Los Angeles Times Novel Contest

My thanks to all the contestants in our "Birds of Paradise" novel competition. And now for our final installment.

CHAPTER 28

. . . And most of them lived happily ever after

By Steve Lopez

Five years later . . .

From the Associated Press

TODOS SANTOS, Mexico -- The mangled body of suspected Marenco Cartel drug lord Vincent Palmieri -- who appeared to have been shot twice and also attacked by sharks -- washed ashore early Tuesday morning and was discovered by fishermen line-casting from the beach.

Palmieri had been at large for three years after skipping bail in Los Angeles, where he was awaiting trial in the infamous "Birds of Paradise" case involving former U.S. congressman Antonio Falco, Malibu TV producer Charlie Bonner and a host of Las Vegas showgirls working as prostitutes.

Palmieri was believed to have been romantically involved with Genie Bonner, wife of the TV producer and a co-defendant. The two fled L.A. at the same time and were seen boarding a yacht together last week in Cabo San Lucas. Authorities said there was no sign of the yacht or of Genie Bonner. >> Read more

PREVIOUS CHAPTERS

Steve Sedam / For The Times

All the chapters so far

Chapter 1

Chapter 2 - Runners-up: 1, 2, 3, 4

Chapter 3 - Runners-up: 1, 2, 3, 4

Chapter 4 - Runners-up: 1, 2, 3, 4

Chapter 5 - Runners-up: 1, 2, 3, 4

Chapter 6 - Runners-up: 1, 2

Chapter 7 - Runners-up: 1, 2, 3

Chapter 8 - Runners-up: 1

Chapter 9 - Runners-up: 1, 2, 3,

Chapter 10 - Runners-up: 1, 2

Chapter 11 - Runners-up:

Chapter 12 - Runners-up: 1, 2, 3, 4

Chapter 13 - Runners-up: 1, 2, 3

Chapter 14 - Runners-up: 1, 2, 3

- Runners-up: 1, 2, 3, 4

Chapter 16 - Runners-up: 1, 2, 3,

Chapter 17 - Runners-up: 1, 2, 3, 4

Chapter 18 - Runners-up: 1, 2, 3, 4

Chapter 19 - Runners-up: 1, 2, 3, 4

Chapter 20 - Runners-up: 1, 2, 3, 4

- Runners-up: , , , ,

Chapter 22 - Runners-up: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Chapter 23 - Runners-up: , , ,

Chapter 24 - Runners-up: 1, 2, 3, 4

Chapter 25 - Runners-up: 1, 2, 3, 4

Chapter 26 - Runners-up: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Chapter 27 - Runners-up: 1, 2, 3, 4

Steve Sedam / For The Times

For official contest rules, please click here. Questions? E-mail: lopeznovel@latimes.com

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Discussion

Discuss "Birds of Paradise" and share your ideas and insights.

1. LOVED THE IDEA & STORY-WISHED IT WENT ON LONGER-WENT ON VACATION & COULDN'T WAIT TO GET BACK HOME TO CATCH UP!!
Submitted by: JAN FROM B.P.
11:13 AM PDT, May 12, 2008

2. The voice of reason is here ( one of many) people stop encouraging this nonsense It was a great idea at first, and it could have been a good story. The purpose was to get you interested in books, reading them and writing them, you can't have one without the other. So open your Sunday times go to the Book Review ( caution it may look like it's upside down at first... or is that the Opinion page that's upside down... anyway) pick a book from the best sellers column read it and then let me know if you still want B.O.P. in PDF
Submitted by: Joe from Brooklyn
6:53 AM PDT, May 1, 2008

3. Hi a myshel. Steve's ending was a bit of a shocker since I was unable to inject much humor along the way. He also took it farther than he allowed any of the winners to take it, but heez the boss I guess. Check out L Nagy and maybe we'll all be talking soon. Good luck to you.~~~ ~~~ S Ch yl er
Submitted by: Schyler
10:22 PM PDT, Apr 30, 2008

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Steve Lopez is a columnist for The Los Angeles Times and is the author of three novels and a book of non-fiction.
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