SALLYANNE Atkinson was once the most powerful woman in Brisbane and her new tell-all memoir gives an insight into her life.

The former Brisbane Lord Mayor has just released her new book No Job For A Woman.

She shares her struggle to gain respect from the state's top power brokers.

Ms Atkinson is launching her book in Sydney, Melbourne and Toowoomba.

She will in town next week for a book signing and said she was thrilled to launch her book in Toowoomba.

"I am only doing book signings in a few towns, but I wanted to make sure Toowoomba was one," she said.

"The town has an enormously exciting future and is a huge growth centre.

"I've lived in many cities around the world but I feel a sense of place in Queensland."

As well as serving as Brisbane's Lord Mayor, Ms Atkinson has opened many doors for women over her lifetime.

She has worked as a journalist for the Brisbane Telegraph and worked overseas holding ASX-listed company board positions.

"Looking for a career in the 60s was hard for a female," she said.

"Everything I wanted to do I got told 'that is no job for a woman' but that wasn't good enough for me.

"When I joined council I was only one of two women. It was an interesting time in Queensland."

Ms Atkinson is proud to have written the book herself.

"I have never written a book before but it took me about six months," she said.

"The book doesn't have a direct audience but in a sense it is aimed at young women. The book is about politics but it isn't a nasty political book. It's written about how my life was lived."

Ms Atkinson will be at the Book Tree on Tuesday from 1pm - 2.30pm signing copies of No Job For A Woman.