17 "Dancing With The Stars" Contestants Who Also Happen To Be Authors

We happen to think their writing is better than their dancing.

1. Valerie Harper (Season 17)

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Harper is upbeat and funny, and her inspiring life story is laced with triumphs and transformative obstacles. Plus - she's so lovable!

2. Snooki (Season 17)

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Believe it or not, Snooki (aka "Nicole," as we're now supposed to call her) has written THREE books.

3. Jack Osbourne (Season 17) & Kelly Osbourne (Season 9)

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Jack shares stories about life without privacy ("What's privacy?") and his stint in rehab -- and claims he's the only sane one in the family. Kelly offers cutting thoughts on sibling relationships and growing up Osbourne as well as on life as a fledgling rock star.

4. Kirstie Alley (Seasons 15 & 12)

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Kirstie writes about John Travolta, Ted Danson, Patrick Swayze, Kelsey Grammar, Woody Allen, Woody Harrelson, and more (including DWTS' very own Maksim Chmerkovskiy)!

5. Pamela Anderson (Seasons 15 & 10)

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Pam wrote 2 novels that go "beyond the air kisses and velvet ropes to show what really happens when A-list meets D-cup."

6. Melissa Rycroft (Seasons 15 & 8)

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This 2-time DWTS contestant (and 1-time champion!) writes about that time she won The Bachelor and then got dumped on national TV. Well... this is awkward...

7. Melissa Gilbert (Season 14)

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Women everywhere may have idolized her charming life on Little House on the Prairie, but Melissa’s own unexpectedly honest, imperfect, and down-to-earth story is an inspiration.

8. Ricki Lake (Season 13)

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Ricki Lake’s life has been a series of rebirths—from fat to skinny, married to divorced, rich to poor, and more. In her book, Ricki shows us how her life in the spotlight offers wisdom to anyone who has ever struggled in her own skin.

9. Carson Kressley (Season 13)

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Carson Kressley wrote a children's book about a unicorn struggling to find his identity and place in the world. So adorbs.

10. Kendra Wilkinson (Season 12)

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In this New York Times bestselling memoir, Kendra bares all (wink wink)!

11. Niecy Nash (Season 10)

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Niecy Nash wants you to find love. She invites you to think differently about traditional norms and matters of the heart.

12. David Alan Grier (Season 8)

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Grier muses on politics, culture, and race while recounting his own life story in this edgy, timeless, hilarious, and revelatory memoir and look at all things Barack.

13. Denise Richards (Season 8)

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Following a painful divorce from Charlie Sheen (#winning?), she found herself raising their two young daughters alone as her mother was dying of cancer. Denise writes openly and honestly about these experiences and more.

14. Lance Bass (Season 7)

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Behind-the-scenes lore and revealing insights from a pop star who, until now, has been notoriously private. For a "Spark Notes" summary, see 7 Things You Didn't Know About *NSYNC

15. Apolo Anton Ohno (Season 4)

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This DWTS champ writes about how we can all come closer to living with zero regrets.

16. Lisa Rinna (Season 2)

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Like Snooki, Lisa Rinna wrote THREE books - and made the New York Times bestseller list!

17. Evander Holyfield (Season 1)

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Barely able to make it into the heavyweight division and almost always the smaller fighter in the ring, Holyfield spent his professional career proving the naysayers wrong.