Author of Diana, Princess of Wales Biographies Pens New Book

Joining us today is Lady Colin Campbell. She is a highly successful and prolific author of several books, including London and New York Times bestsellers, and has been a prominent and often controversial figure in royal and social circles for many years. She perhaps is best known for her international bestselling book Diana in Private, 1992, and her subsequent extended and revelatory biography of the Princess of Wales, The Real Diana published in 2004. Today we are going to talk to her about her latest release, Daughter of Narcissus.

Welcome Lady Colin. It is wonderful to have you with us. Can you tell us a little about Daughter of Narcissus and the inspiration behind the story?

Daughter of Narcissus is the story of my family´s struggle to cope with our mother´s narcissistic personality disorder. Before starting to write the book, I did extensive medical research into the subject, so that our experience would have a sound underpinning in the event that readers wanted information which they might find helpful in dealing with suspected or actual narcissists. There is, therefore, a whole chapter on the current medical thinking about narcissistic personality disorder and some of the other personality disorders which often overlap with it, as happened in my mother´s case. This contains a proper bibliography, as it was important that the reader see that the subject has been handled in a responsible and academically sound manner.

Indeed, the idea for the book came from one of America´s most eminent psychoanalysts, Dr Erika Freeman. I was staying with a mutual friend in New York and we were discussing our narcissistic mothers when Erika suggested in all seriousness that I write a book about mine. Although I recoiled initially, once she pointed out that my mother was dead so there would be no violation of her privacy, and moreover that she felt that I had the skills to do the subject justice – she knew I had been through therapy and respected some of what I had achieved as a result – I started to entertain the idea. The next stage was to see if my sisters had any objection. When it became apparent that they did not, and that some good might actually come out of all we had endured at our mother´s hands, I set about writing the story.

Was it a challenge to speak so freely about your family?

Yes, it was a challenge to speak so freely about my family. But I saw that the very purpose of the book would be defeated if I did not get right to the heart of the matter and stay there. That meant plunging right in, almost as if one were in a therapy session, examining and inspecting and imparting the facts no matter what they were. In reality, relishing the truth in the knowledge that only it set us free, and only by writing it could I hope to shed a light on anyone else´s similar experiences.

What is it that finally made you decide to write this book?

I finally decided to write Daughter of Narcissus when I realized that Erika was right: What we as a family had experienced could help others who were in the same or similar situations. And our success in coming to terms with it could be a beacon of hope for those still trapped in the narcissistic vice.

How long were you working on Daughter of Narcissus before it was released?

The book took about two and a half years to write and another six or so months to nurse through the publishing phase.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

It is available on Amazon; through bookshops which are either stocking it or can order it through the publishers at www.dynastypress.co.uk

Do you have a website or blog?

The publishers have a website where I am featured and I have a blog at http://ladycolincampbell.blogspot.com.

What is up next for you?

I don´t start something new until I´ve finished my last project, so when I´m through promoting Daughter of Narcissus I will start to edit and write a foreword for an 18th century memoir ab out the French Revolution (pure indulgence – I will be the most surprised person in the universe if it makes a penny, but it will be such an intellectual treat to do that I can´t resist it), after which I am contracted to write a book on the social skills that secure success.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Just that I wish everyone who reads Daughter of Narcissus well, and hope that they derive some benefit from it.

Thank you for spending time with us today. We wish you continued success.