Claire Cook's Blog, page 6
September 25, 2020
Beach Sunrise
Sunrise on my walk this morning. I hope it lifts your spirits the way it did mine.
(If you can’t see the photo, go to ClaireCook.com/blog.)
xxxxxClaire
Claire Cook wrote her first novel in her minivan when she was 45. At 50, she walked the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of the adaptation of her second novel, Must Love Dogs, starring Diane Lane and John Cusack, which is now a 7-book series. Claire is the New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Amazon bestselling author of 20 books as well as a sought-after reinvention speaker. Read excerpts and find out more at ClaireCook.com/read.
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September 19, 2020
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”—Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Thank you and rest in peace, RBG.
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September 6, 2020
The Wildwater Walking Club: Step by Step!
Hi Everybody,
I know 2020 is a year that many of us might have skipped right over if we could have, but I hope you’ve been able to find at least a little bit of a bright side. For me, after battling COVID (my husband Jake and I are both fine now!), I really had to struggle to find one. The world can feel pretty dark and overwhelming right now.
And then I started hearing from my fantabulous readers, asking when my next book was coming out, because they could really use a fun, inspiring read right about now!
So thank you from the bottom of my heart for reminding me what my life’s work, my late-blooming second career, is all about. YOU! And writing books that I hope will make you laugh and see yourself as they inspire and encourage you in your own next chapter.
How crazy is this: My first book was published in 2000, and now, 20 years later (how can it be?!?) in 2020, I’m so proud to tell you that my 20th book, The Wildwater Walking Club: Step by Step, Book 3 of The Wildwater Walking Club series, is out in the world! If I were a betting woman, I know what numbers I’d be playing!
The craziest part is that being an author is the career I almost didn’t have, the thing I wanted more than anything else, the thing I was most afraid to try. So if you have a buried dream, my advice is to dig it up and go for it! I know how hard it can be to focus right now when so many of us are feeling like anxious shut-ins, but if you take even one step a day toward your goal, it can make a huge difference. (And you might want to read—or reread—my Never Too Late: Your Roadmap to Reinvention to help you get a plan!)
Here’s a little bit about my new novel, The Wildwater Walking Club: Step by Step, which I’m thrilled to say is Amazon’s #1 New Release in Walking and also the #1 New Release in Women’s Health:
They thought they’d have their lives all figured out by now. But change is blowing in along with the crisp fall air, and they’re finding out that life for 40-to-forever women is not for sissies. Hitting the road again might be just what The Wildwater Walking Club needs.
Instead of focusing on actually finding some health coach clients, Noreen is dividing her time between sabotaging her relationship with Rick and disaster-fantasizing about ending up living in a tent by the side of the road. Tess is ready to downsize, but can she really figure out how to move on and live small? Rosie is completely overwhelmed with life on the lavender farm, and it doesn’t help matters that Rosie’s dad and Noreen’s mom are conducting most of their romantic interludes at her house.
Join Noreen, Tess and Rosie as they walk and talk, talk and walk, share their secrets, and learn to take it step by step. You’ll be lacing up your own sneakers in no time!
Here are the links to buy your copy of The Wildwater Walking Club: Step by Step:
Paperback
Kindle
Nook
Apple Books
Kobo
GooglePlay
I hope you enjoy it! And I’m so grateful for all the kind words from early readers:
“Claire Cook tells a story in a way that makes us feel like we are part of the plot. I was laughing out loud at one point and we can all use that right now. Sit back, put your feet up and enjoy.”—Sharon
“Like me in this time of pandemic, Noreen is dealing with life issues and trying to find her way. The title, Step by Step, really sums it up.”—Kathie
“The adventures of Noreen, Tess and Rosie are heart-warming and hilarious! You can always count on these women to lift your spirits.”—Patricia
“What could be more welcome at the end of summer than another winner from Claire Cook? Her wit, wisdom and insight are a delight as she continues to share the adventures of our friends of the Wildwater Walking Club.”—Joan
“In addition to the colorful locations depicted and the well-fleshed characters, the bond between the three women is profound as they share an inseparable closeness.”—Nancy
“It was refreshing and validating to go through Noreen’s ups and downs and see it’s not always smooth. So, it’s not just me?! Yes! All too often characters have it all together and leave me feeling somehow less-than. All these women have their struggles, especially protagonist Noreen. Alas, she’s human, just like me.”—Candace
“Claire has a truly exceptional ability of making her characters real and approachable. The feeling that I am really sitting on my front stairs waiting for my friends to show up for a walk and OMG did they really go without me.”—Susan
“Some books feel like a visit with an old friend, and The Wildwater Walking Club: Step by Step is definitely one of those books.”—Laurie
“I’m really hoping there is a book 4 so this story continues. Claire Cook does not disappoint.”—Rae
xxxxxClaire
Claire Cook wrote her first novel in her minivan when she was 45. At 50, she walked the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of the adaptation of her second novel, Must Love Dogs, starring Diane Lane and John Cusack, which is now a 7-book series. Claire is the New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Amazon bestselling author of 20 books as well as a sought-after reinvention speaker. Read excerpts and find out more at ClaireCook.com/read.
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August 31, 2020
Dawn at the Beach
My favorite way to start the day. Have a great week, everybody!
xxxxxClaire
Claire Cook wrote her first novel in her minivan when she was 45. At 50, she walked the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of the adaptation of her second novel, Must Love Dogs, starring Diane Lane and John Cusack, which is now a 7-book series. Claire is the New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Amazon bestselling author of 20 books as well as a sought-after reinvention speaker. Read excerpts and find out more at ClaireCook.com/read.
