My Life to Live, Agnes Nixon
My Life to Live, Agnes Nixon
List: $17.50 | Sale: $12.25
Club: $8.75

My Life to Live
How I Became the Queen of Soaps When Men Ruled the Airwaves

Author: Agnes Nixon, Carol Burnett

Narrator: Judith Ivey, Carol Burnett

Unabridged: 8 hr 24 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/21/2017

Synopsis

From the Emmy-winning writer and creator of All My Children, One Life to Live, and Loving, a memoir of her trailblazing rise to the top of the television industry, including behind-the-scenes stories from some of the most beloved soaps of all time
 
Before there was Erica Kane, Adam Chandler, or Victoria Lord, there was Agnes Nixon, a young girl who dreamed up stories for paper dolls. Those tales she imagined--ones filled with ambitions, rivalries, and romances--would soon echo her own path to success. In a memoir filled with as much drama as the soaps she penned, Nixon shares her journey as daughter of a broken marriage, who fought back against her father's wish that she take over the family burial garments business, overcame the heartbreak of losing her fiancé in WWII, and later became one of the most successful names in the TV industry.

Fans of Nixon's greatest creations, All My Children and One Life to Live, will delight at Nixon's own incredible life, as well as the behind-the-scenes insight she lends to daytime's most popular programs. Nixon will share the inspiration behind and casting of the iconic character Erica Kane, played by Susan Lucci; the story bible for All My Children, and how it became lost, and then locked away in a drawer for many years; and how Nixon positioned ABC to become the media giant it is today, despite pushback from her male counterparts. This candid glimpse behind the curtain of the soap opera industry will charm soap fans and story lovers alike.

With a foreword written and read by Carol Burnett.

About The Author

Agnes Nixon was a writer and producer, best known for creating the Emmy Award–winning soap operas All My Children, One Life to Live, and Loving. In 1981, Nixon received the rarely presented Trustees Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, becoming the first writer and first woman to be honored. A member of the Television Hall of Fame, Nixon was also the first female writer to join the Soap Opera Hall of Fame, and in 2010, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Reviews

Goodreads review by SundayAtDusk on February 04, 2017

This is a well-written memoir by a woman who spent a great deal of her life writing storylines and dialogue for soap operas. While Agnes Nixon had some challenges in her life, such as a difficult father, her own life was no soap opera. Her one marriage was a terrific one, and she successfully combin......more

Goodreads review by Laurel-Rain on July 16, 2017

Before there was Erica Kane, Adam Chandler, or Victoria Lord, there was Agnes Nixon, a young girl who dreamed up stories for paper dolls. Those tales she imagined--ones filled with ambitions, rivalries, and romances--would soon parallel her own path to success. In a memoir filled with as much drama......more

Goodreads review by R J on March 29, 2017

I received a copy of this book from Goodreads in exchange for a review. Reading someone’s memoir is sort of like having a front row seat into a person’s life. You see firsthand who and what influenced their decisions and you discover those pivotal moments that alter the course of their lives. Sometim......more

Goodreads review by Laura on May 25, 2017

Fascinating and enjoyable read of a true television pioneer. If you ever watched a soap you will appreciate My Life to Live. Bonus that the forward is written by the one and only, iconic Carol Burnett. I am still mourning the demise of All My Children and One Life to Live. How could ABC cancel those......more

Quotes

“I owe my career to Agnes Nixon, who was not only a brilliant creator and writer, but also my friend. My Life to Live is full of wonderful, evocative stories from her life and career that even I hadn’t heard. And in typical Agnes fashion, her storytelling is full of humanity, social relevance and delicious humor! I know that her legions of fans will treasure it as much as I do.”
—Susan Lucci

“Aggie Nixon is the only person I've ever known whom I didn't say awful things about. And much to my dismay, her memoir did nothing to change that. Unforgivable.”
—Larry David

“[Agnes’s] career wasn’t easy to come by…. We know she won, but the story of her ups and downs make this book a true page-turner.”
—Carol Burnett, from the foreword

“A meaty and fascinating look into the private and professional world of the beloved television pioneer.”
—Soap Opera Digest

“A must-read for every soap opera fan!”
—ABC Soaps in Depth

“In her heartfelt book, [Nixon] opened up about…the lessons she learned about working outside the home from the women in her family.…While telling socially relevant stories on All My Children, Nixon also infused glamour, adventure and a lot of romance.”
—ABC.com

"“[An] engaging memoir…Not only does it provide all manner of detail about characters and incidents over those tumultuous years, but it shows the determination to make a difference which was her abiding motivation."
—Martin Rubin, Washington Times

Add to Cart
Add to Wish List