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WE: Women's Entertainment Inks Deal With Simon & Schuster to Publish Book Based on Critically-Acclaimed Series, "When I Was A Girl"

September Release Date Coincides with Four New Original Episodes Featuring
Marcia Gay Harden, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Tori Amos, Lauren Holly and Macy Gray

CHICAGO, IL, JUNE 9, 2003 –WE: Women's Entertainment has signed a publishing agreement with the Pocket Books division of Simon & Schuster for WHEN I WAS A GIRL, a book based on the network's critically-acclaimed series of the same name. In conjunction with the September ' release date, WE will premiere four new half-hour episodes of the series produced by Linda Ellerbee's Lucky Duck Productions. WHEN I WAS A GIRL features well-known and accomplished women of all ages and backgrounds who reveal personal stories from their childhood. The book features candid insight into the early years of remarkable women including Sandra Bullock, Melanie Griffith, India.Arie, Sigourney Weaver, Ellen DeGeneres, Angela Bassett, Ashley Judd, Candace Bushnell, Anna Quindlen and Edie Falco. A portion of proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to charity.

With an introduction written by series creator and Executive Producer, Linda Ellerbee, the book presents a collection of timeless girlhood tales and candid photographs. Women from the world of politics, sports, entertainment, literature and music relive the early moments that helped shape their lives. While their stories are different, collectively they illustrate a common theme…these women were all once little girls with big dreams.

"Its clear that many of the most powerful connections among women are rarely documented in history books," comments Executive Producer Linda Ellerbee. "Emotional ties connect women. They are the ties that bind us, move us, and often make us double over with laughter. Call them the connections of the heart. This book is about those connections."

On September 7, the first of four new episodes of WHEN I WAS A GIRL will premiere at 10pm (EST) on WE: Women's Entertainment. Chaka Kahn and Mariel Hemingway will be featured along with many others including Marcia Gay Harden and Maggie Gyllenhaal. New episodes will air every Sunday throughout the month.

Lucky Duck Productions is an award-winning and critically acclaimed production company renowned for producing children's programming, primetime specials, documentaries and limited-run series for network and cable television. The company is owned and operated by journalist, producer and author, Linda Ellerbee and Rolfe Tessem. Jeff Eisenberg is Executive Producer of WHEN I WAS A GIRL for WE: WOMEN'S ENTERTAINMENT.

WE: WOMEN'S ENTERTAINMENT is a service of AMC NETWORKS. WE: WOMEN'S ENTERTAINMENT gives women a chance to relax and a way to recharge through entertainment that connects them on an emotional level. WE: WOMEN'S ENTERTAINMENT features the largest collection of women's interest films, inspiring original series and topical specials. The network currently has 52 million subscribers.

Pocket Books is a division of Simon & Schuster, the publishing operation of Viacom Inc., 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 multi-media formats. Its divisions include the Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Simon & Schuster New Media, Simon & Schuster Online, Simon & Schuster U.K., and Simon & Schuster Australia. For more information, visit our website at www.simonsays.com.

Press Contacts

  • Jennifer Geisser
    Annmarie Volz
    516-803-4347

  • Lynn Weiss
    310-998-9307