Cinderella Sims

Theres no glass slipper in this fairytale - just a damsel in distress, a bag of cash, and a whole lot of dead bodies.

Reporter Ted Lindsay is trying to forget his ex-wife, and New York Citys tough streets are just what the doctor ordered. Theyre also filled with alluring women, but only one catches Teds eye. Cinderella Sims is not only beautiful, shes on the run and needs Teds help. Shes got a bag full of cash and some very angry people staking out her apartment. Before long Teds forgotten his heartbreak and is launched into the dark streets of crime with Cindy at his side.

The author speaks:
"Look, this wasnt my idea.

"Three or four years ago, Bill Schafer suggested that I might give some consideration to republishing a book of mine called $20 Lust, which had originally appeared under a pen name. I recalled the book he meant, but dimly; I had, after all, written it in 1960. But I didnt need to remember it all that vividly to know the answer to his suggestion.

"No, I told him.

"A little later I suggested he might want to publish a fancy edition of Mona, the first book under my own name; it had come out as a paperback original in 1961, and we could celebrate its 40th anniversary with a nice limited edition hardcover.

"Bill was lukewarm to the notion, but had an alternative proposal; how about issuing a double volume, containing Mona and $20 Lust? Once again, I didnt have to do a lot of soul-searching to come up with a response.

"No, I told him.

"Time passed. Then Ed Gorman, the Sage of Cedar Rapids, used an ancient private eye novelette of mine in a pulp anthology. When it came out he sent me a copy, and, while I didnt read my novelette—I figured it was enough that I wrote the damned thing—I did read his introduction, which I found to be thoughtful and incisive and generous. I e-mailed him and told him so, and he e-mailed me back and thanked me, adding that my early work was probably better than I thought.

"And, he added, I really think you ought to let Bill Schafer publish $20 Lust.

"I felt as though Id been sucker-punched. Where the hell did that come from?

"So I got in touch with Bill. I suppose I could at least read it, I said, except I cant, because I dont have a copy. Three days later, a battered copy arrived in the mail. I hollered for my wife.

"Bill Schafer wants to reprint this, I said.

"Great, she said.

"Not necessarily, I said, and explained the circumstances. Id like you to read this, I said, or as much of it as you can without gagging, and then tell me its utter crap and Id surely destroy what little reputation I have if I consent to its republication.

"Suppose I like it?

"Not to worry, I said. Ill sign the commitment papers, and Ill make sure they take real good care of you.

"Well, she liked it. And Bill Schafer published it, and a lot of people liked it, and my agent sold it in France, where even more people liked it. Shows what I know. And its now my pleasure to include it in the Classic Crime Library.

"Cinderella Sims was originally intended to be my second crime novel for Gold Medal, to follow Grifters Game (aka Mona). At some point along the way I lost faith in it, and wrapped it up in a hurry, and sold it to Nightstand Books. Hope yall enjoy it!"