Janine Turner tells us that working on her labor of love project for the last two years has been a life-changing experience. That project is her book: "Holding Her Head High: 12 Single Mothers Who Championed Their Children and Changed History."

"Their stories inspired me," she explains. "These women didn't just raise their children, they raised their nations," says Turner, who also points out that March is Women's History Month. "And they had to deal with so many hard conditions. Women didn't have the right to their own money. They couldn't own their own homes. A lot of women who were widowed did not remarry because then the new husband would have rights to their children, period. That didn't change until the last woman in my book — Belva Lockwood — designed a bill to allow women to have rights to their children." Lockwood was the first woman to appear on a U.S. presidential election ballot, in 1884.

Turner's subjects range from author Harriet Jacobs, a freed slave who went on a quest to find the daughter who'd been taken from her, to Rachel Lavein Fawcett, a.k.a. Alexander Hamilton's mother. Turner has organized their stories "by 12 life lessons that I have to offer." Just a few: "'Don't Give Up Before the Miracle,' 'Define Your Own Destiny,' 'Turn Tribulations into Triumphs' … "

The actress says she rented storage space for $100 a month, set up a card table and laptop, and made it her writing space. "It's the hardest thing I've ever done. But I think these women would have liked it."

She'll be doing a full tour of talk-show visits and traveling across the country for book signings — with daughter Juliette, who will be on spring break for most of the trek. Then they'll return to their new digs in New York City.

Turner left Hollywood behind "when my baby was really little. I wanted to be in Texas with family and friends. I thought I HAD to be in Texas, it was the only way it would be OK. But I think times have changed, too. We may not be in New York forever," she says, but for now, she aims to dive back into her acting life, whether on stage, screen or TV. "I'd love to do a sitcom."

A MATTER OF PERSONAL STYLE: Milo Ventimiglia is definitely experiencing the pluses and minuses of fame as one of the stars of "Heroes." He notes, "I've been in the business for 12 years, working in what I deem a successful career, but I think 'Heroes' has kind of given me the opportunity to be a little more exposed to the decision makers in my industry.

... It also sets you up in media that are going to exploit you or try to get a little too personal." He goes on, "When people take an interest or want to comment on my life, I kind of take it with a grain of salt. I think that's a part of being in the public eye. It's one of those curses and blessings." Milo does have role models to follow, though. He says, "If I can be half as successful as Matt Damon and George Clooney in how they discuss their personal lives — by being engaging and leaving people smiling, but still feeling like they held onto their personal info — then I'll be happy. Right now, I'm doing the best I can."

BACK ON TRACK: Now that the writers' strike is officially over, writer/producer/actor Steve Oedekerk can put the live-action comedy feature "Ted Hur" he's currently writing back on track. The "Bruce Almighty" and "Evan Almighty" screenwriter insists it's not a spoof of the Charlton Heston classic "Ben-Hur." "The title seems to signify that, but it's really not," says Oedekerk. "It's hard to describe. … It's sort of a Comi-Con nerd's dream. It's about this burned-out comic-book guy who portals into this ultimate fantasy world, but it's a little more retro, sort of like an insane twist on 'Sinbad.'"

Oedekerk says the title "Ted Hur" was "sort of an arbitrary thing. At the top of the movie, the (lead) gets a call. He's behind on all his bills, and it's people looking for money. He accidentally answers with his own first name, so he immediately changes his last name to the name on the 'Ben-Hur' poster he has on his wall." Oedekerk says the scene was inspired by a joke he never forgot. "This comic said, 'I get called by all these creditors, and it's so annoying. I tell them, "Dude, at the end of every month, I put all my bills in a hat and I pull out four and pay them. You keep messing with me and you're not even getting in the hat!"

COLD-HEARTED: A new character is being added to "ER" — and look out for this guy, who'll be introduced in a bedroom scene with … two women. Yes, this ain't your grandma's "ER." The new face is Dr. James Brenner, who might be cast as any ethnicity, according to casting sources — a thirty-something attending physician who is brilliant, suave and charismatic but seriously lacking in the conscience and morality departments.

With reports by Stephanie DuBois and Emily Feimster.

To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

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