
Jackie's sixteen bestselling novels have never been out of print, and all have been New York Times bestsellers. Now comes Thrill!, a high suspense story of sex, lust, relationships, fame, violence and terror. Her heroine is a beautiful movie star -- classy and untouchable, who hooks up with a handsome stud -- irresistible to women. Then there's her ex-husband. His ex-lovers. A fifteen year old wild child. An obsessed fan. And all the secrets in the world...
Jackie Collins started writing as a teenager, making up steamy stories her schoolmates paid to devour. Her first book, The World Is Full of Married Men became a sensational bestseller because Of its open sexuality and the way it dealt honestly with the double standard. After that came The Stud, Sinners, The Love Killers, The World Is Full of Divorced Women, The Bitch, Lovers and Gamblers, Chances, and then the international sensation, Hollywood Wives -- a number one New York Times bestseller, which was made into one of ABC's highest rated miniseries starring Anthony Hopkins and Candice Bergen.
The Stud, The World Is Full of Married Men, and The Bitch were also filmed -- this time for the big screen. And Jackie wrote an original movie, Yesterday's Hero, starring Ian McShane and Suzanne Somers.
Readers couldn't wait to race through Lucky, her next book -- a sequel to Chances -- and the story of an incredibly beautiful, strong woman, another New York Times number one.
Then came the bad boys of Hollywood in the steamy Hollywood Husbands -- a novel which kept everyone guessing the identities of the true-to-life Hollywood characters.
Jackie then wrote Rock Star -- the story of three rock superstars and their rise to the top, followed by the long-awaited sequel to Chances and Lucky -- Lady BOSS -- tracking the further adventures of the wild and powerful Lucky Santangelo as she takes control of a Hollywood studio.
Both Lucky and Chances were written and adapted for television by Jackie, who also executive produced the highly successful six-hour miniseries Lucky/Chances, starring Nicollette Sheridan, Sandra Bullock and Grant Show.
In 1992 she produced and wrote the four-hour miniseries, Lady Boss, which became another huge ratings success for NBC TV. Lady Boss starred Kim Delaney.
Next came American Star, a love story which the L.A. Times described as "classic Collins."
And then the dangerously close to the truth Hollywood Kids -- a story of power, sex, danger and ambition among the grown offspring of major celebrities.
In 1996, Vendetta - Lucky's Revenge was published -- and became an immediate New York Times bestseller. Vendetta brought back the ever popular Lucky Santangelo. In Vendetta, Lucky faces the biggest challenge of her life when Panther Studios is taken from her by Donna, the dangerous widow of the Santangelos' arch enemy, Santino Bonnatti. Donna plans to destroy Lucky in every way. But Lucky is street-smart and just as ruthless, and so the battle begins...
In her new novel, Thrill!, Jackie has created her signature mix of unputdownable characters. Thrill! is a psychological thriller for the nineties as only Jackie Collins can write it. A roller coaster ride of love, sex and suspense.
Ms. Collins lives in Los Angeles, California. Her hobbies are photography, soul music, and exploring exotic locations so she can write about them later. She is currently working on a new Lucky Santangelo novel, and a weekly T.V. series, Hollywood Dreams.
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From the very beginning they were destined to be a lethal combination --Lucky Santangelo and Lennie Golden. Two stubborn, crazy, smart people.
Lennie was tall and lanky, with dirty-blond hair and ocean-green eyes. He wasgood-looking in an edgy, offhand way. Women loved his looks. At thirty-seven,he'd finally made it as a movie star. He was the new breed -- a comedian of theEddie Murphy/Chevy Chase school. Cynical and funny, his films made big bucks --the bottom line in Hollywood.
Lucky Santangelo Richmond Stanislopoulos Golden was the thrice married daughterof the notorious Gino Santangelo. In her early thirties, she was darkly,exotically beautiful, with a tangle of wild jet curls, dangerous, black eyes,smooth, olive skin, a full sensual mouth, and a slim body. She was a fiercelyindependent, strong-willed woman who never compromised and always tookchances.
