Mr. Collins weaves a tale of deception and greed, revealing the perils of a gambling underworld seen through the eyes of a naive and gullible protagonist, Johnny Jasper. Johnny's best friend, the incorrigible Seymour Galvin, gets deep in debt with a bookie and can't pay up. Johnny can help, but only if he dips into the coveted family nest egg without his wife's consent. Johnny's simple life quickly spins out of control as he gets caught up in a seedy world he knows nothing about. After making a deal with the "devil", Johnny soon discovers the price of doing business with thugs is far greater than he ever imagined! Mr. Collins was born and raised in Bay Shore, New York along the south shore of Long Island. Having acquired a fondness for the water early on, he still spends his summers relaxing at a local beach club, swimming on a regular basis, and playing some occasional tennis. The beach is among his favorite places to write. His favorite winter activity is skiing with family and friends at popular Vermont ski resorts. Mr.Collins lives in Westchester County, New York with his family.