It is a guide to and a history of toasts and toasting with over 1,300 toasts in 171 categories so there is literally a toast for every occasion.

Your book is a guide to, and a history of toasting. Briefly share how you went about your research for the book.

As a travel writer, I have collected toasts from all over the world. And before that, I grew up on the diplomatic circuit in Washington DC so they were literally a way of life for me.

What surprised you once you began your research?

Just how many toasts there are, and I loved the fact that during the middle ages that one important reason for toasting was to prove the wine was not poisoned!

What are some of your favorite toasts?

I love humorous and risqué toasts as well as those with a play on words which are so typical of Celtic toasts. I particularly love the champagne toast.

Here's to roast beef when you're hungry,
Champagne when you're dry,
A lover when you need one and heaven when you die!

Here is another toast...

As you slide down the banister of life
may the splinters never face the wrong way! 

What two suggestions would you give to someone required to give a toast at an important function?

Practice, practice practice and be prepared! If you are not accustomed to toasting, keep it short and sweet.

"Since poisoning was a common practice during the Middle Ages toasting also provided a polite way of proving to the guests that the wine was safe to drink."  Jennifer provides other such interesting facts in supplemental article at A Toast - to Lofty Thoughts and Glass Acts .   

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Biographical Profile on Jennifer Rahel Conover

Jennifer Rahel Conover began her working career as a high fashion model in New York City. When she moved to Florida she enjoyed a successful career in interior design culminating in decorating Johnny Carson’s condominium, Susan Hayward’s residence and the Winter and Washington White House for President and Mrs. Nixon.

She later joined her husband in the apartment rental and yacht charter business. She began writing about eleven years ago in an article about her cat and is now an award winning photojournalist specializing in travel and yachting. She is published regularly in magazines, newspapers, both national and international as well as in-flight magazines throughout the world.

She comes from a family of diplomats and politicians on her mother’s side. Her book, TOASTS FOR EVERY OCCASION is published by Putnam NAL Division and is now into multiple printings. Her grandfather, the Honorable Joseph E. Davies, was ambassador to Russia, Belgium, and Luxembourg, his wife, legendary cereal heiress, Marjorie Merriweather Post was her step grandmother. As a child she spent her winters at Mar-a-Lago, their home in Palm Beach. Her father, Burdette M. Fitch was an Army general, and her uncle, Millard Tydings and cousin, Joseph Tydings were both US senators from Maryland. She grew up in Washington DC on the embassy party circuit so toasting was and is a staple in her family life as was travel.

Of Welsh descent she is just finishing the last of a trilogy of Arthurian fantasy books for young adults although she tends to regard them as non-fiction. She has long black hair with a white streak in front, brown eyes and is somewhere between Catherine Zeta Jones and death. Everything else changes regularly without notice. When not traveling she resides in South Florida with her husband, Ted and Sinbad their Ragdoll cat.

You can reach Jennifer by visiting her website at www.toasts.org or via e-mail at jrconover1@aol.com.

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