 An unsuccessful over-the-top actress becomes a successful over-the-top authoress in this biography of Jacqueline Susann (Bette Midler), the famed writer of "The Valley Of The Dolls" and other trashy novels. Facing a failing career, Susann meets a successful promoter (Nathan Lane) who becomes her husband. After several failures to place her in commercials and a TV quiz show, he hits upon the idea for her to become a writer. In the pre-60 s, her books were looked upon as trash and non-printable. But then the sexual revolution hit and an audience was born for her books. John Cleese co-stars as her flamboyant publisher and David Hyde-Pierce is her initially prim editor that comes to enjoy her exuberance. Stockard Channing also appears as Susan s best friend. The story shows the hidden behind the scenes story of Susan s life, including her autistic son and her continuing bout with cancer that she hid up to her death.