Elvira actress releases book on seductive, funny icon of the night

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- When Cassandra Peterson was five, she christened herself "Queen of Halloween." When she was 30, she gave herself a new title - "Elvira, Mistress of the Dark." That character changed her life.

Now some 35 years later, Peterson is out with what Elvira might call a "coffin table" book, which features 300 handpicked photos plus anecdotes and memories from playing the seductive, funny icon of the night.

"She's my baby. I own her and make my living off of her, so I have to treat her good," she said.

Over her 35 years as Elvira, Peterson said the most noticeable change was how high her hair goes. She said Elvira is ageless, but she isn't and so she's considered retiring the character.

"One side of me would have a hard time giving that up," she said. "I was going to retire when I was 40, when I was 50, when I was 60 - now I don't know. We'll see. It changes day-to-day."

The book, "Elvira: Mistress of the Dark," is available now on elvira.com or tweeterhead.com.