AceShowbiz -

Drew Barrymore is writing a new book about her life. The 40-year-old star inked a deal with Dutton publishing to pen autobiographical essays that will create a portrait of her life "in stories that are personal, emotional and humorous."

The book which is still untitled is not "meant to be a heavy memoir." The actress said to PEOPLE, "I love stories that are humorous, emotional and welcoming, and that is my goal in writing this book."

She will share her experience of "living on her own at 14 (and how laundry may have saved her life)." It will also include stories of her "getting stuck in a gas station overhang on a cross-country road trip, saying goodbye to her father in a way only he could have understood, and many more adventures and lessons that have led to the most important thing in her life, which is motherhood."

Hailed from the famous Barrymore family of American stage and cinema actors, Drew Barrymore made her breakout role as little Gertie in Steven Spielberg's "E.T." and led a tumultuous life under media microscope by the age of 9.

She first released autobiography "Little Girl Lost" in 1991 when she was 16. In the tome, she was described as "a modern-day Shirley Temple," who started drinking alcohol at the age of 9, smoked marijuana at 10, and began snorting cocaine by 12.

The actress is now a mom to two daughters. She is happily married to husband Will Kopelman. "We are thrilled to welcome Drew Barrymore, a true American icon, to the Dutton list, and can't wait to help bring her wonderful writing to the world," Dutton's Ben Sevier said.