Shonda Rhimes Is Publishing Her First Book

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What would happen if you said "yes" to every opportunity for an entire year? For TV showrunner extraordinaire Shonda Rhimes, the result was "nothing short of transformative." Now, the writer and producer is documenting the experience in her upcoming book, Year of Yes.

"Saying yes for an entire year turned out to be one of the most amazing decisions I have ever made," said Rhimes. "It was also a little insane, a lot terrifying and sometimes wildly embarrassing. So this is not a story I ever planned to share with anyone. However, once Simon & Schuster asked me, I had no choice – what else could I say but yes?"

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The ABC drama maven, who created Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal and is the executive producer of How to Get Away With Murder, was issued the challenge in December 2013. Her book chronicles how the one small word of positive affirmation changed every aspect of Rhimes’ life as a showrunner, writer, mother, and self-described introvert.

"It’s mind-boggling that the mega-talented Shonda Rhimes, one of the most admired and accomplished women in Hollywood, would feel the need to challenge her status quo," says Marysue Rucci, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief of Simon & Schuster, who is publishing the book. "But by saying yes for a year, she truly transformed her life for the better in every way. Year of Yes is surprising, hilarious, poignant, and accessible."

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Rhimes holds a B.A. in English Literature with Creative Writing from Dartmouth College and received her MFA from the USC School of Cinematic Arts (formerly USC School of Cinema-Television), where she was awarded the prestigious Gary Rosenberg Writing Fellowship.

Year of Yes is set to publish in November.

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