Ken Corday, the executive producer of 'Days of our Lives,' has written a compelling memoir - 'The Days of our Lives - the True Story of One Family's Dream and the Untold History of Days of our Lives.' The tome tells the tale of Corday's father, Ted, who co-created the NBC soap opera in 1965 along with legendary soap creator Irna Phillips ('As the World Turns,' 'Guiding Light.')

The senior Corday passed away in 1966, leaving his widow, Betty, to take over the show. Corday's book candidly details deeply personal family history (his brother's suicide, Betty's struggle with alcoholism) and how 'Days' has managed to survive for 45 years. The book also offers up some backstage dish on the many actors who've come and gone from Salem over the years as well as 14 pages of glossy black and white and color photos.

The author/executive sat down with TV Squad just prior to a recent book launch party at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills and shared his thoughts on why he wrote the book, which soap legend would make a great TV movie and the future of 'Days.'

Just a couple of weeks ago, all was fine and dandy in Days of Our Lives-world. Or so it seemed. The big fan shindig at Universal in Hollywood seemed to signal that the status quo was holding that the lone NBC soap still in production would be able to use the 18-month renewal granted by NBC to climb in the ratings and return to past glory. Now comes the shocking news that NBC has fired Days of Our Lives' two biggest stars, Deidre Hall (Marlena) and Drake Hogestyn (John). By the way, Deidre and Drake were at the fanfest. You think they knew the pink slips were on the way? Um, no.

This is all about money, folks, and instead of seeking other ways to trim costs, Executive Producer Ken Corday and company have used a hatchet and chopped off the top salaries. Don't be shocked to hear that more is coming. That could be Peter Reckell and Kristian Alfonso -- Bo and Hope -- the other iconic romantic couple on the show, right after Marlena and John.