Interview: How to Love Books with Claire Cook
Claire Cook is an inspirational author of Must Love Dogs, and other bestsellers. She did this at the prime age of 45. We talk about her journey and her new upcoming book. She felt it was worthwhile to follow her passions.
Below is a summary of our interview:
Quote
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” — George Eliot
Her Journey
Claire is one of eight kids. She grabbed “writer” right away when she was a little girl. Her first story was published when she was 6. She was the one in high school writing poems. When she went to college, she majored in film and creative writing. Then she graduated and thought she could go write a book with her degree. However, she choked and didn’t do it.
So for decades, she hid from that lifelong goal. But she did a lot of other awesome things like open ocean rowing with middle schoolers, doing multicultural games and dancing. Fast forward decades and suddenly she’s at her daughter’s swim practice at 5:30 in the morning.
That whole long New England winter she wrote the draft of her first novel. After her second novel, which was Must Love Dogs, she was walking at the premiere of the movie which started. She was only 50 years old.
Low Point
Before she did it, the anxiety of making the decision, she was afraid to take the leap. It’s the perfectionism in all of us that can get to all of us. Just get your work out there.
Aha Moment
She had almost lived her whole life and never once go for it. Her first book was not a hit. It was published with a tiny publishing house, but she was still a success. Because the first one was well reviewed, agents started approaching her. Her second book had overnight offers. Claire was just a teacher, but suddenly she can afford to do this for a living. To make a living at your art – it doesn’t get any better than that.
Claire’s work now
She has been making a living as a writer since 2000. Her books are fun. Claire has read widely and voraciously. As a writer, she likes making people laugh and recognize things in their lives in her books. She writes about our lives outside the “formal front door.” Beach reads – you can call them. There are also moments of heart. She’s best known for Must Love Dogs, but she has many more including Life’s a Beach, Seven Year Switch and Best Staged Plans. Her favorite book has always been the next one she will write. She can’t pick a favorite, but the next one is going to be better.
Claire is also really active on social networking. She brings her readers into her books. In return, her readers give her a gift of this midlife career of hers.
What’s exciting Claire now
She’s looking forward to doing more speaking and writing the next book.
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Books Claire Recommends:
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Writing a little every day. 2 pages a day, 7 days a week.
Helpful Person:
Her mother who died when Claire was 10, but she knew Claire was a writer and she believed in Claire.
Internet Resource:
What’s Your Purpose?
To share and to allow her readers to feel a little bit better about their lives.
Where to follow Claire
Visit Clairecook.com and you can find her on Twitter.
Parting Words
Rise above the negativity. Every day somebody is gonna tell you why you can’t do what you want to do, but rise above it.
One More Thing
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