2007

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFCC80" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="1328e8e3.jpg"> <div> <IMG SRC="13395810.png" border=0 width="149" height="129" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>back to</B><B> </B><A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Blog and Photos"><U><B>B</B></U></A><A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Blog and Photos"><U><B>log</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FF9900" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="13800c82dwnjbj.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>ClaireCook.com      </B></FONT> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#3366FF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>   |     <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ClaireCook.com "><U>home</U></A></FONT></div> <div> 2007   |   <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2006"><U>2006</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2005"><U>2005</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2004"><U>2004</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2003"><U>2003</U></A></div> <div> 2007</div> <div> December 11, 2007 @ 4:50  PM</div> <bR> <div> Sorry I haven't posted anything lately, but life has been crazy. I promise I'll answer some more aspiring writer questions soon, and also send out a newsletter. And maybe even clean my house and do some Christmas shopping.</div> <bR> <div> I'll be on Greater Boston with Emily Rooney tomorrow night at 7 on WGBH, along with Tom Perrotta and Julia Glass, talking about holiday books. </div> <bR> <div> And I just finished judging the Family Circle fiction contest (Jodi Picoult did it last year.) The winner will be announced in the March issue.</div> <bR> <div> I'm also trying to catch up on reader mail, so if you haven't heard from me, I promise I'm working on it! Here's a really nice one:</div> <bR> <div> "Hi Claire - I just want to say that I just finished Multiple Choice and </div> <div> absolutely loved it. Of course it might have something to do with the </div> <div> fact that my granddaughter is 17, a senior and applying to colleges. </div> <div> Boy did you nail her. Her poor mother (my daughter) is rapidly aging. </div> <div> I have bought the book for her for Xmas - she also has a 15 year old son </div> <div> who likes to cook. Have you been spying on my family in Cumberland, </div> <div> RI???? (-:</div> <div> I also enjoyed Life's a Beach.</div> <div> Keep writing - you really are good."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> November 11, 2007 @ 10:45 AM</div> <bR> <div> Still lots of questions to answer from the writing workshop. I've been hard at work on the copyedited manuscript of my new novel, <I>Summer Blowout, </I>but YAY, it's off to Voice and I'm back. Okay, here's one:</div> <bR> <div> Q <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Should you let other people -- relatives or friends -- read your writing and react to it while you're writing? Would that help you?</FONT></div> <bR> <div> A <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >It depends. First of all, everybody's an expert, but what do they really know? To tell you the truth, when I first started writing, I probably showed too many people early drafts, and then I'd rewrite to please them, instead of listening to myself. I've gotten better at trusting myself with each book, I think.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> But, then again, there's nothing like a good reader in your corner, which I think is a skill than can be unrelated to being a good writer. I'm not a great reader -- I just want to tell the writer how <I>I'd </I>write his or her book, which is so not the point -- it's not my book! But maybe that friend of yours who reads like crazy and is kind and generous and honest might be able to put his or her finger on what isn't working, and really help you out. </div> <bR> <div> It's definitely a challenge in the beginning. Now I'm lucky enough to have a fabulous professionals who are my support team, and I can count on them for brilliant suggestions and total honesty, but in the beginning you have to cobble that together. </div> <bR> <div> And making it even more complicated, sometimes sending some pages to somebody to read is a great excuse not to get any writing done -- because you're waiting to hear what they have to say first. Books don't get written if you're not actively writing -- I hate that!</div> <bR> <div> So, I'd say maybe keep it to yourself while you write the first draft, and then do what Stephen King suggests in <I>On Writing</I>: send copies of your rmanuscript to six of your friends and family members. If they all say the same thing about something, listen. If only one says it, ignore it and move on. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> November 6, 2007 @ 2:01 PM</div> <bR> <div> Here's another question I received at the writing workshop:</div> <bR> <div> Q <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Courier New" >What do your revisions generally entail? Does your editor send back a</FONT></div> <div> stack of pages with red marks -- is it mostly line editing or a complete reworking of whole sections? And, as the writer of the original words, how do you feel about the edits?? I'm sure it's different for every author, but I'd be interested to hear about your experience.