Barbara Eden to Publish Memoir for 2011 Release

Barbara Eden, star of the classic television series 'I Dream of Jeannie,' will publish a memoir, 'Jeannie Out of the Bottle,' in the spring of 2011, the New York Times reports.  The book, on which Eden is collaborating with Wendy Leigh, will be published by Random House's Crown Archetype imprint.

In addition to her experiences on 'I Dream of Jeannie,' Eden's memoir will deal with some of her difficult personal experiences, including "the birth of a still-born son; her relationship with a husband who was verbally abusive and addicted to cocaine; and the heroin-induced death of her adult son, Matthew," the Times reports, based on information received from Crown Publishing.  Of these subjects, Eden told the Times, "Life is life. Everyone has had ups and downs, and women in particular have more or less the same. There is a sisterhood. I think perhaps I might be able to help some women with those problems. They're kind of universal. They're not things that most people know how to deal with until it happens."  Eden also told the Times, when asked why she has not published a memoir before, "Quite frankly, it scared the Dickens out of me. I was quite frightened of doing this. I've been asked several times, and it's daunting to talk about yourself. It gets to the soft spots inside you."

Barbara Eden's numerous screen credits also include 'Kismet,' 'Telly...Who Loves You Baby?,' and 'Harper PTA.'  Her stage credits include BLITHE SPIRIT, THE ODD COUPLE, THE LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS, GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, THE PAJAMA GAME, and SOUTH PACIFIC.