Story rights, and defamation question

[blip]

What is the name of your state? California

Hope this is the appropriate section for this question...

It's come to my attention that a former acquintance has written a book heavily based on my stories, and experiences while working on a failed startup project. She has interjected herself as a character in situations where she was not present, using knowledge she obtained secondary through my personal anecdotes, and takes credit claiming this project was "her baby" as well. A great deal of priviledged information, detailing the very unique nature of the project is revealed and anaylized. Her story is disguised as fiction, though the book is most definetly about me, even down to a fake character name that plays off of my real name, my nationality, religion and other very distinctive characteristics. Letters I emailed her are even quoted. This work also includes invasive and malicious information, meant to humiliate me, such as my sexual history, lifestyle, my relationship with my family, and includes several false assertions as facts. She also describes the project as failing due to my emotional stability rather then the financial situation she wasn't privy to. Everything down to my co-workers, and their personal business (accusations of alcoholism, etc.) is retold, yet slightly disguised.

I have not licensed my story, or granted her any permission, as whatever stories I told her were both off the record, and in passing conversations without knowledge she was doing "research". This is meant to hurt my reputation, and defame my character, though I am not a public figure by any means. She also infringes on my ability to ever publish my own story myself, which she knows I plan to do.

In short, what can I do to stop this material from ever being published, and what recourse do I have if it does see the light of day?

[seniorjudge]

Hire an intellectual property attorney.