"I, Rhoda," Memoir from Valerie Harper, Due in January; Promotional Dates Announced

By Andrew Gans
December 26, 2012

Stage and screen star Valerie Harper's memoir, which is entitled "I, Rhoda," will be released Jan. 15, 2013, by Gallery Books.

The hardcover tome traces Harper's career from Broadway chorus dancer to her breakout role as Rhoda Morgenstern on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." That situation comedy, according to Harper, "reflected the way more and more real women were living in the 1970’s. It was refreshing and invigorating and addressed the changing attitude towards women in the workplace that had been rippling across the country."

Harper spent nine years as Rhoda Morgenstern; although the first season of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" was not a ratings success, Harper took home the Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress. After that first season, the show was solidly in the top 10 for years, and Harper took home two more Best Supporting Actress awards. From that success came the spin-off show, "Rhoda," and a Best Actress Emmy.

In her memoir Harper, according to press notes, "candidly writes about the pressures of starring in her own sitcom — including how Rhoda’s on-screen divorce rocked the television landscape and how in her subsequent series, 'Valerie,' she was wrongfully fired from her own show."

"I, Rhoda" also explores "the time after the show’s cancellation. Valerie was involved in the feminist movement and worked on the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (where her volunteer tutor was none-other than Gloria Allred). She also worked on The Hunger Project, an organization that had her visiting Kenya, Uganda, and Somalia."

The book also discusses Harper's recent Broadway outing, portraying Tallulah Bankhead in Looped. During preparation for the show’s New York premiere, the actress was diagnosed with lung cancer, a revelation that she discusses for the first time in her memoir.

Harper will promote her book with several appearances around the country and on TV; those dates follow.

New York, NY – January 14
GOOD MORNING AMERICA

KATIE

New York, NY – January 15
NEW YORK LIVE

New York, NY – January 16
WLNY-TV/WCBS-TV
“Live from the Couch”

SIRUIS XM RADIO
“Morning Jolt with Larry Joe/Freewheelin’”

BOOKENDS
Talk/Q&A/Booksigning (7:00 PM – 9:00 PM)
211 East Ridgewood Avenue
Ridgewood, NJ

New York, NY – January 17
BARNES & NOBLE
Talk/Q&A/Booksigning (7:00 PM – 9:00 PM)
150 East 86th Street
New York, NY

New Haven, CT – January 28
R.J. JULIA
Talk/Q&A/Booksigning (7:00 PM – 9:00 PM)
768 Boston Post Road
Madison, CT

Chicago, IL – February 11
ANDERSON’S BOOKSHOP
Booksigning (7:00 PM – 9:00 PM)
5112 Main Street
Downer’s Grove, IL

Los Angeles, CA – February 13
BARNES & NOBLE
Talk/Booksigning (7:00 PM – 9:00 PM)
189 The Grove Drive
Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles, CA – February 16
VROMAN’S BOOKSTORE
Talk/Booksigning (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM)
695 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA

Miami, FL – February 28
BOOKS & BOOKS
Talk/Booksigning(7:00 PM – 9:00 PM)
265 Aragon Avenue
Coral Gables, FL