Step Right Up...Win a Copy of Mindjacker

As promised, here's your chance to win a free print copy of "Mindjacker", which I will ship to wherever the winner lives. All you have to do is guess the real life person that I had in my head when I created the character Crystal Kelly. She's a B-list actress and the main squeeze of megalomaniacal L.A. shrink Joel Fischer. So, here we go...

I was  / am a huge fan of the HBO series Oz, and this actress, who I first saw in one of my favorite episodes of Law & Order, appeared in a stretch of OZ episodes. The role she played in that L&O episode is who I had in my head. She's not an A-lister, but there was something about her I just dug. Below is the short chapter, where I introduce her in the novel.

CRYSTAL

        “How are you my dear?” Joel said over his cell phone.

“Actually, I’m getting ready to go to lunch. What’s up?”

“I wanted to run something by you. It might prove to be a good opportunity.”

“Oh, is that right. You know me, I’m all about opportunity. When it knocks, I’m right there standing naked at the door. No seriously, what’s going on?”

“Through a client of mine, I’ve been made aware of a director and a screenwriter, who are going to be in New York this weekend on a working vacation. From what I’m told, they already have a deal, an extremely lucrative one I might add, to make the picture.”

“And this is important to me...why?”

“It’s important to you because they will be in New York to review locations and more importantly, because two large roles have not been cast yet. Roles I might add, that you could be a nice fit for.”

“Now you have my attention baby. What’s the catch though? As much as I’d like to believe that this is only about little ‘ole me, I know there has to be something else.”

“Can’t this just be considered a simple act of kindness, done for no other reason than the worship of one of the most attractive members of the opposite sex?”

“Please, save it, come on.”

“Well, if somehow theses gentlemen, who I might add are relocating to LA, were to decide they needed to confide in a certain professional about their issues that might be considered a brilliant stroke of good fortune. Don’t you think?”

“Now you’re talking. So what’s the plan? I’m presuming the plan doesn’t include me investing any of my hard earned money. Does it?”

“Why of course not my dear, I think the two of you will be extremely happy with the arrangements.”

“The two of us, who’s the two of us?”

“Ah yes, like I said, there are two of them that are going to be out there and I can’t very well send you out there alone now. Can I? I was thinking that your friend Leigh Anne might be persuaded to join you. Do you think that’s a possibility? Of course, she wouldn’t have to know anything other than it’s a free trip to the greatest city in the world, outside of LA of course. What do you think?”

“I’ll ask her, but no guarantees. I’ll see if she’s up for it. It’s just a weekend right?”

“Yes, get there on Friday and back by Sunday afternoon. Get in touch with her and let me know, toot sweet. If she doesn’t want to go, start thinking of a plan B person. Anyway, just let me know, I’ll take care of all the arrangements. Five star all the way baby. Make sure you tell your friend that too, okay? Ciao.”

“Later magic man.”