Drew Barrymore gets memoir deal

Drew Barrymore, who led a tumultuous life even by the age of 9, is going to write another book about herself now that she's reached the age of 40.

Dutton announced today a deal with Barrymore, through her agent, to publish an autobiographical collection of essays that will "create a portrait of Barrymore's life in stories that are personal, emotional and humorous," according to a statement.

As yet untitled, the book will include stories about living on her own at 14 (and how laundry may have saved her life), getting stuck in a gas station overhang on a cross-country road trip, saying goodbye to her father in a way only he could have understood, and other adventures and lessons that have led to "the most important thing in her life, which is motherhood," according to a Dutton statement.

"I love stories that are humorous, emotional and welcoming, and that is my goal in writing this book," Barrymore said in the statement.

Barrymore is already the co-author, with Todd Gold, of another book about the first part of her life, Little Girl Lost, which came out in 1991 when she was 16.

A descendant of a famous acting family dynasty, she came to widespread notice as little Gertie in Steven Spielberg's monster hit, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, in 1982. After that it was downhill into chaos and heartbreak.

As Amazon describes her first book, "she was a modern-day Shirley Temple, but at the age of 9, Drew Barrymore was drinking alcohol. At 10 she took up marijuana, and by 12 she began snorting cocaine."

But that's all behind her. Today's she's a successful actress, producer, director, beauty entrepreneur and spokes-model, happily married to her third husband, Will Kopelman, and the mother of two daughters under 3 years old. She turned 40 on Sunday.

Dutton publisher Ben Sevier said, "We are thrilled to welcome Drew Barrymore, a true American icon, to the Dutton list, and can't wait to help bring her wonderful writing to the world."

Executive Editor Jill Schwartzman bought world rights to Barrymore's book from Creative Artists Agency.

A publishing date was not announced.