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Peter Max artwork based on the book jacket |
In NYC last night, HLN’s Jane Velez-Mitchell celebrated the release of her new memoir, iWant: My Journey from Addiction and Overconsumption to a Simpler, Honest Life, at the gallery of artist Peter Max. Velez-Mitchell, host of “Issues,” joked, “I just think this is a — first of all — fabulous concept, ‘Let’s have a cocktail party to celebrate a book about recovering from alcoholism.'”
Velez-Mitchell is the third HLN host to publish a book in the last few months, with Nancy Grace and Robin Meade also releasing books recently. TVNewser asked CNN Worldwide EVP Ken Jautz, who heads HLN, why his employees have been writing so much “It’s hosts who have an ability to communicate with audiences,” he said. “I think they see the opportunity to do so on another platform, employ the skills they’re proving so successful at on television on another platform, and we’re happy to support that.”
Also in attendance: HLN VP of programming Bill Galvin, “Issues” EP Stephanie Todd and Senior Producer Jennifer Williams, “Showbiz Tonight” host AJ Hammer, and Senior EP of CNN Entertainment and “Showbiz Tonight” David Levine. “Nancy Grace” Senior EP Dean Sicoli made a brief appearance to congratulate Velez-Mitchell, whose career he’d been instrumental in launching by featuring her as a guest host on “Nancy Grace,” before hustling back to the studio for Grace’s broadcast.
CNN anchors John Roberts and Kyra Phillips were also there (together) and CNN’s Gerri Willis and Jeanne Moos stopped by.
Velez-Mitchell took some time to talk with TVNewser about why she decided to write the memoir (apologies for the crowd noise):