Kate White Biography

Kate White (born September 3, 1951) is an American writer, magazine editor, and speaker. From 1998 to 2012, she served as the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan. She is the author of eight novels, including two stand-alone thrillers and the Bailey Weggins mystery series, as well as four non-fiction books with business advice for women. Her books have appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list.

Background

White was born in Glens Falls, New York and attended Union College in Schenectady, New York. She graduated in 1972 with a BA in English.

Career in magazine industry

White began her career in the magazine industry after winning Glamour's "Top Ten College Women"? contest, for which she appeared on the cover and received a position as an editorial assistant at the magazine.

During her time at Glamour, White worked her way up to become a feature writer and columnist. She went on to hold positions at other national magazines, including Mademoiselle, before becoming editor-in-chief of Child. White later served as editor-in-chief for Working Woman, McCall's, and Redbook, which she headed from 1994 to 1998.

Cosmopolitan

In 1998, White was appointed editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine. During her 14-year tenure, White increased Cosmopolitan's monthly circulation by more than 700,000 readers, with the magazine's circulation peaking at over three million readers in 2012. In September 2012, White announced her intention to leave her position at Cosmopolitan before the end of the year in order to focus on her work as a writer and speaker.

Writing career

Fiction

White has published six novels with the lead protagonist Bailey Weggins, a New York City true crime writer. The first book in the series, If Looks Could Kill (2002), was chosen by Kelly Ripa for her book club, and reached number 10 on the New York Times Best Seller list. Entertainment Weekly reviewed the book positively and described it as "[w]inningly salacious."?

In addition to the Bailey Weggins mysteries, White has also written two stand-alone thrillers: Hush (2010), which also appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list, and The Sixes (2011).

Non-fiction

White has also written four non-fiction books with career advice for women in business: Why Good Girls Don't Get Ahead... But Gutsy Girls Do: Nine Secrets Every Career Woman Must Know (1995), 9 Secrets of Women Who Get Everything They Want (1998), You on Top: Smart, Sexy Skills Every Woman Needs to Set the World on Fire (2007), and I Shouldn't Be Telling You This: Success Secrets Every Gutsy Girl Should Know (2012).

Personal life

White is married to news anchorman Brad Holbrook, with whom she has two children: a son, Hunter and a daughter, Hayley.

Bibliography

Bailey Weggins mysteries

1. If Looks Could Kill (2002) Warner Books, ISBN 0446530239
2. A Body to Die For (2003) Warner Books, ISBN 978-0446531481
3. "?Til Death Do Us Part (2004) Warner Books, ISBN 978-0446531757
4. Over Her Dead Body (2005) Grand Central Publishing, ISBN 978-0446531764
5. Lethally Blond (2007) Warner Books, ISBN 978-0446577953
6. So Pretty It Hurts (2012) Harper, ISBN 978-0061576607

Other fiction

1. Hush (2010) Harper, ISBN 978-0061576614
2. The Sixes (2011) Harper, ISBN 978-0061576621
3. Eyes on You (2014) Harper, ISBN 978-0061576638

Non-fiction

1. Why Good Girls Don't Get Ahead... But Gutsy Girls Do: Nine Secrets Every Career Woman Must Know (1995) Grand Central Publishing, ISBN 978-0446518277
2. 9 Secrets of Women Who Get Everything They Want (1998) Crown Archetype, ISBN 978-0312017972
3. You on Top: Smart, Sexy Skills Every Woman Needs to Set the World on Fire (2007) Grand Central Publishing, ISBN 978-0446695527
4. I Shouldn't Be Telling You This: Success Secrets Every Gutsy Girl Should Know (2012) HarperBusiness, ISBN 978-0062122124