Tracy Melchior's candid account of overcoming a troubled childhood earned her some "royal" treatment recently — a visit to LARRY KING LIVE.

When "Breaking the Perfect 10" hit shelves this past August, Melchior's (Kristen, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) tell-all tome earned her some serious attention. "It's a book about growing up with a dysfunctional family and, against all odds, succeeding and having a happy life, a good career and a good family," Melchior says the autobiography she wrote with Susan Wales. "I grew up with a lot of abandonment and neglect. That led to a promiscuous lifestyle and deviant behavior. It's an inspirational story. I overcame it — and then landed on LARRY KING!"

Of course, King isn't actually in the book, because that interview came after its release. Interest in "Perfect 10" initially garnered Melchior a segment on ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT, but she was floored when her book publicist called her with her next interview. "I get a message from my publicist, 'Hey, Tracy, just calling to let you know LARRY KING LIVE would like to do an interview with you.' I replayed it five times," Melchior admits with a laugh. "I was, like, 'Honey, come here. Did she really say Larry King?' I was just beside myself."

Melchior didn't hesitate. And, after the interview — which aired Oct. 12 — she was just as impressed with the icon as she'd expected to be. "He was delightful," she says. "He has such a gentle manner. He's generally interested and there's no judgment in his eyes. He hangs on your every word. No wonder he gets all the awards he does!"