FABULOUS MEMORIES!
One of the perks of being an author is getting invited to book parties. It’s a chance to hear a fellow writer talk about their work, catch up with people in the publishing world, and nibble guilt-free on potato chips (after all, I didn’t buy them myself).
But the major literary event I attended this month wasn’t simply fun—it was exhilarating for me. The occasion was the launch of Single Girls (July 7), the delightful new novel inspired by the life of Helen Gurley Brown and written by the immensely talented John Searles. John was my book editor and brand manager during my years as editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan, and it was a joy to celebrate this milestone with him.
The party was hosted by my former fashion director and stylist extraordinaire, Michelle McCool, along with fashion editor Rebecca Hessel Cohen, founder and CEO of LoveShackFancy, who generously opened her flagship Soho store for the event. It was wonderful to see John celebrated in such style—and especially thrilling for me to reconnect with so many of the terrific people I worked with during those magical Cosmo years.
The party theme was pink, but I felt compelled to wear leopard. After all, leopard was practically my uniform during my tenure at Cosmo.
And the icing on the cake? I’m one of the people to whom John dedicated the book. How sweet is that?
HERE’S A GREAT BOOK BARGAIN—FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY!
Are you a Kindle reader? If the answer is yes and you haven’t yet had the chance to read my most recent psychological thriller, I CAME BACK FOR YOU, I have some terrific news for you: It was selected to be a Kindle Monthly Deal for the month of June.
This means (woohoo!!) that until June 30 the Kindle edition of I CAME BACK FOR YOU will be available for only $2.49!!!
Here’s the link. Just tap to order.
ASK ME ANYTHING
Being an author is such a solitary occupation —do you ever get lonely?
Karen, Kansas City, MI.
You are so right—it’s a very solitary profession, which was a big adjustment after my years in the magazine business, where I interacted with all sorts of people every day. So when I sit down to write each morning, I try to make the experience as enjoyable as possible. I light a scented candle (I’m especially drawn to fragrances with a touch of mystery—cypress, sandalwood, and frankincense are favorites), reward myself with regular cups of tea and espresso, and sometimes put on classical or meditation music.
But if that were all my work involved I’d probably go a little crazy from the isolation. So I regularly have lunch with fellow authors, or I’ll hop on a Zoom call with out-of-town writer friends—especially when I’m down in Uruguay each winter. Thank you, Zoom!
An amazing reward of this second career of mine has been getting to know other thriller and mystery writers. As I’ve often said, they’re not only smart, fun, funny, and generous, but they would never judge someone like me for watching a lot of documentaries about Ted Bundy—because they watch them, too!
[If you have a question, just send it to me at Kate@katewhite.com]
WHAT I’M READING/WATCHING
AN ACCIDENTAL DEATH PETER GRAINGER
After finishing a recent psychological thriller about a woman who decides to solve a murder on her own because New York City homicide detectives seem completely clueless (really?), I found my head spinning—but not in a good way. So it was a pleasure to turn to this solid British police procedural. It opens with what appears to be the accidental drowning of a young student until Detective Sergeant Smith takes a closer look at the evidence and begins to suspect that a killer is on the loose. The mystery is both gripping and firmly grounded in reality, which makes it all the more chilling.
YOU’RE KILLING ME ACORN
I honestly didn’t think I’d like this series. The trailer looked like a kind of cheesy rip-off of Murder She Wrote. And yet how could a woman like me resist a show about an aging mystery writer??? And star Brooke Shields, who I had the pleasure of interviewing when I was a magazine writer in my 20’s, has such great comic timing! Are you a fan of the show?
WHAT I’M COOKING
Annie’s Coleslaw
I always get a special kick out of making recipes I’ve learned from friends—particularly dishes they concocted themselves. I mean, it almost feels as if they’re hanging in the kitchen with me. Is that true for you, too?
One such example is this coleslaw that my friend Annie, who now lives in London, served me years and years ago. Up until then, I’d never been much of a coleslaw fan because it’s usually too sweet for my taste. Annie’s version, though, had no sugar at all—and it was wonderfully simple.
Since I failed to write the recipe down after seeing her make it, what I do in my kitchen is a rough approximation. I toss together shredded cabbage, Hellmann’s mayonnaise, white wine vinegar, grated lemon zest, celery seed, salt, and pepper. I think Annie also added some grated onion, and possibly a touch of mustard, but when I’m in a hurry I skip both.
I make this coleslaw almost every week during the summer, and every single time it makes me think of her, one of the best friends on the planet.
All the best and until next time,