</div> <bR> <div> A <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Courier New" >Revisions are all of those things -- and then some! In the first stage, I receive an editorial letter that suggests more general changes. Maybe a certain character isn't working, or there could be too many characters, or something is boring or just doesn't work. Sure, it's hard to hear things like that, but if nobody tells you the truth, then the book won't get better. So that stage feels like a puzzle, and I mull and mull and try to figure out how I can fix these things, knowing everything I change might impact the entire book. It's a lot of work, but my editor and associate editor are telling me WHAT to change and not HOW to change it, so I still have all the creative freedom in the world. They might make a specific suggestion, and if it feels like a good idea I'll use it, but often the suggestion opens the door to another idea that makes more sense to me. It can feel collaborative, but in a good way, and if you have a good editor, it's not at all suffocating.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> I work really hard on this stage, so usually my second set of revisions moves on to line edits. Again, I feel free to deal with each point in my own way, and every single editorial comment helps the book, if only to tell me someone else might not understand what I was trying to do here either, so I'd better roll up my sleeves and do some more work on it. </div> <bR> <div> Then there's the copyedited manuscript, which involves more fine-tuning. Then the final stage is reading the galley proofs, which is the last time changes can be made, so that's a little scary, but at the same time, it's feels good to know how far the book has come</div> <bR> <div> So it's all challenging, but if it were easy, who wouldn't want a book of their own on the shelf!</div> <bR> <div> November 3, 2007 @ 11:46 AM</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="1ca902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div>  Many thanks to Don Shields for taking photos and videotaping at the Scituate Library.</div> <bR> <div> November 1, 2007 @ 9:32 AM</div> <bR> <div> So many nice emails from my writing workshop. Here's one :</div> <bR> <div> <B>"You are a gracious, entertaining and inspirational speaker. I love when people bring the whole of themselves to what they love, and then share it with others. Thank you. I signed up for the message board, and will also leave a comment there."</B></div> <bR> <div> And here's the message she left at the message board at <A HREF="http://http://everywomansvoice.com/?q=node/264" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://http://everywomansvoice.com/?q=no"><U>everywomansvoice.com</U></A>:</div> <bR> <div> <B>"If you ever have an opportunity to hear Claire Cook speak, do not miss it. I have seen her three times now, most recently last night at her hometown library, where she came out to speak on Finding the Muse. Charming, inspirational, funny and as warm as....well....I'd rather not reach for a metaphor unprepared.....but let's say, very, very warm, Claire fills the room with laughter. You can feel her passion for writing, books, sharing her craft., and her hope that she may be able to help you on the way to your dreams. The number one thing I heard Claire say last night about the writing life? Don't wait. Two pages a day, seven days a week turn into novels. Thanks Claire. - Kathy"</B></div> <bR> <div> You can visit Kathy's blog at <A HREF="http://kaleidoscopereflections.wordpress.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://kaleidoscopereflections.wordpress"><U>kaleidoscopereflections.wordpress.com</U></A></div> <bR> <div> Also posted at <A HREF="http://everywomansvoice.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://everywomansvoice.com"><U>everywomansvoice.com</U></A>:</div> <bR> <div> <B>"Last night I heard Claire speak at the Scituate Public Library. At times I felt she was speaking of me, "hiding from the writing". Her down-to-earth advice was both reassuring and inspiring. No more excuses for me! Thanks Claire."</B></div> <bR> <div> And here are some more nice email comments I've received:</div> <bR> <div> <B>"I wanted to say thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge through a combination of humor and reality! I feel much more comfortable knowing I too can write in my minivan while waiting for my daughter at dance class in Scituate for 3 hours a week lol.  Oddly enough, I live right down the street from the pool you were talking about in Duxbury, so who knows, maybe I'll have a similar story some day...might inspire me to get a new car though!!!"</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>"Claire, You were such an inspiration last night! I've had a black cloud around me. Last night I was lucky enought to win your book filled with blank pages. I have a story to write and you have inspired me to write it! I have a true story that needs to be told for all to read! Those blank pages will be filled and My story will be published thanks to you and all of your inspiration. I will keep in touch as Things progress."</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>"Just wanted to say a quick thank you for speaking to all of us last night. Your story is such an inspiration to so many of us. Thank you for sharing your story, tricks of the trade and humor. It was a wonderful evening and just what I needed to continue with the book I'm trying to write about the restaurant my family owned for a 11 years. I'm so glad for all your success and wish you the best for the upcoming release. I can't wait to read Summer Blowout!"