The Province from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 50

B6 Tho Province Wednesday, July 30, 1997 Bodice-ripper writer ripped off my conduct has caused," Dailey, 53, said in a statement. Dailey said the plagiarism took place in the early 1990s while she was under stress, in part from the cancer deaths of two brothers and the lung cancer surgery of her husband. "I recently learned that my essentially random and non-pervasive acts of copying are attributable to a psychological problem that 1 never even suspected I had," Dai LOS ANGELES There may be a good reason romance novels all seem to read alike. Romance novelist Janet Dailey acknowledged plagiarizing the work of her rival Nora Roberts and blamed a psychological disorder Tuesday. Dailey said her books Aspen Gold and Notorious contain ideas and passages lifted from several of ley said.

Roberts novels. The copying was revealed Dailey agreed to Roberts proposed terms to settle the matter, including a payment to the Literacy Volunteers of America. The amount was not disclosed. Associated Press when Dailey got tripped up during online chats with readers. "I can only apologize to Nora, whom I've considered a friend, and to my readers for any pain or embarrassment tested for paternity hot press Staff photo by Charlie Hayes MM Si Is he or isn't he? Well, Bill Cosby will soon know for sure.

The entertainer has offered to take a paternity test to settle the question of whether he is the father of the woman convicted last week of trying to extort $40 million US from him. In spite of Autumn Jackson's conviction, there is a lingering belief that she may really be the Cos's illegitimate daughter. The latest reports have her threatening to file a paternity suit against Cosby. His lawyer, Jack Schmitt, announced on CNBC's Rivera Live show Monday night that Cosby was being tested even as the show was being aired. "The trial ended, but the court of public opinion did not," said Schmitt.

He then challenged Jackson and her mother, Shawn Upshaw, to submit their own blood samples for comparison. Cosby has admitted having a brief fling with Upshaw in Las Vegas in the mid- 1970s, but he insists he is not Jackson's father. Jackson, 22, faces up to 12 years in prison for threatening to sell her story to the tabloids unless Cosby paid up. She'll be sentenced on Oct. 22.

BAYWATCH CRUISE Star and executive producer David Hassellhoff leads the Bay-watch cast and crew to Alaska for the 200th episode of the world's most popular TV series. The show will board Princess Cruises' Dawn Princess next month for the two-hour episode, which will feature the spectacular scenery of the 49th state. The program will include a glac Reuter photo Spawn premieres ier rescue and a series of romantic entanglements, including the high seas marriage of Lt. Mitch Buchannon (Hassellhoff). The special episode, titled Baywatch: White Thunder at Glacier Bay, will premiere in Theresa Randle and Michael Jai White, stars of new thriller Spawn, arrive for its premiere at Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

It opens here Friday. Look for stories and pictures in Thursday's Take a Break section. syndication during the May 1998 sweeps. NAME: Nicolas AGE: 23 PLACE OF BIRTH: St. Pamphile, Que.

OCCUPATION: Student WHAT MAKES ME HAPPIEST: The sun HERO: My dad QUALITY I ADMIRE IN A WOMAN: Her smile AND IN A MAN: Honesty FAVORITE MUSIC: Tragically Hip FAVORITE MOVIE: Forrest Gump FAVORITE TV SHOW: David Letterman FAVORITE FOOD: Lasagna GREATEST HOPE: Fun and well-paying job Want to be our Smile of the Day? If you're 19 or older, write to Charlie Hayes, The Province, 200 Granville Suite 1, Vancouver, B.C., V6C 3G3. Be sure to include your phone number. CIVT raids BCTV By Ray Chatelin Television Reporter The newest kid on Vancouver's television block, Baton Broadcasting's CIVT, has raided rival BCTV for its news director. Clive Jackson, BCTV's assignment editor and one of the key figures instrumental in making BCTV the province's most watched newscast, is moving over to the new rival after 18 years with the station. The 46 year-old Jackson, a former Province reporter, begins his new position Aug.

1 1 as the station gears up for its Sept. 22 scheduled opening. Jackson is just one of many personalities the new station has hired from other media outlets, such as Vicki Gabereau, Bob Robertson and Linda Cullen from CBC Radio. Former BCTV news director Cameron Bell designed CrVT's news programming before it received its licence. He continues as a consultant.

ENDLESS O.J. Has America had its fill of all things O.J. Simpson? CBS clearly thinks not. The network has announced that it has bought the rights to prosecutor Marcia Clark's book about the trial and will turn it into a two-hour movie. Without a Doubt was written by Clark and journalist Teresa Carpenter.

It won't re-enact the trial, says executive producer Randy Robinson, but will examine "an American justice system distorted by race and corrupted by celebrity." There's no air date yet, and no casting either, but how about Karen Allen as'Clark? Despite a plethora of books about the infamous case, Without a Doubt will be only the second telemovie about the 1994 murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. The first aired on Fox in 1995 shortly after the jury in Simpson's criminal trial was sequestered. News services UNMARRYING MAN What a hopeless romantic. Real-estate mogul Donald Trump recently told talk-show host Larry King about his parting of the ways with his current wife, Maria Maple Trump. "I know I have an ironclad prenup with Maria," The Donald mused, "and while right now it's just a separation, I'm sure the divorce proceedings will go smoothly.

"However, one never knows. Someone could say something to her, and we could be involved in a lawsuit. I hope that doesn't happen, but if it does, so be it. I adore Maria as I do lvana, but I am just not cut out for marriage." Reuter photo Perfect picture Stars of the new movie Picture Perfect, Kevin Bacon (left), Jennifer Aniston and Jay Mohr, enjoy a party at New York's CoCo Opera restaurant following a screening of the film..