(Long Island, N.Y.) Bravo Realty TV stars and happily married couple Alex McCord and Simon Van Kempen launched their much anticipated book “Little Kids, Big City” on Thursday April 8, 2010 at Borders Book Store at 10 Columbus Circle.
This was part of three signings scheduled to promote the book in the New York Area. Park Slope was the first signing where the realty couple originally lived with their first child François and when Alex became pregnant with Johan.
The celebrity couple have been chatting with me at red carpet events throughout the year about their enthusiasm to express their thoughts and experiences on parenting in the big city with a tell all book.
In our interview at the Depesha Magazine Charity Auction to Benefit Russian Children’s Event last May, Almost a year ago, Simon revealed “It’s really memoirs of the last six years of our lives. It started with Alex’s pregnancy in December of 2002, what we discovered, the good, the bad and the ugly. The wonderful things about being a parent, our pitfalls but its an honest book about what we discovered parenting in New York.”
Realty TV Stars Alex McCord & Simon Van Kempen with Cognac Wellerlane
As breakout stars of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New York City, Alex McCord and Simon Van Kempen have inspired, infuriated, and entertained parents everywhere. Their new book continues that trend, with the added bonus of informing (via the occasional rant,) families dealing with the daunting task of raising children in an urban environment. Writing with unique and humorous insight into the challenges facing city parents today, Alex and Simon use their own hard-won experience as a springboard to discuss a host of parenting topics, including baby’s first six months, traveling with infants, hiring caregivers, disciplining, dealing with accidents, dining out, making the most of urban life, and scheduling time for non-urban escapes. Their informative and often hair-raising stories of life in the concrete jungle, make Little Kids, Big City a must-read for urban parents, as well as for any fan of the show.
Cognac Wellerlane interviews Bravo Realty TV Stars Alex McCord and Simon Van Kempen at their Book Signing for “Little Kids Big City” at Borders Book Store in the Time Warner Building at Columbus Circle for the Long Island Exchange (Long Island’s Online Newspaper and Directory)
At the book signing the very fascinating and witty couple read excerpts from their book. Alex reads “You are not bringing that in here are you said by a snarling host at a normally child friendly restaurant. If by that you mean the stroller, No, I am going to fold it up and put it in the coat check. If you mean the baby perhaps you should work somewhere else. I know in the city particularly there are lots of people who don’t like kids and think the stroller brigade has taken over the neighborhood but all I want is a bowl of pasta, I promise I won’t show you my breast.” During the Q&A Simon revealed that Johan’s preschool teacher finally watched an excerpt from the show. She had never seen the show before and inquired “How does he get use to the television cameras in the house?” Simon answers “They have been there since he was one, it’s normal for him. I know it sounds bizarre but for three months out of the year, there have been cameras filming in our house.” Alex went on to say they actually used the show to discipline their children as a teaching tool for them, “There was a scene in the first season of a dinner party, the kids were over tired and you have crazy,” Simon jumps in to say “Ramona was two hours late that night,” Alex goes on to say “Well you know whether she was or whether she wasn’t what I did is I played that segment for Francois and I said you do see how badly they made you look, do you like that, no mommy he answered.”
In our interview that night the couple revealed that they will be touring around the country to promote the book and perhaps may also be going to Canada and Australia to endorse it further.
Celebrities that came to show their support included Celebrity Stylist Derek Warburton, Filmmaker Vince Parenti, Bravo’s TV Host Andy Cohen and Realty TV Star Bethenny Frenkel looking very pretty and very pregnant.
The reviews are also very positive:
“Alex McCord and Simon Van Kempen’s surprisingly down to earth account of their early days of parenting in NYC is as remarkable in its honesty as it is in its detail.”
– Cecily von Ziegesar, New York Times bestselling author of the Gossip Girl novels and mother of two at PS Fab.
“Alex and Simon don’t take themselves too seriously which seems to be essential to parenting. Their fresh “he said she said” perspective on parenting is humorous and insightful.”
– Bethenny Frankel, New York Times bestselling author of The Skinnygirl Dish: Easy Recipes for Your Naturally Thin Life
“A fun and entertaining read with an over the top enthusiasm for family and the joys of raising kids in the city. They manage to share lessons without sounding preachy and maintain a humorous light tone.”
– Alison Lowenstein, author of City Kid New York
“Little Kids, Big City is wonderful. Witty, funny, and interesting.”
– Divya Gugnani, host, Behind the Burner
The celebrity family of four (plus two cats) resides in a recently renovated brownstone in Brooklyn.
For more info on tour dates for the book signing at various locations please visit http://www.mccordvankempen.com