</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>"Last night was fantastic! You had the whole crowd in the palms of your hands. Anybody who entered that room after everyone was seated would say, 'WOW! Look at all the people!' But ... there was something else in that room that was more important than the humans in the chairs, and that was PASSION! They brought it with them; they were all fired up when they arrived ... and more fired up when they left; you did that to them. You made them feel like everything is possible if you're willing to do all that's necessary to achieve your goals. If they weren't believers when they came, you turned them into believers before they left. </B></div> <div> <B>Why'd they come? They wanted to meet Claire; be Claire; find out what makes Claire tick; how she made it and what they have to do to become as successful as she. You opened yourself up to them and gave them not only lots of inside tips that will help them become successful, but HOPE! "</B></div> <bR> <div> Okay, and now, as promised, an answer to one of the questions aspiring writers wrote down for me on index cards at the workshop, with more to follow in the days to come.</div> <bR> <div> Q<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#00FFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B> "At what point in your writing do you come up with your book titles? Is it easy to name-then-go, or have you written a book without ever knowing what you'd title it? I've actually 'shopped' by title, so I know it's important." -Christina</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> A<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > What a great question, Christina! First of all, I totally agree that titles are so important when we're "shopping" for a book. And I know some authors who can't really get going until they have a title in place -- it seems to crystalize the idea for them and allow them to move forward in their writing. </FONT></div> <bR> <div> For me, the title just happens when it happens, and I'd never get a novel written if I waited around for a good title before I got started. So I dive right in to the book and brainstorm titles along the way -- sometimes hundreds of them! Many of them are awful, but lots of them could work. What it comes down to, in the end, is one question: Which title will make the most readers "shop" for your book? Titles, like covers, are essentially about marketing, and coming up with a good one is like coming up with a good advertising slogan. Some authors are good at it, and some, not so much! So, often a book that is sold with one title attached to it gets another title along the way, thanks to the smart people on the author's publishing team -- and it's a good thing! I've been lucky enough to title all of mine so far, but I'm always open to a better idea, and I'd encourage you to be, too.</div> <bR> <div> October 31, 2007 @ 11:11 AM</div> <bR> <div> Happy Halloween! A packed house and what a blast at the Grub Street South at Buttonwood at the Scituate Library writing workshop last night! Thanks for coming, everybody -- and a special thanks to all the aspiring writers who took the time to write down a question or two for me before they left. I'll start answering them in this space soon, and also use them for future workshops.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="1a690090.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="265" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1a290f50.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="245" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> October 24, 2007 @ 7:23 AM</div> <bR> <div> I think I'm finally up on email, so if I somehow missed yours, please send it again! <A HREF="mailto:emailclaire@clairecook.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:emailclaire@clairecook.com"><U>emailclaire@clairecook.com</U></A> is the best address to use, or use the form at the left. Thanks!</div> <bR> <div> I'm just about finished with the revisions on my next novel, <I>Summer Blowout.</I> Just the copyedits and the galley proofs to go. So now I'm reading like crazy and thinking about the book I'll write next. Also walking a lot and enjoying being home for a change. Love this fall weather....</div> <bR> <bR> <div> October 17, 2007 @ 11:24 AM</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1ce2c040.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="260" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="7" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Such a fabulous time at the Amelia Island Book Festival! I met so many great people, and can't wait to go back again and see it truly become THE BOOK ISLAND!!!! To find out more, go to <A HREF="http://www.bookisland.org/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.bookisland.org/"><U>bookisland.org</U></A>.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="1d0c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <IMG SRC="1d2c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  </div> <div> The riverboat luncheon was so much fun!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1d3c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <IMG SRC="1d4c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <IMG SRC="1d696b40.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="180" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> And it's always great to see other authors.  