February 21, 2011
February 18, 2011
Dear Katherine, I am a single woman living abroad in Honduras and I LOVE all of your dating tips. I have met so many men here, and have been able to enhance my flirting to levels I didn’t know existed. And I owe it all to your book! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with the rest of us. I have told all of my North American friends here about your book, and it was the first item I bought for my younger sister, who is studying abroad in England next semester, for Christmas. I cannot thank you enough! xoxoxo
February 14, 2011
Happy Valentine’s Day! I’ve heard girls say that they dread V-Day when they aren’t dating. Who says that just because you aren’t in a relationship you can’t celebrate the love holiday?! V-Day isn’t just for romantic love; it’s for love of family and friends too….and a little self-love never hurt:) The first Valentine I remember was from my dad. I was three and he gave me what seemed like a whole bouquet of chocolate roses. So whether or not you’re in a relationship, I hope you have a fantastic heart holiday!
February 7, 2011
Here are pictures of my book event benefitting Seattle Children’s Hospital. Thanks to Anna Kummerlowe and Red Bull Wiiings Team. I spoke with Kappa Deltas about safety, culture and man-meeting hot spots. Their final request? More stories of Euro men! With Valentine’s Day approaching, these girls know what’s important:)
February 2, 2011
January 28, 2011
What: University of Washington Philanthropy Book Event
Kappa Delta’s UW chapter invited me to speak to them and other sororities at a book event benefiting Seattle Children’s Hospital. I will be covering trip preparation, safety, and the inside track on the Czech Republic, Italy, and Switzerland, including man-meeting hot spots. Many girls will be studying in those countries next term.
I’ll be signing books and donating all my proceeds to the hospital. Each girl who makes a $10 donation will receive a free book. As some of you know, this is my second Children’s Hospital event. My close friend’s life was saved by Seattle Children’s Hospital. Starting when I was two, I visited her after all of her heart surgeries. She is now a healthy 25-year-old who recently gave birth to a healthy baby. I especially want to help this hospital save more lives like hers.
When: Monday, January 31 at 5:30PM
Where: Kappa Delta House, 4524 17th AVE NE, Seattle 98105
January 25, 2011
The cofounder of Pink Pangea, a popular travel site for women, asked me to write an article about how to meet men in one European country. I chose Spain. My article covers how important it is to know about the local culture…complete with a quick course in Spanish heritage…what Spanish men like in women, and why traveling girls don’t need to add crash diets to their pre-trip plans to be appealing. Here are details on how to meet sizzling Spaniards! https://www.pinkpangea.com/post/how-to-meet-sizzling-spaniards
January 20, 2011
Jerome Nichols, a blogger for the college crowd, described The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men as“a tongue in cheek, hilarious guide” with “worthwhile information” and “truth.” He included a thorough Q&A covering not just my book, but my philanthropy work, book videos, and movie adaptation. He ended by saying of TSGGTMEM, “Seriously, just do yourself a favor and pick one up.”
This especially meant a lot to me because Jerome and I are quite different. His blog is called, Let’s Talk About Sex. I think Jerome could answer any type of sex question…and I mean about ALL types of sex involving ALL types of people. I, on the other hand, am strictly a romantic heterosexual. I had a hard time just going on Jerome’s site to read my review as I passed some of his pictures and articles. Since some people have told me their kids read my site and they are thankful that I post content they are comfortable having them see, I’m not going to link to Let’s Talk About Sex. I know that those who want to can find it.
We are fortunate in this country and in Europe to have so much freedom of choice in what we see and do, and I realize that with every decision we make there is a responsibility and a result. When I studied in Spain, the older generation remembered life under a brutal dictator when they did not have freedom. One of their biggest concerns was that their children would forget the past and fail to protect these rights. I hope that in this country we carefully protect our freedom too. And I want everyone to know that I have gotten to know and like Jerome, and that he is 100% sincere in his beliefs.
