Taryn It Up In The Valley Of The Sun

In Phoenix, land of snowbirds and endless chain stores, constant air conditioning and dust devils, pornography is still a good part-time gig. Once and future porn star Taryn Thomas is the subject of a multi-page article in the New Times.

The New Times story is as bemused by Thomas as it is comprehensive, presenting the players in Thomas' life as the building blocks of an inevitable porn career. Writer Niki D'Andrea also paints Greater Phoenix, formerly the home of Jenna Jameson's empire, as either Tampa West or Porn Valley East.

Taryn Thomas got into porn in late 2004, established her reputation in 2005, and had already flamed out by early 2006. Saintly porn agent Mark Spiegler gave her her $50,000 trust fund and she blew through it in six weeks, gained 40 pounds, and couldn't keep a straight job down.

But now she's back, heading up a new business with her fiancee and shepherding her younger brother through his first porn scenes.

To its credit, the New Times article doesn't believe all the hype, qualifying blurbs from "Adult Video Newsletter," but dutifully reports that, in Phoenix, many women are getting paid more than what they'd get in the San Fernando Valley.

· Risqué Business: If Porn Star Taryn Thomas is Any Indication, the Valley of the Sun May Be the Next Porn Capital of the World (phoenixnewtimes.com)
· Pussy Party: Day Rate Plus Anal (gramponante.com)
· Taryn Thomas (tarynthomas.com)