Prudence in Hollywood
And Other Stories by Ralph Cissne
“I went to the gynecologist last week, which isn’t all that unusual except I’m a man. Prudence insisted I go.” So begins the title story of this collection exploring the matrix of modern American relationships.
From Farewell True Love to Prudence in Hollywood, Lover Boy to Laughing Stock, Claim to Fame and Alpha Girl, we follow a quirky cast of characters pursuing love with surprising and often humorous consequences: a long-term romance ends; the love junkie meets his match; an Elvis impersonator crashes his class reunion; a stand-up comedian faces her fears; Hollywood personal training clients realize their dreams; a blended family heals emotional wounds.
Advance Praise for Prudence in Hollywood:
“…funny, poignant, and perfectly wistful about the search for love. Like your favorite song, their musical language resonates long after you’ve done reading.” – Diana Wagman, author of Life #6
“I adore these stories, a rare glimpse into Hollywood at the end of the twentieth century––before Instagram and the Kardashians––a time of innocence and true love and longing. They made me feel glad to be alive and hopeful for our future.” – Jamie Cat Callan, author of Parisian Charm School
“The genius of the author’s plots is the twists and turns that precipitously balance over the line between melancholy and inspirational. The finesse employed in setting the romantic and sexual scenes is a credit to any author, and his stage settings are as carefully arranged as if drawn by an artist.” – US Revie of Books
Angel City Singles is Ralph Cissne’s debut novel. An award-winning poet, his short stories have appeared in publications such as American Way and Playboy.
His poetry collection Don’t Be Shy was published in 2015. A native Californian, Cissne graduated from The University of Oklahoma School of Journalism and lives in Oklahoma where he writes and volunteers as a creative life skills mentor.
