In his seven best-selling novels, the beautiful but often poor and pure heroines are raped, sodomized and defrauded, and go on to avenge themselves by questionable, often illegal, but ingenious methods.

Revenge is a topic he likes writing about. I was horrified, because 20 million people watched his 'I Dream of Jeannie.' 'Īfter several million or so books sold in 32 countries, Sheldon has had his revenge. Finally, after 10 turndowns, he sold it to Morrow. 'Hill Black, the agent, would call me and say, 'Well, Knopf turned it down. In 1970 he finished his first novel, 'The Naked Face,' and asked author Irving Wallace for the name of an agent. Sheldon hasn't always been so hard to get. The house guests are sequestered until they finish reading the book and make an offer. They make a deal with studios, because the studios are eager to see those manuscripts first if it's a hot author.' Rather, his publisher, William Morrow head Larry Hughes, flies out with his editor to Sheldon's house in Holmby Hills, Calif., or to the rented castle in Italy or the flat in London. 'Many publishing houses have spies who mimeograph manuscripts. 'I don't send my books to the publisher's office,' said Sheldon, whose devious mind has brought him millions. In town recently to interview former CIA chief Richard Helms, as well as several ambassadors, senators and foreign service types, all for his next book, he talked over a cup of coffee in his posh Regent Hotel suite. Look twice to be convinced that he isn't being played by Cary Grant, one of his best friends. In his checked sports coat, sincere tie, white hair and black-rimmed glasses, Sheldon, at 67, is the very image of a best-selling California author in a sitcom.

'My agent said he figured CBS deserved some fanfare for their million.'

Then, in the middle of a weekly executive meeting, 'the door opened and in walked four tuxedoed men with violins playing 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic,' followed by two girls in evening dresses bearing silver trays with copies of my manuscript on it, and behind them girls strewing rosebuds.

'I wouldn't let CBS see the book itself until it was published,' said Sheldon. The three words were 'female con artist.' The book is 'If Tomorrow Comes,' currently topping The New York Times and The Washington Post best-seller lists. Three words about Sidney Sheldon's new book were all CBS Television needed to hand over $1 million for the mini-series rights.

Master of the game by sidney sheldon