St. Martin's Press landed a seven-figure deal for
the North American rights for the Sexgate siren's
tell-all - as told to British royal biographer Andrew
Morton, sources told The Post yesterday.

Officials at St. Martin's Press could not be
reached.

But one source with knowledge of the proceedings
regarding Morton and St. Martin's said the book will
be published in February. The source added, as
PAGE SIX first reported last month, that the
Sexgate siren also scored a deal with ABC for an
interview with Barbara Walters - to be broadcast at
the same time the book is released.

ABC spokesperson Eileen Murphy would not
officially confirm the Walters interview, but one
network insider said there were indications on
Friday that that was the way it was going.

Executives at St. Martin's met with Morton and
Lewinsky in New York last week, and wrapped up
the deal late Friday.

St. Martin's has established a strong track record
in scoring celebrity-driven books. It hit the jackpot
in 1991 when it published Lady Colin Campbell's
Diana In Private, which became one of the first
Diana mega-best sellers.

Lewinsky - caught by The Post yesterday leaving
her Central Park South hotel with her bags
packed, apparently heading for the airport - had no
comment on the deal.

Author Morton emerged as the official biographer
of the Princess of Wales when he secretly
received tapes from her that revealed her deep
unhappiness with Prince Charles and the royal
family. His Diana: Her True Story, was a best
seller when it appeared in 1992.

After Diana's death last year, Morton slightly
revised the book, and it was republished under the
title: Diana: Her True Story - In Her Own Words.

Simon & Schuster was the American publisher for
both editions of Morton's Diana book - but was
among a number of American publishing giants
who indicated no interest in publishing a Lewinsky
book.

Simon & Schuster's reluctance may have arisen in
part because it is the publishing house for an
upcoming Hillary Rodham Clinton book about pets,
and is the current publisher of former Clinton aide
James Carville's anti-Kenneth Starr tome, And the
Horse He Rode In On.

HarperCollins at one time was also rumored to be
interested in publishing Lewinsky's story, but
officials there could not be reached over the
weekend to comment on the current level of
interest in a Morton/Lewinsky tome.

HarperCollins is owned by News Corp. which also
owns The Post.

The book deal comes on the heels of rampant
speculation about who would land the first TV
interview with the former intern.

Lewinsky would not be paid for the videotaped face
time on ABC, but she would be allowed to sell the
foreign rights - bringing her a potential windfall,
reports have said.

British TV's Channel 4 has also been wooing
Lewinsky.

Talks about an interview between Lewinsky and
Oprah Winfrey fell through when Lewinsky
demanded cash to yak.

Under Lewinsky's plea deal, independent counsel
Kenneth Starr would have to OK any TV chat-fest.

Sources say Lewinsky's lawyers have been
negotiating with Starr, who is not expected to
stand in her way.

-- Keith J. Kelly - 11/16/98