Together they generated blazing heat. They'd been married for nearly a year,and both looked forward to their wedding anniversary in September with amixture of delight and amazement. Delight, because they loved each other verymuch. Amazement, because who'd ever thought it would last?
Currently Lennie was in Los Angeles shootingMacho Manfor PantherStudios. The film was a comedy takeoff on all the Hollywood superheroes --Eastwood, Stallone, and Schwarzenegger.
They'd rented a beach house in Malibu, but while Lennie was filming, Luckychose to stay in New York where she headed a billion-dollar shippingcompany -- left to her by her second husband, Dimitri Stanislopoulos. She also hadwanted Bobby, her six-and-a-half-year-old son by Dimitri, to be educated inEngland, and being in New York meant she was closer to his English school.
On most weekends she either visited Bobby in London or Lennie in Los Angeles."My life is one long plane ride," she joked ruefully to friends. But everyoneknew Lucky thrived on activity, and to sit by Lennie's side playing moviestar's wife would have bored her. As it was, they had a volatile and passionatemarriage.
Macho Manwas causing Lennie nothing but problems. Every night he calledLucky with a litany of complaints. She listened patiently while he told her theproducer was a jerk; the director was a has-been lush; his leading lady wassharing her bed with the producer; and Panther Studios was run by money-madgrafters. He wanted out.
Lucky listened, smiling to herself. She was working on a deal that -- if allwent according to plan-would free him from the restrictions of answering to adirector he didn't respect, a producer he loathed, and a studio run by peoplehe never planned to do business with again-even though he'd foolishly, againsther advice, signed a three picture contract with Panther.
"I'm about ready to walk," he threatened for the hundredth time.
"Don't," she said, attempting to soothe him.
"I can't make it with these assholes," he groaned.
"Thoseassholescan sue you for a fortune.Andstop you workingelsewhere," she added, the perfect voice of reason.
"Fuck 'em!" he replied recklessly.
"Don't do anything until I get out there," she warned. "Promise me that."
"When,for crissakes? I'm beginning to feel like a virgin."
A throaty chuckle. "Hmm. . . I didn't know you had that good a memory!"
"Hurry it up, Lucky. I really miss you.
"Maybe I'll be there sooner than you think," she said mysteriously.
"I'm sure you'll recognize me," he said dryly. "I'm the guy with the permanenthard-on."
"Very funny." Still smiling, she replaced the receiver.
Lennie Golden would be shocked and delighted when he found out her surprise.And when he did, she planned to be right there next to him, ready to enjoy theexpression on his face.
Once he put the phone down, Lennie felt restless. His wife was the mostexciting woman in the world, but damn it -- she pissed him off. Why couldn't shesay, "Lennie, if things are tough I'll be right there." Why couldn't she forgeteverything else and be with him?
Lucky Santangelo. Drop dead gorgeous. Strong. Determined. Enormously rich. Andtoo independent.
Lucky Santangelo. His wife.
Sometimes it all seemed like a fantasy -- their marriage, his career,everything. Six years ago he'd been just another comedian looking to score agig, a few bucks, anything going.
Lennie Golden. Son of crusty old Jack Golden, a stand-up Vegas hack, and theunstoppable Alice. Or "Alice the Swizzle" as his mother was known in her heydayas a now-you-see-'em, now-you-don't Las Vegas stripper. He'd split for New Yorkwhen he was seventeen and made it all the way without any help from hisfolks.
His father was long dead, but Alice was still around. Sixty-five years old andfrisky as an overbleached starlet, Alice Golden was caught in a time warp.She'd never come to terms with getting older, and the only reason sheacknowledged Lennie as her son was because of his fame. "I was a child bride,"she'd simper to anyone who'd listen, batting her fake lashes and curling heroverpainted lips in a lascivious leer. "I gave birth to Lennie when I wastwelve!"
Lennie had bought her a small house in Sherman Oaks. She wasn't thrilled atbeing shunted out to the Valley, but what could she do? Alice Golden lived withthe dream that one day she'd be a star herself, and then, as far as she wasconcerned, they could all watch out.
