Andrew Morton, says St. Martin's Press president Sally Richardson, has proved to have "a genius with the psyches of difficult women and telling the world what makes them tick"—citing his bestsellers about Princess Diana and Monica Lewinsky as examples. The house was sufficiently keen to preempt an unauthorized Morton bio of Madonna when it was offered by London publisher Michael O'Mara. SMP executive editor Hope Dellon made the six-figure deal and she tentatively plans to publish, simultaneously with O'Mara, in November. Morton claims access to members of the star's inner circle for his account of her lifestyle, her ambitions, and her relations with her family and the men in her life.