PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

Publisher's report

Jenny Siler, 26, a Seattle bartender, will have her first novel published
by Henry Holt after a publisher's bidding battle drove the price ``well
over six figures,'' according to her agent, Nat Sobel, who also reps James
Ellroy (``L.A. Confidential'').

Siler's book, ``Easy Money,'' is about a cross-country chase involving a
female dope mule who must deliver a computer disk that could get her
killed.

Another first-timer hitting the novel jackpot is freelance journalist John
Connolly, who got a $575,000 advance, one of the biggest ever for an Irish
writer. ``Every Dead Thing'' features ex-detective Charlie (Bird) Parker
and takes place entirely in the United States.

Said Connolly, 29: ``My first priority is to fix the heater in the car,
then to pay the tax man and the Visa bill I ran up researching the book in
America.''

Famous prisoner takes a trip

Robert Downey Jr. was escorted from jail to Paramount Studios for a
recording session -- at his own expense, the L.A. Sheriff's Department
said.

The trip was court-ordered, said Deputy Steve Sciacca, who offered no
further explanation.

After a series of drug arrests and second chances, the actor was led off to
jail Dec. 8 for six months for violating probation by failing to stay clean
and sober.

On Friday, Downey's nose was cut in a fight with another inmate in a common
area and he was placed in a cell away from the general population.

Also, deputies found drug paraphernalia in another area where Downey ate
and watched television with about 100 other inmates. Officials were trying
to determine the source of the contraband.