Say Goodbye

Shiner's tenderhearted story of a young woman rock 'n' roller's rise to fame plays perfectly on audio--thanks to the author's fresh and unobtrusive style, his doggedly realistic portrayal of 1990s-era music industry workings and his gift for fine characterization. A listener can feel genuine sympathy for Texan Laurie Moss as she struggles to write songs and put a group together while working as a waitress in L.A. Her ""band of dreams,"" the Mighty Mosstones, includes Laurie's hero, veteran scenester guitarist Skip Shaw, who unfortunately is a drug casualty waiting to happen. When Skip begrudgingly comes on the road for a tour of small club gigs, tensions rise. Laurie's record company shoots a video, but this leads to inevitable disappointment. The story is told from the point-of-view of a smitten rock journalist, whose observations render the tale bittersweet throughout. Shiner is an astute reader of his own material: he knows just when to milk it for emotional punch. Simultaneous release with the St. Martin's hardcover. (Oct.)