Paper Star

Seventeen years old and overweight, Vera Brown finds escape from her stifling home life in rural England in drawing a strong, dynamic and beautiful comic strip character: Diana Starfire. Later landing a job as an au pair for a TV star in New York, Vera meets writer Sloane St. John Treadwell Jr., teen movie idol Arnie Blaize and hooker/actress-hopeful Jo-Beth Feeney. Diana Starfire becomes the glue of this group and the catalyst for their future endeavors. The friends are swept into the Hollywood world of power, seduction and fame when a California paper buys Vera's cartoons and Starfire evolves from a syndicated comic strip to the basis for feature films directed by the ruthless, troubled mogul Victor Diamond. During the filming of Starfire II , Saint, Vera, J.B. and Arnie learn tough lessons about life as Diamond's pawns; at the wrap party on location in exotic Mexico the protagonists launch a plan that has grave consequences. Like a comic strip itself, Hayes's ( Winter Women ) novel is a quick read, providing glimpses of passion, romance and suspense. Although coincidences and stereotypes abound, readers will no doubt enjoy another view of the seedy side of Tinseltown. (May)