Harmel, Kristin 1979–

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Harmel, Kristin 1979–

PERSONAL: Born May 4, 1979, in Newton, MA. Education: University of Florida, B.S. (summa cum laude), 2001. Hobbies and other interests: Travel, go to the beach, attend concerts and movies, cooking, reading, writing, and shopping for shoes.

ADDRESSES: Home—Orlando, FL. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Warner Books, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Journalist and writer. St. Petersburg Times, former sports reporter; People, reporter, 2001–; The Daily Buzz, television book reviewer.

WRITINGS:

How to Sleep with a Movie Star (novel), Warner Books (New York, NY), 2006.

Contributor to publications, including People, American Baby, Modern Bride, YM, Woman's Day, and Men's Health.

WORK IN PROGRESS: The Blonde Theory, a novel.

SIDELIGHTS: Kristin Harmel was born in Newton, Massachusetts, but her family moved several times while she was growing up, eventually settling in Orlando, Florida. She attended the University of Florida where she majored in journalism, an interest she had developed during high school while she worked as a sports reporter for the St. Petersburg Times. During summer breaks, she participated in several internship programs, first with Woman's Day and then for People, the latter of which provided her connections that helped her get a part-time job as a reporter during her last year of college, followed by a permanent position after graduation. Although she had originally intended to cover sports on a professional level, she discovered an affinity for celebrity interviews and enjoys meeting the various people she is exposed to thanks to her career. Her job has allowed her to interview such celebrities as Ben Affleck, Michelle Williams, Justin Timberlake, Billy Crystal, Walter Cronkite, and more. In addition to her work as a journalist, Harmel is a regular guest on the television program The Daily Buzz, where she reviews chick-lit novels. In her own first novel, How to Sleep with a Movie Star, Harmel applies her insight into the world of celebrities to this light, witty genre. She tells the story of Claire Reilly, a Southern girl working as a celebrity reporter for a New York fashion magazine, and how she struggles with office politics, a failing relationship, and the gorgeous movie star she is assigned to interview. A contributor to Kirkus Reviews cited the book for "predictable crises and strangely priggish attitudes," however Deb Smouse, reviewing for All Things Girl.com, found Harmel's first effort "a well-written tale."