The definitive biography of Jacqueline Susann, author of the top 20 all-time bestselling novel in the 20th century, now a cult classic, Valley of the Dolls.

With a new introduction by Maris Kreizman for the 40th anniversary of the original publication of Lovely Me, a new generation of readers can experience anew the story of the trailblazing woman who captured the zeitgeist of the 1960s.

On Christmas Eve in 1962, Jacqueline Susann anxiously awaited a doctor’s appointment, where she would undergo a breast biopsy. Unable to fall asleep, and at three in the morning on Christmas Day, she wrote in her journal: “I can’t die without leaving something—something big…I’m Jackie—I have a dream.” And thus began an incredible story that not only struck a chord with readers but also utterly transformed the publishing industry forever. Writing about such taboo subjects as abortion, women’s drug use, and fame, Susann went on to publish three mega-selling novels—Valley of the Dolls (1966), The Love Machine (1969), and Once Is Not Enough (1973)—becoming the first author to have three consecutive books ranked number one on the New York Times bestseller list.

In this pioneering biography of Susann, women’s health advocate Barbara Seaman examines the life of a woman who exhibited strength and courage in every aspect of her life—from her troubled childhood, to the rise of her public persona and acting career, to privately fighting her ultimate adversary, breast cancer. Seaman charts how Susann revolutionized book promotion by becoming one of the first “name-brand” novelists—popularizing book tours, television and print advertising, and celebrity endorsements. Because of Susann, for the first time ever, book publishing was an enthusiastically accepted part of the entertainment industry.

Lovely Me is at once a fascinating dissection and tender portrait of a strong-willed, controversial, imperfect, and charismatic bestselling author whose attempt to reclaim the narrative of her life crafted a space to think about women’s popular culture.

Includes 40 black and white photographs