Inflatable Men
“'Maybe what I want is an inflatable man. One I can blow up when I need him in my life, and deflate him when I don’t.”' – Celia Hephner
New York City – Fashion capital of America and home to the once prestigious House of Rivaldi. The struggle to rebuild itself after bad publicity and faulty collections becomes a game of who’s playing whom in the racy world of high fashion, high stakes, and unrequited love . . .
Perceptive, inspired, an up-and-coming designer, Celia Hephner is determined to turn Rivaldi around. Yet “inflatable” men abound in Celia’s world with their puffed up egos, enigmatic fronts, and private agendas. The most evocative being her ex-husband who left her five years ago for Paris.
Peter Sletcher – Marketing guru, fast track executive, and more elusive than ever when he returns to Celia’s life. Realizing her genius, he challenges her professional skills, though his motivation behind his position at Rivaldi remains ever in question.
Murderous intent, stylish clothes, dangerous love.
Designs are stolen, bodies fall, and talents battle it out within the silky seams of the Fashion Center’s runway. As Celia’s abilities are put to the ultimate test, she must do the one thing she cannot—trust Peter, to determine who is out to destroy Rivaldi, before she becomes the next victim and the fall of the house is assured.
Author's Notes
Intermingling a mystery plot with a fashion house’s design calendar was a challenge for me. With all the collections, lines, and trade shows it took some serious exploration to understand the various facets, and where different aspects of the story would work best.
As I researched I was amazed to learn how important the finishing and texture of fabrics and findings are to fashion designers. How fine details such as the right sized button, or sheen of silk can impact a garment and spark the designer's creativity. I found myself forever going to stores such as Nordstrom and studying the various clothing lines. Plus no trip was complete without stepping into the shoe department where I could hear Celia loud and clear.