Katherine Chloé Cahoon

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!

 

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…

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!

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.

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 

In her review, Smart, Sassy, and Fun, S.E. Rowland, official Amazon book critic, wrote of The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men:

“If you like Sex and the City, you’ll love Meeting European Men… This is wicked fun with a twist of serious practicality. If you thought traveling in Europe looking for love was beyond hope, have faith. Learn how to find decent lodging, get great travel deals, and be culturally hip.

Not only does Cahoon give great info like ‘Man Meeting Tips,’ she’s got up-to-date singles’ personalities in acronyms and psychological types. Add  ‘40 Flirty Tips’ for an entrée. Top it off with a dessert of ‘A Word to the Wise’ in each chapter. Turn those dreams of European romance into reality.”

I enjoyed meeting all you Seattleites at my Borders book signing! Some people got copies for themselves and others for gifts. The store sold out of my book with customers still wanting copies. Here are pictures.

What: Evanston Illinois Borders Book Signing

The holiday season is here! If you want a gift for a single girl between the ages of 18-35, The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men is great, whether she is planning a trip abroad or wants surefire flirting tips to tryout on guys at home.

Part travel, part dating/relationship, my book tells where to go for fabulous experiences in twenty different Euro countries for outdoor sports lovers, clubbers, and everyone in between. It has safety tips and cultural/historical info so a girl instantly feels at home when she enters a country. Plus, it is chock full of true stories with a chick lit feel.

It’s also a great gift to give yourself for holiday reading! Rated 4.5 out of 5 on Amazon, HerCampus.com calls it “a goldmine.”

Where: 1700 Maple Ave Evanston 60201

When: Wednesday, December 1st from 5-8PM

What: Northwestern University Philanthropy Book Event

This evening is one of a kind! At my philanthropy book events, the students choose the activities. So far, we have had a concert, theatrical performances, and a party band at a waterfront restaurant.

Northwestern students, Allie Gullquist and Dayana Sarkisova, came up with a male European pageant called “MEETING NORTHWESTERN’S EUROPEAN MEN.” The competition is guaranteed to be hot and hilarious including dance, body, and personality challenges. We’ll find out who has the best moves and MUCH MORE:) The girls asked if I would help judge these European studs. Is that even a question?! Of course, I will!

The first 50 guests will receive a FREE, signed copy of The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men. Hors d’oeuvres and sweet treats will be served, the Flirty Cupcake bus will be present, and prizes will be raffled off.

Requested donation: $10. Proceeds will benefit CASA to help abused and neglected children.

This event is a great break for Northwestern students studying for finals. Here is the flyer that Dayana and Allie made.

Where: 1845 Sheridan Road, Fisk 217, Evanston, IL 60208 When: Tuesday, Nov. 30th from 5-6:30PM

What: Seattle Borders Book Signing

Seattle’s holiday festivities will be in full swing the day after Thanksgiving, so if you’re going downtown, I’d love to see you at my book signing! It’s across the street from the carousel and next to Starbucks, so if you need to warm up or meet up with friends, this is the perfect place. Other seasonal no-misses include the fabulous Christmas tree collection and Teddy Bear Suite at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel (411 University Street), Sheraton Hotel’s elaborate gingerbread village (1400 6^th Ave), the beautifully decorated store windows, and visiting Pike Place Market. There is no charge for these wonderful holiday traditions.

Where: 1501 4th Ave Seattle 98101

When: Friday, November 26^th from 11AM-2PM 

We had a fabulous performance lineup to benefit the local Nashville Children’s Hospital featuring popular Nashville singers who donated their talents for the cause. Thanks to everyone involved. Here are pictures from the event.

We were so excited to have Todd Sansom. When I told his manager we would announce that he was performing at The Stage later that night, she said, “That would be nice, but not needed. Todd just wants to help the children.” You can learn more about this first-class singer at ToddSansom.com

Original Cast: Vanderbilt’s Broadway Revue Troupe tied the evening together with their great musical performances. In keeping with my female driven book, they picked fun, flirty girl-centric songs. To learn more about them, see their Facebook page .

Chris Winward, a Nashville mainstay, not only performed for the event but set up and monitored the sound system for every act. In addition to being known as quite the heartthrob, he is very generous in supporting philanthropies. He tours the world with country legends. You can learn more at ChrisWinward.com.

Thanks to Madeleine Kent for hosting the event!

And thanks to Josh Turner who donated a signed tee-shirt, CD, and photo to be raffled off at the event. You can see more of him at JoshTurner.com

As Todd Sansom set up, Chris Winward (right front) checked sound.

I donated the books as door gifts.

The pretty blonde lady talking with me is Todd’s wife, Mandy. She is also his talented manager.

Saying thank you and goodbye to Todd and his band.

And thanks to Vandy students Maia Cole and Chris Mullican for helping set up the event. Without them the evening would not have come off.

In her amazing review entitled Don’t Leave Home Without It! Antoinette Klein, a top Amazon reviewer, wrote this about my book:

“Single women will relish the 40 Flirty Tips that work wonders with men. Many of these tips are just as appropriate for girls pursuing the American Male on their home turf, so even if you have no immediate need to go abroad, these are good refresher points for dating anywhere.

The bulk of the book is a great travel guide… Best of all, it is cleverly written in a easy-flowing style akin to a big sister sitting you down and telling you, ‘This is how to do it!’” 

Monday’s University of Texas philanthropy event was fabulous. Thank you to everyone who came and helped First Book give new books to children in need. When I grew up, I always had access to books and I want all children to have this advantage. Books bring them joy, help them see the possibilities before them, and inspire them to reach their potential.

As you can see from the following pictures, everyone at this event had a wonderful time. With this beautiful waterfront, open-air venue and Lip Service, the cutting-edge party band, the evening could not be any less than great.

 

What: Vanderbilt University Book Event

This is the evening’s pre-pregame with free entertainment by popular Nashville singers, desserts, and signed copies of my book. Entitled “Give the Kids a Shot at Life,” it benefits the Nashville Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital and features frosting shots for everyone. They are quite the craze in Hollywood so I am bringing them to Vandy. We’ll also have cookies and drinks, and raffle off a signed CD, tee shirt, and picture from Josh Turner.

Live entertainment will be provided by Nashville fixtures Todd Sansom, from the Grand Ole Opry and The Stage, Chris Winward from Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, and Original Cast: Vanderbilt’s Broadway revue troupe.

Everything is being donated to help families of children at the hospital. Many of them are struggling to pay their medical bills with the added challenge of damage from the Nashville flooding and the recession. The student body is invited. Suggested donation: $5 cash.

The first 50 students will receive complimentary copies of The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men. Several of the stories in the book are about present and past Vandy students. I will be there signing. I’m paying my way to Nashville and doing this because Children’s Hospital is near to my heart. I’m a 2008 Vanderbilt grad. A childhood friend’s life was saved by a Children’s Hospital. She was born with a heart defect. Starting when I was two years old, I was there for her open heart surgeries. Today she is a healthy 25-year-old who is about to give birth to a healthy baby. This would not have happened without Children’s Hospital and the people who support it.

Please come!!! Besides helping children in need, with the fabulous performer lineup and the frosting shots, it’s guaranteed to be a great start to your weekend.

When I was three and Kelly returned home from the hospital, I came over in my clown costume and rounded up some neighborhood kids. We put on a show for her. Kelly let me put up this picture. She is the one in front.

Where: Sarratt Promenade (2301 Vanderbilt Place)

When: Friday, October 29th from 6-7:30PM

The guys and I had so much fun making this video. I appreciate all the terrific comments and reviews about my videos and book. For inquiring minds, the Frenchman is real.