Any reader has probably gone to see their favorite writer on a book tour. But, have those readers questioned how book tours came about? Well, we readers can thank a brassy former actress who wrote a scintillating book about Hollywood performers popping pills. Jacqueline Susann promoted her books in bookstores, giving readings and signings, meeting fans of her sassy and salacious showbiz stories. She was her own brand, her novel selling because of her personality rather than her talent.
Jacqueline Susann was the only child of Jewish parents; her father was a painter and her mother, a teacher. Despite one of her teachers encouraging her to become a writer, Susann felt the stage to be her calling. Upon her high school graduation in 1936 Susann trod the boards in unsuccessful plays. She also wrote a few unsuccessful plays. She worked steadily in television, even writing commercials she appeared in. She hosted a TV show designed to help people in need find jobs. She married press agent Irving Mansfield. The couple had a severely autistic son who was institutionalized ; devoted parents, Irving and Jacqueline visited him weekly.
In 1966 Jacqueline Susann wrote Valley of The Dolls, a roman-a-clef about three gals who start their showbiz careers together. Their careers go in different directions, but these ladies all abuse "dolls" - amphetamines and barbiturates to retain a career edge. The book was sexy and trashy. Gloria Steinem gave Valley of the Dolls a poor review. And readers gave the book 65 weeks on the best seller list, making it the most sold book of 1966. In fact Valley of the Dolls was the largest selling novel as of 2016, with 17 million copies sold. Of course Valley of the Dolls became a film ; of course the film was poorly reviewed. (Susann was purported to not like the film version.) Susann's other novel sold well enough. She was the first author to have three consecutive novels top the New York Times bestseller list.
Suzanne's brash nature made her a popular and frequent talk show guest. Both Gore Vidal and Truman Capote sassed Jacqueline Susann (when they weren't sassing each other.) Susanne marketed her books with talk show visits and ads in entertainment sections of major newspapers. She toured in support of each of her books. Suzanne also wrote thank you letters to every bookstore owner who hosted book events for her novels. Jacqueline Suzanne died of cancer September 21st 1974. She lived a life of literary fame that made her far more famous than her characters.
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