March 18--Jacquelyn Mitchard's debut novel, "The Deep End of the Ocean," became a No. 1 best-seller after it was the first book selected for Oprah Winfrey's book club.
But Mitchard, who grew up on the West Side and reported for the Pioneer Press, has fallen on hard times since her rise to fame two decades ago. She discusses her financial troubles with Winfrey on "Oprah: Where Are They Now?," scheduled to air 9 p.m. Saturday on OWN, Winfrey's network.
"The Deep End of the Ocean," about a Midwestern couple coping with the kidnapping of their young son, was published in June 1996. Three months later, Winfrey selected the book for her new book club and sales soared. A movie of the same name starring Michelle Pfeiffer was released in 1999.
According to Winfrey's reps, Mitchard's assistant called her in 2009 to tell her all of her bank accounts were empty. Mitchard said her financial adviser took the money, and she ended up applying for food stamps.
"Everything, all the money's gone," Mitchard recalls in a preview clip of Saturday's episode.
Mitchard, 59, released her book, "Two If By Sea," this week.
