Koslow, Sally

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Koslow, Sally

PERSONAL:

Born in Fargo, ND; married Robert Koslow; children: Jed, Rory. Education: Graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison.

ADDRESSES:

Home—New York, NY. Agent—Christy Fletcher, Fletcher and Parry LLC, 78 5th Ave., New York, New York 10013.

CAREER:

Writer for Mademoiselle and Woman's Day magazines; McCall's, New York, NY, editor-in-chief, 1994-2001; Rosie magazine, New York, NY, corporate editor, 2001-02; Lifetime magazine, New York, NY, editor-in-chief, 2002-04. Also teaches writing at Sarah Lawrence College, Algonkian Novel Workshop, and New York Writer's Workshop.

WRITINGS:

Little Pink Slips (novel), Putnam (New York, NY), 2007.

Contributor to periodicals, including New York Observer, Town & Country, O the Oprah Magazine, Glamour, Ladies' Home Journal, Hallmark,Health, Redbook, and Good Housekeeping.

SIDELIGHTS:

Sally Koslow, the former editor-in-chief of McCall's, is the author of Little Pink Slips, a "dishy and delightful insider's view of the elite in magazine publishing," observed Booklist contributor Patty Engelmann. Little Pink Slips centers on Magnolia Gold, a New York editor who learns that her tasteful periodical, Lady, will be transformed into Bebe, an homage to celebrity Bebe Blake. The novel was inspired by events from the author's own life: during Koslow's tenure at McCall's, the publishers formed a partnership with television host Rosie O'Donnell, who renamed the magazine Rosie and served as its editor during the periodical's ill-fated eighteen-month run. "It wasn't exactly my story," Koslow told an interviewer on Bookreporter.com. "I was the editor-in-chief of McCall's and moved from that position to another executive job at the company when the magazine became a celebrity vehicle. I never actually worked with the celebrity. On the other hand, I continued to be close to the McCall's staff that did work with her, so I was conversant with that experience."

Little Pink Slips received mixed reviews. New York Times critic Janet Maslin stated that the novel "clearly falls into the chicks-who-snitch category, populated by disgruntled, shoe-obsessed office underlings and nannies. What's different and moderately interesting about this book is that its main character is in a position of power and knows a lot about the magazine business." Maslin added, however, that Koslow "can't decide whether to demonize or enjoy Bebe, and so she remains a large, improbable presence." A critic in Kirkus Reviews noted that the author's "zippy prose ably captures the manic intensity and not-always-glamorous world of New York magazines—even if classy Magnolia and her so-so love life are a bit of a snooze." Kathy Weissman, writing on Bookreporter. com, also complimented the author's narrative style, writing, "Although Koslow can be witty …, her tone never gets too brittle. Underneath the smart-aleckisms is a welcome optimism and honesty."