Mark Burnett to Ex-Wife: You Did Not Invent β€œSurvivor”

Producer's ex writes tell-all memoir about her role in making the reality show a success.

Dianne Burnett was voted off the marriage island to ex-husband Mark Burnett long ago, but is only now having her say about what went on behind the scenes in making "Survivor" a success.

Dianne is set to publish a tell-all memoir, "The Road to Reality: My Journey as a Real Life Survivor," on Sept. 18 in which she claims she's responsible in part for the success of the groundbreaking CBS television reality show now entering its 25th cycle.

According to "The Hollywood Reporter" which obtained an advance copy of the book, Dianne claims she not only came up with key elements of the "Survivor" franchise but also named the show and helped vet the host candidates - with the position ultimately going to Jeff Probst.

In the tome Dianne writes that β€œI was often the Horatio to his Alger in our rags-to-riches story.” She married Mark in 1992 before he achieved Hollywood success. β€œI was the behind-the-scenes kingmaker, and the muse.”

Richard Hatch, the winner of the first season of "Survivor" in 2000, wrote the book's forward.

Mark, 52, strongly rejects her claims stating that credit for the success of "Survivor" sits firmly with himself and his colleagues. Coming out in support of Mark are host Probst and "Survivor" director Mike Sears, both of whom contacted THR to add their voices to the he-said, she-said mix.

Sears says Dianne's claims are "like saying, 'I was standing next to someone who was doing great things; ergo, I did great things.'" Probst's recollection of Dianne in the early days is minimal, telling THR that "I saw [her] over three seasons maybe five times - always in catering."

Mark, who is executive producer of NBC's "The Voice," is now married to actress Roma Downey. He told THR the claims by his ex-wife are simply a desperate desire to sell books.

The couple divorced in 2006 with Dianne receiving a confidential (though reportedly substantial) settlement. Mark's estimated worth is currently $400 million. But writing the book has nothing to with getting more money, according to Dianne. She stated that she simply wants her and Mark's two sons to be aware of the truth.

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