Interview with Kate White

The topic of fertility clinics is a touchy subject. Some think that it’s every woman’s God given right to bear a child. Although honestly, the thought of having eight children makes me shudder! Others believe that it should be left up to the Creator alone. Tell that to a barren couple. I’m sure they would have to disagree. You may be adamant about your own beliefs, but until you are faced with that decision, I think the jury is still out.

This month’s Jen’s Jewels Kate White tackles that very issue in her new release, HUSH. Known for her quick- paced suspense novels, Kate’s latest endeavor is just as riveting as she uses the fascinating world of fertility clinics as her backdrop. From legal to moral issues, her story will have you sitting on the edge of your seat! And, believe me! You’ll never guess how it ends!

As part of this interview, Harper Collins has generously donated five copies for you, my lucky readers, to win. So, don’t forget to look for the trivia question at the end. And as always, thanks for making Jen’s Jewels a part of your reading adventure.

Jen: Most of my readers recognize your name as the editor-in-chief of the best-selling women’s magazine in the world, Cosmopolitan. Yet, your career as a writer has been just as successful. So that we may have a better understanding of the woman behind the words, please share with us your educational and professional background.

Kate: From the time I was about 12, I dreamed of being a writer and an editor, but I had no clue how to go about it. This was before the Internet and you couldn’t easily research anything. So I ended up getting a BA in English from Union College, assuming that would work for a variety of jobs in publishing. I had planned to take some journalism courses there, too, but they did away with them the summer before I arrived. But that was okay. Writing and editing, it turns out, don’t require any kind of graduate degree. You just have to go someplace and get started—and keep at it. Of course it also helps to get your foot in the door somehow—with something like an internship. I won Glamour Magazine’s Top Ten College Woman Contest and that enabled me to start at Glamour as an editorial assistant. I moved up the ladder and eventually became the editor in chief of Child, Working Woman, McCall’s and then Redbook. I’ve been the editor in chief of Cosmo for 11 years.

Jen: Your high-powered position at Cosmo must be very demanding on your professional as well as personal life. With that being said, describe for us the driving force behind your decision to undertake a literary career while maintaining your current post at the magazine. How do you manage to find the time to do both so well?

Kate: It seems insane at times for me to do both, but like many women, I had a couple of dreams bouncing around in my head. I wanted to work in magazines but I also wanted to write mysteries. And one day, deep into my magazine career, I realized that if I didn’t get started on the mysteries, they’d never happen. To pull it off I took a look at my time and my schedule. Things were gonna have to come off the list. I didn’t want my writing to interfere with the kids so I knocked off learning to play tennis, shopping, and endless puttering, which I happened to love. I try to write one page every day during the week and five or six pages every Saturday and Sunday. Now that the kids are in college, I write all morning on the weekends, but originally I’d do it very early before they got up. And I write every day on vacation, no matter where we are. Two tips: 1) if you are going to write, write every day, even for a short while or it will be so hard to get started again. 2) Don’t bite off more than you can chew. For the first six months of working on my first mystery, I only wrote 15 minutes a day because I knew if I set a goal to do more than that, it would be too daunting and overwhelming—and I’d avoid it like the proverbial plague.

Jen: In terms of your writing career, you write both non-fiction and fiction. Let’s start by talking about your non-fiction titles. You have written WHY GOOD GIRLS DON’T GET AHEAD…BUT GUTSY GIRLS DO, 9 SECRETS OF WOMEN WHO GET EVERYTHING THEY WANT, and YOU ON TOP: SMART SEXY SKILLS EVERY WOMAN NEEDS TO SET THE WORLD ON FIRE. From your experiences, what is the defining factor that leads to success for any woman whether in the bedroom or the boardroom? And, what is the biggest hindrance for us women in being able to achieve it?

Kate: I think you just have to be gutsy—and that means asking for what you want (the squeaky wheel does get the grease), letting people be aware of your accomplishments, and sometimes breaking the rules. By breaking the rules, I don’t’ mean cheating on your expense account but rather coming up with bold new ways to do things that will knock people’s socks off (for instance, your boss or your husband). I love the expression “Go big or go home.”

Jen: Your career in fiction catapulted to the forefront when your first novel, IF LOOKS COULD KILL, was selected as Live with Regis & Kelly’s first Reading with Ripa book selection. (You and I both are thankful for her book club!) How did this opportunity set the stage for your present day career as a highly regarded novelist?

Kate: It was such an amazing experience. Kelly is a dynamic, lovely woman and her endorsement made the book climb to number one on Amazon and helped me build a fan base for the next books in the mystery series.

Jen: Your character, Bailey Weggins, is one of my favorite all-time sleuths. Her take-no-prisoners attitude and gutsy charm make her a force to be reckoned with. Your books have been optioned by Lion Gates Pictures. What exciting news! Will you have an active role in bringing Bailey to the big screen? Also, when can we hope to read about her next big case?

Kate: Thanks so much for saying that. I feel sometimes like I know Bailey. I have another Bailey book finished but Harper Collins plans to bring it out after Hush and another thriller—so probably not for two years. In terms of a movie or TV, it would be great, but those things so seldom happen. I’m not betting the ranch it will happen!!!

