Katie Trexler, Emmy-winning TV journalist and current Lone Tree resident, is the author of the newly released What Do I Tell My Daughter?, a memoir about losing her sense of self while balancing career and motherhood.
Tell us about yourself and how you came to live in Highlands Ranch/Lone Tree.
I was born and raised in Littleton, graduated from Arapahoe High School, and studied broadcast journalism and political science at CU Boulder. After graduating, I spent eight years working around the country, building my career in television news. I was thrilled to return home in 2000 and was the morning anchor at 7news (Denver 7) until 2007. In 2008, my family settled in Highlands Ranch because we loved the community, and it was close to my parents. I remarried in 2022 and now live in Lone Tree with my husband, Steve. Together we have four children.
Tell us about your background and your decision to write this book.
I’m a storyteller at heart. As a journalist and now a PR professional, I’ve spent my career helping people share their stories. This time, I felt compelled to write about my journey through motherhood.
Like many women, I wanted both a meaningful career and to be a mom. For several years, I thought I had it all, working my dream job in news and raising our boy/girl twins. Then one day, I made the difficult decision to leave my job for my family. I had no idea how deeply that choice would impact my identity, self-worth, and earning power.
Eventually, I reinvented myself and went into public relations, hoping for more flexibility and balance. Along the way, I realized how hard it can be to juggle everyone else’s needs without losing important parts of ourselves.
Tell us about the book.
What Do I Tell My Daughter? Hard-won Wisdom for Tomorrow’s Women is a memoir about motherhood, career, identity, and the hidden costs of sacrificing parts of ourselves for the people we love.
Each chapter ends with a short note to my daughter, a lesson or piece of hard-won wisdom to guide her.
Why should people read the book?
Early readers and reviewers say they appreciate how candid and relatable my story is. They see themselves in the pages and appreciate someone saying what many women have felt for years but rarely discuss.
I hope the book sparks honest conversations, not just between mothers and daughters, but also with our sons and partners. Most families today depend on two incomes. Each parent will likely make some trade-off. The more openly we communicate about our goals, hopes, and dreams, the more likely we are to have healthy relationships and happy families.
Where do you see yourself going next?
I’d love to speak at conferences, universities, and women’s organizations locally and nationally.
What are some other things we should know about you?
I like being active, hiking (the Bluffs), golfing, biking, practicing yoga, and spending time with family and friends.
Where can we go to purchase the book?
It’s available for pre-order now on my website katietrexler.com, simonandschuster.com, or anywhere books are sold.
I’ll also be sharing early excerpts on Substack, where you can subscribe to my writing for free.
What Do I Tell My Daughter? is a memoir about motherhood, career, identity, and the hidden costs of sacrificing parts of ourselves for the people we love.