Actress Valerie Bertinelli to Write Memoir

Actress Valerie Bertinelli to Write Memoir

NEW YORK, July 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Free Press, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, Inc., announced today that it will publish in April 2008 a new book by Valerie Bertinelli, the popular actress who starred in the long-running television sitcom "One Day At A Time" and is now known to a new generation of fans as a spokeswoman for Jenny Craig. Martha K. Levin, Free Press's Executive Vice President and Publisher and Leslie Meredith, VP & Senior Editor acquired world rights, audio, and first serial for the book, which will be titled Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound At A Time, from literary agent Daniel A. Strone, CEO of the Trident Media Group.

We all knew Valerie Bertinelli as the cute girl next door Barbara Cooper in the popular television show "One Day at a Time." Now she is a divorced mother of a teenage son and is conducting a very public -- and already successful -- campaign to lose weight as a spokesperson for Jenny Craig. Losing It is Valerie's inspiring memoir about her growing up in front of the camera, her 20-year marriage to Eddie Van Halen, her struggles with depression, and her life-long battle with weight and self-esteem issues. With courage and humor, Valerie will share with readers how she has taken control of her own life, revealing her fears and insecurities in ways that will motivate the thousands of women in America who struggle everyday with these same issues.

"Valerie Bertinelli's story is incredibly inspiring," said Martha Levin. "Her remarkable self-awareness and total honesty will resonate with any woman who has fought to regain her self-respect."

"Writing a book is an exciting new adventure for me. I've grown up in and out of the public eye, survived some tough times, learned some important lessons, and come out -- as has my entire family -- in a great place. I think it's a recipe for a good book. Ironically, as there's less of me, I have more to say," said Valerie Bertinelli.

Free Press is an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc., a part of the CBS Corporation. Simon & Schuster is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Digital, and international companies in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information visit our website at www.simonsays.com

Source: Free Press

CONTACT: Carisa Hays, VP, Director of Publicity, +1-212-632-4993,
carisa.hays@simonandschuster.com; or Nicole Kalian, Assistant Director of
Publicity, +1-212-632-4992, nicole.kalian@simonandschuster.com, for Free
Press

Web site: http://www.simonsays.com/

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