January 15, 2011
Ever since I wrote about how my grandma’s book club of over 70-year-olds was reading The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men, people have been asking about her. After reading my book, she got invited out on a date by a “dapper gentleman.” She is single after all! She declined, explaining that she’d love to, but she was having dinner with her granddaughter that evening. When I told her we could reschedule she joked, “Oh no. I’m a catch. He can ask me out again.” She added, “You know, I won’t settle for any man older than 75. They are just not lively enough.” Mind you, my grandma is 86. Gotta love her!
January 12, 2011
Life coach, Leslie Juvin, said of The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men, “I thoroughly enjoyed the book… It can be read as a guide or…a novel, which makes it a fun, handy guide to store in a travel bag or something to read seaside.” Leslie lives in France with her French husband (pictured here).
I was excited to have someone who knows Europe so well review my book. She discusses many elements from the tips and hot spots to “cultural and geographical research, financial planning…cultural etiquette” and much more. On safety, she wrote, “We have all read or heard stories of young American women who have gone on foreign vacations or study abroads and have wound up in trouble, or even worse, dead. Female students and young professionals embarking on their first European experience could benefit from reading this book. Without scaring or intimidating readers, The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men is realistic about potential dangers and advises on how to avoid them, without killing the adventurous and fearless spirit of foreign travel.” Here is the full review on her blog LiveLoveLeslie.
January 6, 2011
Hope you’re off to a great start for 2011! I’ve been thinking about 2010. This time last year, I hadn’t yet sealed the deal with my publisher. To say we fast-tracked my book would be an understatement! I’m often asked about the process. Here are snapshots from my year.
January and February 2010. Finalized book contract. Since I graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2008 and spent my college summers studying in Europe, my book contained current, tried-and-true hot spots in twenty Euro countries. My publisher wanted this timely information on shelves in eight months…versus the two years it usually takes to push out a new book. Time to kick into high gear!!!
March. My publisher let me design the book cover. I decided to put men from true stories in the book on it. I focus-group tested cover layouts with single girls. This is what they chose.
April. Did my final book edit while interviewing over twenty more girlfriends who had just returned from studying and working abroad. I packed the manuscript with true stories in a chick lit feel. This month was crazy busy! I also had to continue working on the book cover. Let’s just say there were many late nights with my good friends Ben & Jerry!
May. My publisher thought I should create a blog. He said I could just quote parts of my book, but since my readers would be getting my book, I wanted to give them something more…so I started creating my videos.
June and July. First bunch of book interviews for newspapers and my first syndicated article.
August. Planned a university philanthropy book tour. Here is a picture of an event in Austin. It benefited First Book, which gives new books to underprivileged children.
September. As I continued doing book interviews and working on writing screenplay and creating videos, visitors to my website asked me to combine my book and film careers by answering the question, “If Audrey Hepburn were a single girl visiting Europe what would she do?” Here’s what I thought. If you have further ideas, email me. Katherine@MeetingEuropeanMen.com
October. This month was full of firsts. My first book hit shelves, I had my first book signing, was featured in my first Publishers Weekly video, had my first several radio interviews and philanthropy events, saw my book go to #1 in a travel category, and my videos went viral…thank you Perez Hilton:)
November. My first TV appearance, more radio interviews, and a Seattle Borders signing (pictured here) the day after Thanksgiving. My books sold out!
December. Philanthropy book event at Northwestern University benefitting abused children. Students Dayana and Allie planned the evening, which included a show by European men. I completed my 51st radio interview. Hope 2011 is the best year ever for all of you!
December 27, 2010
One top Amazon reviewer said of my book, “Don’t leave home without it!” If you’re preparing to study abroad, The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men not only gives tips about meeting the men, but identifies man-meeting hot spots, contains safety advice, and has cultural and historical insights on twenty European countries so a girl instantly feels at home. It is also chock full of true, entertaining stories about romantic experiences. Here is one entitled, When the Girls Were Wined and Dined by Messrs. Lamborghini. It is about students who were studying in one European city and took a weekend trip to another.
