Stories from Candyland: Confections from One of Hollywood's Most Famous Wives and Mothers

Carole Gene Marer spent her girlhood dreaming of meeting Rock Hudson, but when she finally had the chance—on a date with her future husband, television mogul Aaron Spelling—she was so shy she hid all night in the powder room.  How Candy morphed from that quiet girl into a stylish trophy wife, mistress and designer of the largest house in Los Angeles (70,000 square feet when you count the attic) is at the heart of Stories from Candyland. 

The life Candy created for her family—her husband and children Tori and Randy—was fabulous, over-the-top, and often magical.  So what if California Christmases don’t come with snow? Let’s make some on the tennis court!  How do we take a cross-country family vacation with a dad who doesn’t fly? By private train car, of course (with an extra for the 52 pieces of luggage). 

Candy had a hand in some of the most beloved TV shows of all time (she insisted on a bigger diamond ring for Dynasty’s Krystle Carrington), has entertained half of Hollywood in epic fashion, and lives life in the spotlight .  But under all the glamour lies a woman still wrestling with some of the insecurities of her ingénue self.  Oprah threw her into a panic with a discussion of hoarding.  And there’s nothing like being defined as, “well, you know, complicated” by your daughter on television and in her own book.

Stories from Candyland sparkles with glamour and grand gestures. But it also satisfies with more intimate discussions of family (human and canine), hearth and home.