NEW YORK, January 31– Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, will publish CAPTIVE: A Mother’s Crusade to Save Her Daughter From a Terrifying Cult by Catherine Oxenberg, it was announced today by Jennifer Bergstrom, Senior Vice President and Publisher. In this harrowing memoir, Catherine Oxenberg reveals the personal and riveting account of losing her daughter to a cult, and her fearless mission to save her.

In 2011, Catherine joined her daughter, India, at a leadership seminar for a leadership organization called NXIVM.  Her 20-year-old daughter was on the threshold of building a new company, and they both thought this program might help her achieve her dream. But quickly, Catherine saw a darker side to what appeared to be a self-help organization designed to help its clients become the best versions of themselves. She watched in horror as her daughter fell further and further down the rabbit hole, becoming brainwashed by the organization’s charismatic leader. Despite Catherine’s best efforts, India was drawn deeper into the sinister organization, eventually joining a secret, “elite” sorority of female members who are ordered to maintain a restricted diet, recruit other women as “slaves,” and are branded with their leader’s initials.

In CAPTIVE, Catherine shares every parent’s worst nightmare, and the lengths that a mother will go to save her child. Featuring interviews with past members of the controversial group, and experts in the field of cults, Oxenberg attempts to draw back the curtain on how these groups continue to lure in members. She details her continuing journey to try and reach her daughter, to save her from what she believes is a dangerous, mind-controlling cult.

“Catherine Oxenberg is on a mission that no parent would ever want to be on.  Her book is a gripping account that readers will not be able to put down.” said Bergstrom.

“I pray that my daughter wakes up soon. I will be here with open arms. By writing this book, I am doing everything in my power to prevent this from happening to others,” said Oxenberg.

Catherine has done interviews about her daughter’s story with the New York Times, Megyn Kelly Today, People, 20/20 and others. Since those appearances aired, there have been further developments in the story that Catherine will detail in the book.

Catherine Oxenberg is an actress best known for her role as Amanda Carrington on the hit primetime soap opera Dynasty. She got her start as a model before making her acting debut in The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana. Oxenberg is the daughter of Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia, making her a royal descendent in her own right. She currently lives in Malibu, California.

Catherine’s co-author, Natasha Stoynoff, is a New York Times bestselling author and award-winning journalist with over a dozen books to her credit.

Natasha Simons, Editor at Gallery Books, acquired U.S., Canada, Open Market, and Audio rights from Yfat Gendell at Foundry Media.  CAPTIVE is scheduled for publication in Fall 2018.

 

 

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GALLERY BOOKS is an imprint dedicated to publishing a variety of must-read books on a wide array of topics.  Launched in February 2010, Gallery is designed to showcase established voices and to introduce emerging new ones—in both fiction and nonfiction genres.   Some of Gallery Books’ bestselling titles include The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer, The Woman in Cabin 10 and In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware, Binge by Tyler Oakley, Selp Helf by Miranda Sings, Five Presidents by Clint Hill, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, and Love Anthony by Lisa Genova.

 

ABOUT SIMON & SCHUSTER

Simon & Schuster, a part of CBS Corporation, is a global leader in general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for readers of all ages, and in all printed, digital and audio formats. Its distinguished roster of authors includes many of the world’s most popular and widely recognized writers, and winners of the most prestigious literary honors and awards. It is home to numerous well-known imprints and divisions such as Simon & Schuster, Scribner, Atria Books, Gallery Books, Pocket Books, Touchstone, Adams Media, Threshold Editions, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and Simon & Schuster Audio and international companies in Australia, Canada, India and the United Kingdom, and proudly brings the works of its authors to readers in more than 200 countries and territories. For more information visit our website atwww.simonandschuster.com

 

Jennifer Robinson
V.P. Director of Publicity
Gallery Books
212.698.2719
Jennifer.robinson@simonandschuster.com