The author with her first, self-published children’s book, which she’ll sign at an event in Fair Haven on Thursday. (Click to enlarge)
By REBECCA DESFOSSE
It all started with mom and dad.
Dorothy Whitehouse, daughter of Elaine Sourlis and the late Ted Sourlis, owners of the Galleria at Red Bank, remembers her mom taking her to fashion shows as a kid and her dad encouraging her to publish one of the stories she would often write. Now, on the tenth anniversary of his passing, she has done just that.
Whitehouse, of Rumson, recently self-published her first book, Moniques Boutique, a whimsical touch-and-feel childrens book that takes readers on a journey through a chic Madison Avenue style boutique, complete with samples of silk, taffeta, satin and other fabrics. River Road Books in Fair Haven will be hosting a book signing launch on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.
The book is targeted at girls between the ages of 3 and 7 who look at the fashion, makeup and purses in the book and envision themselves dressing up just like mom.
While there are all these touch-and-feel books out there, none teaches kids about different fabrics, Whitehouse told redbankgreen. She wants to expose them to textures and how and when to wear them, she said.
Speaking of mom, Whitehouse says her mother inspired her on the fashion end of things. She describes Elaine Sourlis as so elegant and classy the epitome of grace.
When Whitehouse decided to pen the book, she knew just who to turn to for illustrations childhood friends Francesca and Rick Weber, who own an Oceanport design firm called What’s the Occasion that specializes in invitations, stationery, Christmas cards and more. Whitehouse said that while she had the vision for the book, the Webers put it on paper. She gets me, Whitehouse said of Francesca.
Growing up in Holmdel and Rumson, Whitehouse said she was always a tomboy at heart and loved to read and write. Like her father, she earned a law degree, but went into marketing and sales, rising to vice president at ESPN. Afterward, she decided to leave corporate America to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams, in the tradition of her parents.
Whitehouse has since launched several of her own businesses, deciding to choose opportunity over security, as she puts it. These days, shes busy juggling two boys, two marketing and consulting businesses, and real estate with her family. If its put on your plate, just do it, she said.
The creation of Moniques Boutique was a three-year process. With her background in marketing, Whitehouse decided to self-publish via her brand new company, Skippin-Stones.
The book is available at River Road Books, Kidegories in Shrewsbury and Neiman Marcus in Short Hills. Whitehouse said she plans to donate the book to hospitals to benefit childrens funds or breast cancer research.