“On their first night there, they dined at a nice restaurant next to a table with some eye-catching Italian men. Ten minutes into their meal, the girls received a bottle of fine wine, courtesy of the next table. Ten minutes after that they received flowers from their admirers. And ten minutes after that, the men came over asking for an introduction. They offered to show the girls around town for the rest of the evening. Showing the girls around town would be an understatement. They were escorted to every trendy bar and club in the city, danced in hot spot after hot spot, and sampled the Italian spectrum of exotic drinks. The next day, the men offered to take the girls in their Lamborghinis to a traditional wine-tasting event before they left town.”
You may just meet your own romantic Italian abroad! I’d love to hear your European stories and man-meeting tips. Feel free to email them to me as well as fun pictures from your European adventures at Katherine@MeetingEuropeanMen.com for use on my blog.
Here you can order my book from Amazon…
December 24, 2010
This year, I’ve especially appreciated how much the holidays are a time to focus on family and friends—whether we’re celebrating Christmas, or have just celebrated Hanukkah, or any other event we hold dear. The friends with me in this picture are from my Vanderbilt years. Now they are all working in Chicago. We had a reunion at my book signing, and I was so happy to see them. Happy Holidays to everyone!
December 20, 2010
Are you traveling to Europe over the holidays? If so, there are seasonal stops for everyone, from those who just want to relax to those who want adventure. Trifter, a travel site which brings “the marvels of the world to your monitor” featured this article that I wrote on holiday attractions in Italy, Denmark, and Scotland.
European Holiday Wonderland by Katherine Chloé Cahoon
While 2010 has been winding down, I have been doing events for my debut book, The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men. The consensus among girls attending these events is that the holidays should be filled with romance. I completely see their thought process. What’s the point of having mistletoe if it doesn’t come with an intriguing man?! If you are going to be in Europe this winter, whether you have already found an intriguing man to duck under the mistletoe with, whether you’re searching for one, or whether a man isn’t even on your wish list, here are three seasonal no-misses.
Italian Winter Enchantment
Florence’s Piazza Michelangelo, located on the South bank of the river Arno, is swathed in glowing lights during the holidays. This beautiful park-like landmark overlooking the city is where natives are known for drinking wine, enjoying gelato, relaxing, and mingling. Piazza Michelangelo is covered with stones and surrounded by charming little restaurants. In the evening, the spirit of the season is absolutely everywhere.
A Danish Winter
If you’re the type who lives for the thrill of excitement and relaxing isn’t on your holiday calendar, then Copenhagen’s amusement park, Tivoli, is your winter spot. It contains a variety of rides, restaurants, cafés, and bistros, enormous firework displays, and an assortment of performances. Until December 30, the Tivoli Gardens feature a holiday market. Rides continue to run as Yuletide stalls sell gifts and goodies. See www.TivoliGardens.com for details.
Bring in the New Year Scottish-Style
If you like to party hard, then your New Year festivities definitely can’t be mediocre. Edinburgh’s festival, Hogmanay, is far from that! This year it runs from December 30-January 2 and includes a torchlight procession, concerts, street parties, fireworks, and more. For some events, tickets have to be purchased early, so time is of the essence. If you plan to be in Scotland to say goodbye to the old year and ring in the new one go to www.EdinburghsHogmanay.org for details on the extravaganzas.
December 17, 2010
I had a whirlwind Seattle book signing tour, going from store to store in the Greater Seattle Area signing copies of my book for Barnes & Noble. One store manager even bought a copy and had me address it to her. She was so fun! If you go to one of the stores listed below and my book is sold out, just ask to have it ordered and B&N will get it for you.
Alderwood, Crossroads, Downtown Bellevue, Downtown Seattle, Northgate Mall, South Center, University Village, Westwood Village, and Woodinville
