07 MAY 2026 — AROUND THE TABLE / LIFESTYLE

Shea’s Letter: April
On the road for my Around the Table book tour

A woman with long blonde hair stands on a city sidewalk holding a phone. She wears a sleeveless dark top and a white skirt. Taxis and cars drive by, and luxury stores like Louis Vuitton are visible in the background, by McGee & Co.

April was a busy month. Somewhere between dance drop-offs, product design reviews, photoshoots, and putting the finishing touches on our biggest Studio McGee project yet, I also released my first cookbook, Around the Table.

It hit me during the Newport Beach signing, looking at a sea of friendly faces in a line wrapped around the store, that it's actually out in the world. A real book, on real shelves, being held by real people who came out to say hello. If you were part of any of those moments, thank you. Seeing you in person was so special.

An open book on a floral tablecloth shows a page with the title “Around the Table.” Two croissants rest beside the book. The left page displays a photo of a set dining table with candles and glassware, by McGee & Co.

New York

The launch dinner at Ladurée—candlelight, pastel walls, and a room full of people I've admired for years. There's a version of me from ten years ago who wouldn't believe that night happened.

New York Images by Rachel Airtime

A person with a watch writes I hope you feel inspired and a signature on a blue notebook with a black marker, by McGee & Co.

A woman with long blonde hair stands under blooming pink cherry blossoms in front of a building with striped green and white awning, wearing a white shirt, dark jeans, and patterned heels, holding a stylish clutch, by McGee & Co.

Sitting down with Kelly Clarkson in front of a live audience was a first for me. I've done morning shows for years, but never a sit-down conversation paired with a live cooking segment. It's one thing to cook from the book at home. It's another to do it in front of a room full of people, on camera, with Kelly asking questions. I left the studio buzzing.

A nighttime view of a city skyline with illuminated skyscrapers; a blurred highway railing is visible in the foreground, creating a sense of motion. The sky is mostly cloudy, by McGee & Co.

Utah

It felt really good to be home, even if just for a few days.

Folklore Bookshop in Midway and The King’s English in Salt Lake were the hometown stops. My mom, brother and sister-in-law, and our kids—everyone was able to come, which made it all feel even more meaningful. They’ve been part of this whole process in ways big and small, from childcare to recipe testing to cheering me on, so having them there was the best part.

A group of people stands in line outside a stone and wood building with large windows and shutters on a cloudy day. The scene appears to be in a quaint shopping or dining area, by McGee & Co.

A woman with long blonde hair signs a book at a table in a cozy bookstore. Books and flowers are on the table, and shelves of colorful books and a framed painting are visible in the background, by McGee & Co.

Los Angeles

A morning at Ralph’s Coffee at Fashion Island with so many of the women whose work I’ve followed for years—drinks in hand, sun on the patio, and my voice completely gone by the end.

Now Back Home

This month reminded me of something simple: a book about gathering only really comes to life when people are actually gathered. The launch isn't the dinners and the signings—it's what happens after. When you take it home, cook from it, dog-ear the page with the coconut cake, and invite a friend over on a random Tuesday that doesn't need a reason.

That part belongs to you now, and I can't wait to see where you take it.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to finally unpack a suitcase that's been half-packed since New York.

xo, Shea