Former Nanny for Madonna and Guy Writing Tell All Memoir

Posted on March 9, 2007

Madonna's former nanny is shopping a book proposal for a tell-all memoir around.

Sharlene L. Martin of Martin Literary Management confirms that the memoir's author, Melissa Dumas, has sent an 80-page proposal to a group of book publishers for consideration. EW.com has seen the document, which proposes a book that will reveal intimate information gleaned from Dumas' service as Madonna's nanny. Sample chapters and chapter summaries provide a laundry list of alleged details pertaining to Madonna's marriage to Ritchie, their children's behavior, the family's participation in Kabbalah, and the motivation behind Madonna's decision to adopt a boy from Malawi. The pitch also contains personal photos of Madonna's family, as well as photos of Dumas playing with Madonna's kids.

The proposal includes a copy of an unsigned nondisclosure agreement that the author claims Madonna issued to her only after she had already resigned as her nanny. A representative for Madonna offered no comment.

Speculation within the publishing industry is that rights to the book have been purchased by The Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House. Martin sold Suzanne Hansen's You'll Never Nanny in This Town Again, another former nanny's account of her brush with celebrities, to Crown in 2004. Representatives from Crown did not respond to requests for comment. Martin would not confirm that the proposal had been sold, nor would she provide any details about the book, which is being kept under very tight wraps.

What the report in Entertainment Weekly doesn't say is what the tone of the book is. Is the nanny disgruntled? Is it a hatchet job? Will there be scenes of Madonna screaming "no wire hangars....ever!"? This sounds like a go to us. Until Madonna's attorneys get involved. Surely Madonna wouldn't really forget to make a nanny sign a confidentiality agreement before she began work?


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