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August 16, 2020
Cat Comfort
“Cats are connoisseurs of comfort.” -James Herriot (Clockwise from L: Sunshine, Squiggy, Pebbles (their mom)
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August 1, 2020
Rabbit, Rabbit!
It’s hard to even remember what day it is right now, but this little marsh bunny popped up on my morning walk to remind me it’s August 1st. Rabbit, Rabbit! Hope it brings us all some good luck this month!
xxxxxClaire
Claire Cook wrote her first novel in her minivan when she was 45. At 50, she walked the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of the adaptation of her second novel, Must Love Dogs, starring Diane Lane and John Cusack, which is now a 7-book series. Claire is the New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Amazon bestselling author of 19 books as well as a sought-after reinvention speaker. Read excerpts and find out more at ClaireCook.com/read.
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July 18, 2020
John Lewis
“Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime.”
Rest in peace. #goodtrouble
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June 6, 2020
Better Than This
“People of power, privilege, and moral conscience must stand up and say ‘no more’ to a racially discriminatory police and justice system, immoral economic disparities between whites and blacks, and government actions that undermine our unified democracy. We are responsible for creating a world of peace and equality for ourselves and future generations. We need a government as good as its people, and we are better than this.”—President Jimmy Carter
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Claire Cook wrote her first novel in her minivan when she was 45. At 50, she walked the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of the adaptation of her second novel, Must Love Dogs, starring Diane Lane and John Cusack, which is now a 7-book series. Claire is the New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Amazon bestselling author of 19 books as well as a sought-after reinvention speaker. Read excerpts and find out more at ClaireCook.com/read.
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May 17, 2020
My COVID Story
Hi Everybody,
I hope you’re hanging in there! This is such a challenging time for all of us, in so many different ways.
I went back and forth about sharing my own COVID-19 story, because I know many of you are going through or have gone through worse things. But ultimately I decided that I should, just in case there’s something in it that might be useful to you.
Even though we’re out of the woods now, I’m still kind of shocked that my husband Jake and I got COVID. We’re healthy and we were so, so careful. We washed our hands. We disinfected surfaces and packages. We social distanced extra early. We walked before sunrise in isolated areas, where we often never saw another person, even from a distance. The whole nine yards.
And then it happened anyway. I was really sick, but Jake was really, really sick. I spiked a fever right away. Jake had severe gastrointestinal symptoms and his fever kicked in later. He also had terrifying episodes of delirium three nights in a row. I’ll spare you the rest of the gory details, but basically we had symptoms for 21 days. It was pretty awful—just when we thought we were getting better, another wave would hit.
A few nuggets, in case they’re helpful :
– As soon as we knew we were going down, we had a conversation about whether, if things got bad, we wanted to go to the hospital or to stay home and fight. We both felt strongly that we wanted to stay home, for lots of reasons that made sense to us personally. Jake got so sick that I honestly wasn’t sure if this was the right decision at several points, but I knew it was his decision. In hindsight, it was a good conversation to have.
– I was glad I’d ordered a basic thermometer (like this one) early enough to actually get it delivered in time to use it if we needed it. The last time we owned a thermometer was decades ago when our kids were little. Knowing how high our fevers were reassured us that our bodies were fighting hard and helped us chronicle the trajectory. (Days 7, 8 and 9 were the worst.)
– We’d been hearing so much about respiratory issues that we were blindsided by Jake’s severe gastrointestinal symptoms, which we now know happen for 25-35% of people with COVID. He’s thin and still lost 19 pounds, mostly from vomiting. Pedialyte, which again we haven’t had in the house since the kids were babies, saved him from a trip to the hospital for IV fluids. (Jake sincerely hopes he will never have to drink that stuff again!)
– Finally, I think one of our rescue cats might have had the virus, too. We may never know for sure, but Sunshine got sick during the same time period we did and had similar symptoms. The good news was it didn’t last long, and from everything I’ve read, humans can give it to their pets, but pets can’t give it to their humans.
I hope you don’t get this, and if you do, I hope that you have a happy ending to your COVID-19 story like we did. For me, the lessons of this pandemic have been to go with the flow (not my strong suit!), to live each day with gratitude, not to try to press my opinions on others, to remember to be kind because we’re all doing the best we can, and that sometimes the most helpful thing you can say is I’m thinking of you.
I’m thinking of you!
xxxxxClaire
Claire Cook wrote her first novel in her minivan when she was 45. At 50, she walked the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of the adaptation of her second novel, Must Love Dogs, starring Diane Lane and John Cusack, which is now a 7-book series. Claire is the New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Amazon bestselling author of 19 books as well as a sought-after reinvention speaker. Read excerpts and find out more at ClaireCook.com/read.
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May 7, 2020
Full Flower Moon
So amazing to see the Full Flower Moon at dawn this morning. It’s the final supermoon of 2020.
Stay safe, everybody.
xxxxxClaire
Claire Cook wrote her first novel in her minivan when she was 45. At 50, she walked the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of the adaptation of her second novel, Must Love Dogs, starring Diane Lane and John Cusack, which is now a 7-book series. Claire is the New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Amazon bestselling author of 19 books as well as a sought-after reinvention speaker. Read excerpts and find out more at ClaireCook.com/read.
Thanks for sharing!
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