"You're wanted on the set, Mr. Golden," said Cristi, the second assistant,appearing at the door of his trailer.
Cristi was a California natural blonde with an earnest expression andextra-long legs encased in patched dungarees. Lennie knew she was a naturalblonde because Joey Firello, his friend and cohort inMacho Manhad beenthere, and when it came to women, Joey had a notoriously big mouth -- not tomention a notoriously big dick, which he'd affectionately christened JoeySenior.
Lennie, however, wasn't even interested. Since Lucky had entered his life hecouldn't be bothered to look, and he really didn't appreciate Joey's giving hima rundown of the sexual habits of every female on the set. "You're justjealous, man," Joey had laughed when he'd complained. "Out of action an'gettin' no action, huh?"
Lennie had merely shaken his head and given Joey a "Why don't you grow up?"expression. Once he'd been a serious cocksman. "If it's blond and it moves,nail it" had been his motto. For years he'd explored every possibility,managing to avoid any lasting commitments.
Along the way there'd been a few women who'd left their mark. Eden Antonio, forone.
Ah, Eden, he thought ruefully. She was something else, a real operator.
Poor Eden. In spite of all her dreams she'd ended up living with a viciousmobster who had used her in a series of porno movies. Not exactly the futureshe'd planned for herself.
And then there was Olympia. He'd married the plump, spoiled shipping heiressbecause he'd felt sorry for her. Unfortunately, even he was unable to save herfrom her self-destructive excesses. Eventually she and spaced-out rock starFlash overdosed in a sleazy New York hotel, and Lennie was a free man.
Now he had Lucky, and life didn't get any better.
Grabbing a pack of cigarettes from the dresser, he said, "O.K., Cristi, I'm onmy way."
The girl nodded thankfully, earnest expression firmly in place.
Marisa puckered up luscious swollen lips and blew him a kiss. She'd been afterhim from their first meeting. He'd managed to remain totally uninterested. Evenif he didn't have Lucky, he'd never been turned on by silicone.
"Hi, Lennie, cookie," she crooned, erect nipples straining in his direction.
Shit! he thought. Another fun day at the studio.
Lucky hurried from the tall chrome-and-glass Park Avenue building that stillbore the Stanislopoulos name. She had no desire to change it. One dayeverything would belong to her son, Bobby, and Dimitri's granddaughter,Brigette, so the name stayed.
Lucky was extremely fond of Brigette. The sixteen-year-old reminded her ofOlympia, the girl's mother, at the same age. Olympia and Lucky had once beenclose friends. But that was long ago and far away, and a lot had happened sincetheir out-of-control teenage years when they'd attended boarding school inSwitzerland and ended up getting expelled.
Olympia's young death had been a senseless tragedy. Its only positive aspecthad been the release of Lennie from a lifetime of burdensomeresponsibility.
Occasionally she'd felt guilty that everything had worked out so well. But whatthe hell -- that was life. Hers hadn't exactly been a day at the beach. At the ageof five she'd discovered her mother's body floating in the family swimmingpool. Then, years later, Marco, her first love, was gunned down in the parkinglot of the Magiriano Hotel. Shortly after, Dario, her brother, was shot todeath. Three tragic murders.
Lucky had taken her revenge. She was a Santangelo after all.Don't fuck witha Santangelo --the family motto.
As soon as she walked out of the building she spotted Boogie lounging againstthe side of a dark green Mercedes. When he saw his boss striding purposefullytoward him, he leaped to attention, quickly throwing open the passengerdoor.
Boogie was her driver, bodyguard, and friend. They'd been together many yearsand his loyalty was unquestioning. He was long-haired, tall, and skinny, withan uncanny ability to be there always when she needed him. Boogie knew herbetter than almost anyone.
"The airport," she said, sliding onto the front seat.
"Are we in a hurry?" he asked.
Lucky's black eyes flickered with amusement. "We'realwaysin a hurry,"she replied. "Isn't that what life's all about?"
Copyright © 1990 Jackie Collins
Excerpted from Lady Boss by Jackie Collins
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
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