With the publication of Keith Richards' infectiously written book called "LIFE", and what else could he name it, came more talk in the British papers again about Mr. X, the dealer with the promise of best-ever acid, the cool bloke who was everywhere in the easy-going social life of swinging London for a while back in 1967 - the seductive interloper who coerced the inside group of rock and roll friends to invite him down to Keith's country house, Redlands, for a fun acid-tripping weekend. Security wasn't the norm, so nobody questioned him, this David Schneiderman, as Keith knew him - he was goodlooking, with clever charm and confidence - called himself The Acid King, that's how he eased himself into the trap that sent Keith and Mick to jail for a brief but unpleasant stay after the court case. Then when the bust had taken place, a bunch of coppers knocking on Keith's front door, with Fleet Street all excited, and the papers full of the stories - he was gone, and never heard from again. Except - wouldn't you know - by me, Maggie Abbott, bored in Hollywood and charmed by the same tricks, only sixteen years later. He was now David Jove, a lively sparked-up video director of punk bands and still the court jester, only the royals were a different crowd. It was almost two years before I got the shock, from Marianne Faithfull, taking her over to his den late one night when everywhere else was closed. He broke his years of underground cover by telling her his real name, must have been his ego, too hard to resist seeing her shock too. He was a volatile and dangerous sod, and a gun-carrying trickster, so when I later decided to write the story, I put it into fiction, and kept the name, The Acid King, for the novel. I think it would be a good movie and I wish people would buy it and find out. Click on the cover in the left hand column or go to Amazon. It's a fun read.
The Acid King
- Review of "The Acid King""I loved The Acid King. Your powers of description, characters and dialogue are full of imagination and surprise. You really have the art of telling a story well! You completely surprised me with your skill and writing ability. You always had the gift of the gab but you can add writing to your list of skills!! It's something I've always wanted to do myself but I never seem to have the concentration to sit down and do it. I really admire you for pulling it off. I know you took the Reading bust as the kick-off point, but it feels like a real story, full of surprise and original characters. I am so proud and pleased for you." Sandy Lieberson - Producer of "Performance"
It's 1984, and a fast-moving week in the lives of four long-estranged friends from London's Swinging Sixties kicks off when Madeleine, the recovered victim of an infamous drug bust seventeen years ago, accidentally discovers the mystery man who called himself the Acid King and set up the sting which sent her rock star lover Pete and his bandmate Barry to jail.
Pete got a lucky break after years of miserable failure and is now a rich legendary rocker, but Barry is a desperate couch potato, getting by with anti-depression pills and constant hatred of the charismatic American who tricked them.
With his new persona, Griffin, the man they had long blamed for sending their once beautiful lives into a downward spiral, has set himself up as a drug guru and video producer in the hyped-up 80s LA punk rock club scene. He's a playful popular clown but his uncertainty about whether or not he has safely escaped those who want vengeance makes him paranoid and dangerous.
Madeleine can't resist teasing Pete with the news, without telling him where to find Griffin nor his undercover name and Pete appears indifferent, but Barry's reaction sets off a hunt which triggers a signal to yet another angry victim from Griffin's past, an FBI agent called Cortez, who has deadly retribution on his mind.
When they all converge on Griffin's hideout in Los Angeles, they get some surprising revelations, and their intentions are unexpectedly turned upside down.
"Wit, anger and bittersweet nostalgia make this a lively read."
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December 30, 2010
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The Bimbo Syndicate
- A Review of the Novel by Mary Keil"Maggie Abbott's "The Bimbo Syndicate" drew me further and further in until I couldn't put the book down. The plot is original and imaginative with enough twists and turns to keep the reader on her toes. She creates characters from different worlds who believably articulate their culture. The characters are well drawn to the point where I felt I knew each one well. Not only does Ms. Abbott keep adding believable dimensions to their personalities, she keeps introducing new characters with special skills that I know are just like people out there in the so-called real world doing their peculiar thing. This is obviously a well-read, well-travelled, life-experienced author who has synthesized a large amount of knowledge about the world and how it functions. Taking on the global currency of oil was brilliant, and the concept of oil supplies moving subterraneously is beyond clever. It rings quite true. Ms. Abbott may have her pulse frighteningly accurately on the not-too-distant future. This book deserves mass-market publication, as its topic is extremely current and prescient. Every time I get into my car, I ponder how many years will we still be using this damaging mode of transportation. Having written about women and friendship, I was also struck by how Abbott envisions women, their deep friendships, their integrity and loyalties and how, when working together, they can accomplish great things, yet still remain true to their hearts. Even the seemingly coldest-hearted in the book finds love and redemption. Men may seem like they are pulling the strings, but it's another of the illusions Abbott exposes with humor and intelligence. Her women are truly unstoppable. In addition, Ms. Abboott cleverly weaves into her story many snippets of her accumulated wisdom about the universe. This is not a book that could have been written by a young writer. It covers too many subjects and displays too much depth of knowledge about them. And, while she doesn't keep spirituality in our faces, it is obvious Ms. Abbott has a deep belief in a Higher Power who is clearly in charge of even those who mistakenly believe they have power. I applaud Ms. Abbott's imagination and heartily recommend "The Bimbo Syndicate". May she keep writing for years to come. Mary Keil is the Executive Producer/Writer of "Swing" and co-author of "Come Rain Or Shine:Friendships Between Women" H
Saxon, Lu and Heba, glamorous girlfriends of three ruthless political brokers in the international oil industry, meet by chance and become instant conspirators in the ladies' room of a Paris hotel during an OPEC conference.
They don't realize they've been set up nor that they're being stalked by American exile, Iris (undercover name I.Beam), a sexy young assassin on the payroll of Lu's Chinese banker, Ling Cho Pi.
He's competing with Saxon's Washington lobbyist, Lester Heiligenberger, and Heba's Prince Abul for the grand prize. Who will control the future supplies of Oil?
Rumors abound that their precious Light Sweet Crude is running out, and only Doctor Hilda Lobinksi, a reclusive paleontologist, knows the truth. While the oil companies have been greedily draining away the world's known oil resources, Hilda has been using her scientific and environmental skills to investigate the location of new ones.
The men don't know where Doctor Lobinski is hiding nor how she's concealed her research data, but they are desperate to get their hands on it, and after some murder, kidnapping and other cunning maneuvers have failed, they now plan to use the women to find Hilda and win her confidence.
Pulling all their strings from his lonely exile in an Australian safehouse is Jack O'Rourke, a former White House insider with his eyes on the money and a cunning plan to grab it all, including a trap to lure Hilda's favorite rock band to his private beach house.
It's summer of 2000, the atmosphere is heating up with pre-election dirty tricks, the excitement of shifting powers and some sinister unrest in the desert, something being engineered by Prince Abdul on his computer.
The Bimbo Syndicate seizes the opportunity to get involved.
"It's a comic book -- over the top, larger than life villains, beautiful bold women, a new kind of James Bond thriller."
nice one
Posted by: Kirill Nosfer | July 04, 2011 at 01:22 AM
Bravo maggie! Fabulous stuff, Love it. Looking foward to the bio at long last.
Posted by: Eugenia Kelly-Viner | August 03, 2011 at 04:04 PM