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Yours Cruelly, Elvira

By: Cassandra Peterson
Narrated by: Cassandra Peterson
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Summary

The woman behind the icon known as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, the undisputed Queen of Halloween, reveals her full story, filled with intimate bombshells - and told by the bombshell herself.

On Good Friday in 1953, at only 18 months old, 25 miles from the nearest hospital in Manhattan, Kansas, Cassandra Peterson reached for a pot on the stove and doused herself in boiling water. Third-degree burns covered 35 percent of her body, and the prognosis wasn't good. But she survived. Burned and scarred, the impact stayed with her and became an obstacle she was determined to overcome. Feeling like a misfit led to her love of horror. While her sisters played with Barbie dolls, Cassandra played with model kits of Frankenstein and Dracula and idolized Vincent Price.

Due to a complicated relationship with her mother, Cassandra left home at 14, and by age 17 she was performing at the famed Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas. Run-ins with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Tom Jones helped her grow up fast. Then a chance encounter with her idol Elvis Presley changed the course of her life forever and led her to Europe, where she worked in film and traveled Italy as lead singer of an Italian pop band. She eventually made her way to Los Angeles, where she joined the famed comedy improv troupe The Groundlings and worked alongside Phil Hartman and Paul "Pee-wee" Reubens, honing her comedic skills.

Nearing age 30, a struggling actress considered past her prime, she auditioned at local LA channel KHJ as hostess for the late-night vintage horror movies. Cassandra improvised, made the role her own, and got the job on the spot. Yours Cruelly, Elvira is an unforgettably wild memoir. Cassandra doesn't shy away from revealing exactly who she is and how she overcame seemingly insurmountable odds. Always original and sometimes outrageous, her story is loaded with twists, travails, revelry, and downright shocking experiences. It is the candid, often funny, and sometimes heartbreaking tale of a Midwest farm girl's long, strange trip to become the world's sexiest, sassiest Halloween icon.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Cassandra Peterson (P)2021 Hachette Books
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: LGBTQ+
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What listeners say about Yours Cruelly, Elvira

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What a life!

I listened to the book because I love Elvira, I had no idea the lady who played her had lead such an interesting life - now I love her even more!
Fascinating stories about the entertainment world intertwined with Cassandra Peters life story. Have a listen, you'll be glad you did.

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fantastic !! Love Elvira !!

She has had a very interesting life .Dont put it off get this today !!

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Queen of Halloween!

fantastic book. what an absolutely fascinating life Cassandra/Elvira has had! totally worth the listen!

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Elvira has had an amazing life with so many great stories

Stories like no other. She’s lived a million lives and is a joy to listen to.

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Bloody Brilliant

What a journey! The highs and lows and perfect comedy timing thrown in by yours truly “Elvira” .

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Elvira forever

Moving, hilarious, inspiring. I couldn’t love her more. I am going to listen to it over again and I have only just finished it.

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such a great book!

witty, funny, heartwrenching, fearless & awesome! Cassanrda tells her story and the Elvira story with all the sass you'd expect! So many fabulous anecdotes, too!

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Enough Comfort and Candidness to fill a Coffin...

It's impossible not to love both Cassandra Peterson and Elvira... but after reading this memoir, you'll love them both to death.

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A must for Elvira/Cassandra fans!

This was a wonderful listen, Cassandra’s reading is fantastic and at times funny. A wonderful story and who know there was so many fantastic story’s under that wig! Thank you! Yours cruelly.

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Best memoir I’ve ever listened to

Absolutely incredible book, both sentimental and fun. Would recommend to ANYONE. The delivery is also amazing. So many juicy and fun anecdotes with a shocking amount of A-lister names.

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