Houtte, Melissa 1950–

PERSONAL: Born October 30, 1950, in Coral Gables, FL; daughter of George and Jacqueline (Neylon) Houtte; married Robert Vail East, III, February 10, 1973 (divorced, April, 1983). Education: Louisiana State University, B.A., 1972.

ADDRESSES: Home—San Francisco, CA. Agent—Gail Ross Literary Agency, 1666 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Ste. 500, Washington, DC 20009. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Journalist, editor, and writer. South Dade News Leader, FL, reporter, 1972–75; Sun Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, FL, reporter, 1975–76, metro copy editor, copy-desk slot chief, and page designer, 1976–79; Fort Lauderdale News, lifestyle editor, 1979–81; Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX, home and design editor, 1981–82; Dallas Life Magazine, assistant editor, then editor, 1981.

MEMBER: Sunday Magazine Editor's Association (treasurer, 1985–86; president, 1986–88).

WRITINGS:

(With Dean Edell) Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Healthiness: Dr. Dean's Commonsense Guide for Anything That Ails You, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2004.

(With sister, Alison Houtte) Alligators, Old Mink, and New Money: One Woman's Adventures in Vintage Clothing (memoir), illustrated by Mary Coleman, William Morris (New York, NY), 2005.

Contributor to Fast Food, No Appologies, 1996.

SIDELIGHTS: For sidelights, see HOUTTE, Alison.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

BOOKS

Houtte, Alison, and Melissa Houtte, Alligators, Old Mink, and New Money: One Woman's Adventures in Vintage Clothing, William Morris (New York, NY), 2005.

PERIODICALS

Booklist, October 15, 2005, Barbara Jacobs, review of Alligators, Old Mink, and New Money, p. 20.

Bookseller, July 15, 2005, review of Alligators, Old Mink, and New Money, p. 17.

Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2005, review of Alligators, Old Mink, and New Money, p. 957.

Orange County Register, November 17, 2005, Samantha Critchell, review of Alligators, Old Mink, and New Money.

Publishers Weekly, August 1, 2005, review of Alligators, Old Mink, and New Money, p. 53.

ONLINE

Hooti Couture Web site, http://hooticouture.com/ (December 15, 2005).

Papierdoll Online, http://www.papierdoll.net/ (December 15, 2005), review of Alligators, Old Mink, and New Money.