CNN - Lewinsky book takes aim at Tripp and Ginsburg

(CNN) - Fresh off ABC's prime time interview with Monica Lewinsky, a book detailing the drama that led to the impeachment of the president hit bookstore shelves Thursday.

In the 288-page "Monica's Story", written by Princess Diana biographer Andrew Morton, the former White House intern speaks her mind about some of the key figures involved in the scandal, including Linda Tripp, who she calls a "treacherous bitch" for betraying their friendship.

Lewinsky even says she "would have tried to kill" her friend had she known "the full extent of Linda Tripp's treachery." It was Tripp's secretly tape-recorded conversations with Lewinsky that became a key piece of evidence for Independent Counsel Ken Starr in his probe of President Bill Clinton.

Next Wednesday! Chat with Andrew Morton, author of "Monica's Story"

Lewinsky also had unflattering things to say about her former attorney William Ginsburg. Ginsburg, a malpractice lawyer hired by Lewinsky's father, is described in the book as a self-promoter who shaded the truth.

When serving as Lewinsky's lawyer, Ginsburg acted as a bodyguard and spokesman for the family. According to the book, he would tell the media her whereabouts when what she desperately wanted was privacy.

Ginsburg was eventually replaced by two Washington attorneys.

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Author Andrew Morton talks about the characters in the Lewinsky story:
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Considered suicide

Ginsburg said that he has not read Lewinsky's book and has no intentions of doing so, but he is aware that she said some unkind things about him.

"She has to blame someone for all of her troubles and problems and I am as good a target as anyone," Ginsburg told CNN.

In the book, Lewinsky reveals her unwavering support of the president and says she considered killing herself when Starr's investigators first began grilling her about her affair with Clinton. She calls one investigator a "pit bull."

"If I have to go to jail I will do so to protect the president," Lewinsky says in the book. "I can't do this to him. I can't turn him in."

"... So I thought there is no way out other than killing myself. If I kill myself, then there would be no information and I wouldn't have to deal with the hurt and trouble I had caused the president."

Book sales are strong

The book, which went on sale Thursday, was off to a strong start, hitting No. 5 on the Amazon.com best-seller list on the strength of advance orders. Publisher St. Martin's Press was shipping 450,000 copies to booksellers, and "we're ready to reprint in a second," said Sally Richardson, head of the company's trade division.

"Monica's Story" is also being sold for electronic reading for the Rocket eBook, a portable electronic book that downloads books and magazines from the World Wide Web for reading on a hand-held, book-sized electronic screen.

Copies of "Monica's Story" entice buyers outside a bookstore

Greg Tobin, editor in chief and vice president of the Book-of-the-Month Club, said his company decided not to offer "Monica's Story" to its readers. "Our members get their information on these things from magazines and television and other things than books," he said. "The story is so well covered in other media ... this particular title wouldn't sell well enough to our particular membership."

Lewinsky's memoir says the president once confided that he "was unhappy in his marriage" at age 40, "considered divorcing Hillary and leaving politics forever," and said he would become a "gas station attendant" if that's what it took "to live an honest life."

In other chapters, she describes an affair with a Pentagon employee named Thomas and that she became pregnant during their relationship and had an abortion. She also talked about her constant battle with weight problems, among other issues.

Lynn Goldberg, Lewinsky's publicist, said the book will not be excerpted in any U.S. publications.

A number of overseas newspapers, magazines and broadcast outlets have paid to interview the former intern and excerpt the book, and Lewinsky plans a heavy promotional campaign in Europe.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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