‘I’m Always In Love’

If there was ever an appropriate person to write an erotic novel, it is Gloria Vanderbilt. At 85, the railroad heiress has been married four times, with a collection of lovers that include the likes of Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Howard Hughes, and Gene Kelly. Her last book, a memoir, revealed intimate details of her many famous lovers, while her son, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, has been a media heartthrob since his days at Channel 1.

Vanderbilt's latest work, called Obsession, is more fantasy than reality—but you can't help but make the obvious associations. She tells the story of Priscilla Bingham, a frigid socialite who, after the death of her rich architect husband, discovers a secret stash of letters from his mistress, Bee. She sits down to read them, and learns of her husband's undercover life of sex and kink, complete with orgies, S&M, and steamy bedroom play that uses whips, dildos, hot oil and golden nipple clamps—along with a string of beads—as props, leaving Priscilla mysteriously turned on. Complete with a back-cover blurb from Joyce Carol Oates—who declares the book "a remarkable tapestry of human passion"—Obsession, says Vanderbilt, is a summer "pleasure." (You can hear Vanderbilt read an excerpt from the book here; though be warned, it contains graphic language and content.) Vanderbilt spoke about the novel with NEWSWEEK's Jessica Bennett. Excerpts:

You're 85. Why write an erotic novel now?
I don't categorize myself as an 85-year-old woman who has written an erotic novel. I categorize myself as a writer who's written an erotic novel.

Is it autobiographical?
Well you know, a work of fiction is conceived very much the same way as a dream occurs in the mind of a sleeper. But a lot of it is imagination. It's not based on real people.

Were you ever nervous about what people might think?
The only thing that I was concerned about, of course, is my children. And Anderson, well, he did say in one interview, which is true, "The six most surprising words a mother can say to her son are: 'Honey, I'm writing an erotic novel.' " But all my children have been very supportive, so that's all I cared about.

You asked Anderson to proofread it. Did it make him blush?
Well, he knew that I was working on an erotic book, and he's very cool. But I don't know whether he's listened to the [audio CD of me reading it]. I mean, after all, I am his mother. But he's been really absolutely great about it.

You've had a lot of famous lovers. Who was the most impressive?
Oh, well, you know, it's like the cliché answer to which child do you love the most. You love them all in different ways. I've been really very fortunate with the men I've been involved with. They've always really treated me very, very wonderfully. And whenever anything broke up, I was always the one to leave. So I think I've been really very, very lucky.

Are you dating anyone now?
Yes I am. Somebody I've been dating for quite a while.

What's his response to the book?
Well, I think he's kind of fascinated by it.