Nancy Hawley never thought the small group of women gathering in 1968 to talk about women's issues would turn into what it did - a best-selling book that has sold over one million copies.

Hawley, co-author of "The New Our Bodies, Ourselves," said the group, Boston Women's Health Book Collective, started with meetings for women to talk about issues like health care for women, sexuality and women's self-images.

Speaking to 10 people in Duval Auditorium last night, Hawley said the collective started researching issues and gathering stories about women's experiences. These were recorded, and mimeographed copies were printed "underground" and sold for 75 cents. Eventually, 250,000 copies were sold, she said.

The high demand encouraged the group to raise $1,500 to publish a pamphlet. Then in 1972, a company in New York published the first edition of "Our Bodies, Ourselves."

Hawley, now a psychotherapist in Cambridge, Mass., said that back then, it did not seem like the group was making history, but it was still "mind-blowing" because it was the first time a publication had talked about women's sexuality.

"We did not set out to write a book, we just wanted to talk to each other and provide support to bring us out of our isolation," she said.

The collective has also published other books dealing with women's issues, such as "Ourselves Growing Older" and "Ourselves, Our Children."

Hawley said "Our Bodies, Ourselves," is intended to teach women about their bodies and coping with a male-centered medical establishment. She said women need to be up-to-date on the medical establishment because many medical studies have been limited to male subjects. This is appalling, she said.

"If you want to know about heart disease in women, you don't study about heart disease in men."

The book provides information about women's health and sexuality combined with women's experiences. Some specific topics in the book are sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy issues and reproductive technology.

The speech was sponsored by the Women's Resource Center, ASUA Speakers Board and Residence Life as part of Women's History Month. Hawley was paid $2,500, including travel and lodging.