Smiling at the audience assembled at the Thurber House “Evening with Authors,” at the Columbus College of Art and Design, Boston native Claire Cook captivated her audience with the sense of humor which launched her career as the author of comedic novels “Ready to Fall” and “Must Love Dogs.”
Cook began her writing by devoting four hours a day to taking her daughter to morning and evening swim lessons.
“My daughter was a national swimmer — I don’t know if you have a talented athlete in the family, but it’s awful. I used to sit in my Ford Windstar with a legal pad, and I began to write,” Cook said.
She said she thought she would go crazy sitting in the van for so many hours. Although she used the book as a means to entertain herself, she found a rekindled passion for writing, she said.
“When I graduated from college, I thought it was like giving birth — I thought that a novel, fully formed, would occur. When that didn’t, I thought I was a bad writer, so I didn’t write for 20 years,” she said.
Instead, Cook worked in the Boston Montessori school system for 16 years, teaching open-ocean rowing and creative writing. Teaching was a means for her to tap into her creative abilities while pouring her life into her students. However, as soon as her first book “Ready to Fall” was published in 2000, life changed — or at least her income did.
“It’s not about the money to me — I still drive a Honda Civic,” she said.
Now earning 16 times her salary as a teacher, Cook hasn’t drastically changed her lifestyle. Going to restaurants with her husband, Cook continues to eavesdrop on other people’s dinner conversations to gather “more material,” as she puts it.
Cook’s 19-year-old son tells journalists that his mother’s writing isn’t “his genre,” while her daughter describes Cook’s writing as “not having enough compound sentences.” Yet few non-family members are criticizing Cook’s style. Her latest 2002 comedy, “Must Love Dogs,” was published last year and follows Sarah Hurlihy, a middle-aged woman recovering from divorce. Hurlihy, like Cook, comes from an Irish family of eight children. After she places a personal ad in the paper, Cook’s warm, authentic sense of humor lends to the twisted journey of humorous events.
Using her optimistic outlook on life, she incorporates her experiences in her books. These everyday experiences are part of the appeal, Cook said.
“I’m writing about the normal suburban life; I’m writing about the life people are living,” she said. “I didn’t start writing when I was 20 years old, so I’m using different material from other authors.”
This material is what makes her appealing to young and old alike. Approaching both the pains and beauties in life, her deep smile portrays a life of mirth.
Now staying at home to work, she makes the most of her touring opportunities. Traveling to animal shelters and speaking engagements in schools, Cook uses her talents and good fortune to benefit others.
“It’s good to get out and do some fun, funky things,” she said. “My kids are fascinated with the fact that I have a life. They can’t believe it.”
One memorable e-mail came from a student at a school she visited.
“‘Thanks for letting me know that even if I don’t write until I’m really, really old, it’s okay,'” Cook said, quoting the letter and laughing.
Cook tries to give back to students or potential future novelists whenever she can, because with touring engagements and deadline pressures, there’s no time to teach.
“It’s so funny,” she said. “When my first book, ‘Ready to Fall,’ was published, my students were like, ‘She’s the gym teacher; anyone can get published.’ ”
This fact belittles her talents and charm, not to mention comedic timing. As Cook shares her life and the different paths which have landed her as a recognized novelist, her art stems from an understanding of her strengths and limitations.
“I’m trying to write books that people can’t put down. I’m not looking to write books that The New York Times calls ‘brilliant,’ ” Cook said.
“I’m the luckiest person in the whole world right now. I’m grateful, humble and having a blast,” she said.
