Capturing her famous son, actor Michael Douglas, with vignettes from her own life is how the birth of a book took place for Bermudian-born Diana Douglas Darrid.

The memoirs of Mrs. Darrid hit bookstores in the US last Tuesday. Fresh from the US launch of "In The Wings: An autobiography Diana Douglas Darrid'', she returned home and spoke with The Royal Gazette .

"It's a frank account of my life,'' is how she described the book -- which was not originally intended for publication.

"I was staying with Michael as my house had been destroyed in the 1994 earthquake. He was filming Disclosure with Warner Brothers and we would have coffee in the mornings and drinks at night and talk.

"He started asking me of my life in Bermuda and when I was young. After hearing the stories, he urged me to put it all down on paper for his son, Cameron.'' That was how the idea of the book came about she said, but sitting to write it was quite another process.

"Reluctantly I sat down and wrote my early childhood and young adult life and then I had to decide whether I wanted to continue,'' explained Mrs. Darrid.

"I had been frank up until that point and had to decide whether I wanted to continue or if I thought I would be able to continue with the same honesty.'' Bearing in mind the book was simply an account of her life for her grandson, Mrs. Darrid said she continued in the same vein.

The idea of getting the autobiography published had not hit Mrs. Darrid until some friends of hers had asked to read it.

"One of them was a producer and he suggested I get it published,'' she recalled.

After getting permission from her sons, who are both featured in the book, Mrs. Darrid said she still was not convinced that her writing was "good enough to be published''.

"I read `Your Life As A Story' by UCLA lecturer Christine Raynor, and found that many things she called for were things I had actually done,'' noted Mrs.

Darrid, "so I called her and asked if she would read the book and give me her opinion on its suitability for publishing.'' "She read it, loved it and suggested a small boutique publisher, Barracade Books,'' Mrs. Darrid said. "I signed with them in December and here I am in June for the launch of my book.'' Still in the dark on how her 20-year-old grandson Cameron, to whom the book is dedicated, feels about the novel, Mrs. Darrid appeared confident that he will enjoy it.

"Just before I left I gave him the book,'' she said. "I hope he isn't embarrassed by it, but we have a nice open, honest relationship.'' Admitting she is a bit sad that the four-year undertaking has come to an end, Mrs. Darrid explained it helped her discover what she really wanted to do.

After her husband Bill's death she said she engaged in a "much too constructed lifestyle''.

"I was always busy,'' she admitted. "I took French lessons, Spanish and art.

Once I started writing the book I had to ease back on the other activities, and this was a good thing.'' A camera safari to the East African countries of Kenya and Tanzania, is the next adventure on Mrs. Darrid's itinerary. While she said she has no ideas for another book, she admitted she may find inspiration in Africa.

Diana Douglas Darrid