Las Vegas Weekly

Six Las Vegans who should write books

P. Moss unveils his short stories this week, which got us thinking…

Frankie’s Tiki Room and Double Down Saloon owner P Moss.

Frankie's Tiki Room

Tuesday night is P Moss’ coming out party, the day he introduces Blue Vegas, his newly released book of Vegas-based short stories, to the world. If it’s anything like his Double Down Saloon, it’ll be filled with colorful characters, debauchery and the occasional exposure of naughty bits.

That got us to thinking: Who else would we like to see put pen to the paper? Here are a few of the noted Las Vegans we hope follow Moss’ lead and turn out literary works of their own.

1. Kid in a Candy Store: Living the Sweet Life in Las Vegas by Jean-Philippe Maury, Bellagio pastry chef and creator of Jean-Philippe Patisserie. Also, perhaps a security guard or cabana cocktail waitress at Rehab could write, I Saw What You Did Last Summer: Behind the Scenes at Rehab. — Joe Brown

2. When it was once suggested to South Point owner Michael Gaughan that he should write a book, he joked, “A lot of people would have to die.” The son of Las Vegas casino pioneer Jackie Gaughan, who operated El Cortez in downtown Las Vegas for decades, Gaughan’s business partners have included Steve Wynn and Bill Boyd. He not only knows were all the bodies are buried, but why. — John Katsilometes

3. Mayor Oscar Goodman’s Complete History of the Martini: An illustrated guide for the elementary school child. — Deanna Rilling

4. Harry Reid’s self-help book: Putting Machiavelli’s ‘The Prince’ into Practice. Volumes 1-5 — Patrick Coolican

5. With a shock of red hair and an equally shocking set of breasts, Tempest Storm is the perfect candidate to be published. The sharecropper's daughter turned burlesque queen has already written one book, 1987’s autobiographical The Lady is a Vamp, but in the 20-plus years since Storm hasn’t exactly hung up her feather boa. Now in her 80s, Storm is the naughty grandmother I always wish I’d had, still sharp as a tack and with a wicked sense of humor. A book of short stories from Ms. Storm would be just the thing to put me to bed with visions of sequins and smoky clubs dancing in my head. — Sarah Feldberg

6. John Westcott, the guy who gives chair massages in front of Whole Foods, could write a book about where Las Vegas hurts. Where It Hurts: Feeling Las Vegas’ Pain. — Joe Brown