Jen: Your latest project, HUSH, arrives in bookstores this month. Not surprisingly, this novel is a roller-coaster ride of suspense! (I did not see that ending coming! Bravo!) First of all, this title is a stand-alone. So, all of you Bailey Weggins fans out there, get ready to meet Kate’s newest power woman, Lake Warren! (Love the name, by the way!) How did you arrive at the premise?

Kate: I finally figured out a system for coming up with book ideas, though it took me awhile. With my first book I panicked because I knew a nanny was going to be murdered, but I didn’t know whose nanny it was or why someone would want her dead. Now I keep a huge file of clippings—crime stuff and just fascinating scientific stuff. When it’s time to start thinking about the next book—which is always smack in the middle of when I’m writing the last one—I will get out the folder and go through it with a cup of tea. Then I take a nugget—perhaps from one of those clippings--and ask myself “What If…” Terraces in New York City have always intrigued me. I had one as a single girl. And I asked myself, “What if you were out on your terrace and something was going on inside that you weren’t aware of?” It also can help to put your question to the universe. For instance, “Why is the nanny dead?” You often bump into the answer.

Jen: As you mentioned, this book takes on a controversial topic, fertility clinics. Approximately how much research was needed in order to accurately portray their day-to-day operations?

Kate: I actually took some workshops at fertility clinics. They were open to the public and very helpful. I also read several books and did a ton of research on- line. The Internet is a godsend for writers.

Jen: Tacking onto that last question, what was the most surprising revelation you discovered? And, how did it affect your view of fertility clinics in general?

Kate: The shocker was discovering that they’re not really very regulated. Fertility clinics do awesome, wonderful things for women. But because there’s so little regulation, there’s room for abuse. Just look at Octomom.

Jen: In this story, your lead character Lake Warren has been dealt a very bad hand! Her ex-husband is filing for full custody, and she happens to flee a murder scene after having a one-night stand. Ouch! How do her husband’s devious ways positively affect her unflappable will to beat him at his own game? What is the source of her inner strength?

Kate: Though Lake’s husband acts like a real jerk, it forces hers, as you say, to tap into reserves of strength and spunk she never knew she had.

Jen: After the murder takes place, Kate is pulled in many directions. In order to fly below the radar, she must keep her wits about her. Despite knowing that her children may be in grave danger, she insists on pursuing the mastermind behind the evil plot to destroy Dr. Keaton. Why is she so willing to jeopardize theirs as well as her own safety?

Kate: She has to make a tough choice. Trying to figure out who the killer is puts her in danger, but if she doesn’t find out, it may be an even bigger risk to her and the kids.

Jen: In order for a story to be successful, it must have strong secondary characters. No doubt! HUSH has an entire entourage of people! From evil doctors to innocent by-standers, you keep us guessing whodunit. Let’s talk about Hayden, Lake’s damage control PR person who comes in to hopefully save the clinic. A question I just have to ask. Does she realize Lake is hiding something? And if so, does she just choose to ignore it due to their friendship?

Kate: I’m so glad you liked Hayden. I based it loosely on a dynamo PR woman I know. Hayden is smart but she’s too caught up in her own ambition to realize that Lake is in trouble.

Jen: AH…the love interest! Archer, Kate’s journalist friend as well as confidant, is the best! What makes these two such a good pair?

Kate: I love Archer. I honestly have to confess, I felt attracted to him when I was writing the book, though don’t tell my husband, please. I based him on a guy I saw at Penn Station with prematurely white hair. I think he’s appealing because he’s confident and cocky—the investigative journalist—but he’s a decent man. He adores his stepson and is involved in his life even though he’s not married to the mother anymore!

Jen: Let’s switch gears and talk about your promotional plans. Will you be involved in a book tour? Do you have a website? If so, what can you tell us about it? Also, do you participate in author phone chats? If so, how would my readers go about scheduling one?

Kate: Because of my crazy day job, I can’t do a book tour. But I’ll be on the Today Show on March 2, I’m doing lots of radio and I relaunched my web site with some interesting stuff on it. KateWhite.com

Jen: It has been an absolute pleasure being able to spend some time with you! Thank you so much for stopping by to chat with my readers. I encourage everyone to pick up a copy of HUSH today! I wish you all the best!

Kate: Thanks so much. I think this book is fun and scary and I love the fact that so many people are telling me they couldn’t guess who the killer is. I also have to say that these are awesome questions. As an editor I have so much respect for smart, thoughtful questions. You don’t’ always get them! So thanks for that, too!!

I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Kate. If you haven’t picked up a copy of Cosmopolitan Magazine lately, you may want to check it out! While you’re at the bookstore, you may want to also pick up a copy of HUSH today!

Better yet, how would you like to win one instead? Be one of five people to correctly answer the following trivia question and you could win!

What is the name of the lead character in HUSH?

Later this month, I will be bringing to you a special interview with my fellow Marylander, Lucie Snodgrass. Her latest release, a delightful cookbook called DISHING UP MARYLAND, is the perfect treat! You won’t want to miss it.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Jen