Elaine Pinkerton in center, Laura Duksta on right.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1d7a0d60.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="214" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> With the wonderful Barbara Mead from Reading Group Choices! If your book group is looking for suggestions for your next book, go to <A HREF="http://www.readinggroupchoices.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.readinggroupchoices.com"><U>www.readinggroupchoices.com</U></A>!</div> <bR> <div> And so many nice emails:</div> <bR> <div> <B>"I had such a great time on the river boat, and you are a hoot and such an excellent speaker Claire. My book group talked about nothing else on the long ride home. Meeting you was the high point of the weekend and we cannot wait to read your next book and have it on our schedule for June. Thanks for being you."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"You were the hit of the island, my dear. When are you packing up and moving to Fernandina Beach? It's a wonderful place to live!"</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Thank you for being so nice to my daughter and signing a book for her teacher telling her she deserves all A's. She agrees!"</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> October 2, 2007 @ 6:04 PM</div> <bR> <div> Thanks to everyone for resending your emails. So many nice ones -- loved this:</div> <bR> <div> "I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed meeting you and listening your wonderful story. I am a late blooming reader. I am enjoying it thoroughly. " </div> <bR> <div> And this:</div> <bR> <div> "I know I have a book in me but I wasn't sure I'd ever write it. I listened to your talk and now I think I can. You should be a motivational speaker, either that or a stand up comic. But then you would never get your next book done. RIght? See, I was listening!" </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> September 27, 2007 @ 11:25 AM</div> <bR> <div> Yikes! Another crash! I opened up my website email to find a flurry of notes from yesterday's luncheon, and just as I was starting to answer them, the mail server crashed and I lost them all. So, please send again so I can answer you -- and in the meantime, I'll see if I can solve my techno issues.....</div> <bR> <div> September 27, 2007 @ 10:49 AM</div> <bR> <div> Such a great day yesterday at the Reading with Robin fundraiser luncheon for the American Cancer Society. So many wonderful women turned out and lots of money was raised for a wonderful cause. Robin is just the best, and if you haven't listened to her show yet, set your alarm this Saturday -- go to r<A HREF="http://readingwithrobin.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://readingwithrobin.com/"><U>eadingwithrobin. com</U></A> for the details!</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>   <IMG SRC="1d82ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="1b12ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1daa0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="1dba0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <IMG SRC="1dca0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1dda0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="1dea0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="1dfa0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  <IMG SRC="1e0a0d50.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="213" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="6" VSPACE="0">  </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> And how nice of Kathy Sherry, owner of Jardiniere, 176 Main Street in East Greenwich, RI, to bring me a present! Aren't they gorgeous!?! Finally, a pair of truly formal flip flops. I could wear them with an evening gown. Of course, I'd have to buy an evening gown first! Anyway, stop by and say hi for me next time you're in East Greenwich!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> September 26, 2007 @ 7:12 AM</div> <bR> <div> Thanks to Tammy for resending her lost email: </div> <bR> <div> <B>"It was wonderful to meet you! I am so pleased I finally got the chance to see you, thanks to the Dover Library. And of course to you for taking the time to meet your readers while on "book tour". I am sure you hear it all the time, but you are wicked funny and soooo much fun to be with. I can see why your books are so much FUN!!! After I left you I went right to my Mom & Dad's to give my Mom her book. SHE WAS THRILLED! I told her all about you and how much fun you are. Thanks again... for making my Mom happy too. I will surprise my daughter Jessica with her signed book when she comes home on her next visit. I can not wait till your next book comes out. You can bet I will be at one of those signings too. Maybe this time my Jessica and Kimberly will be able to go with me. Well, just wanted to say "thanks" for everything. You are awesome... keep those Bestselling books coming."</B></div> <bR> <div> September 25, 2007 @ 8:01 AM</div> <bR> <div> Ah, technology. I was just catching up on email, and my mail server crashed and a lovely email from Tammy from Upton disappeared right before my eyes, never to surface again. So, Tammi, if you're out there, I'm sooooooo sorrry, and please email me again.</div> <bR> <div> Here are some others....</div> <bR> <div> <B>"Life's a Beach was my first Claire Cook book and now I've zipped through them all and loved them each and all. When can I feed my addiction again?"</B></div> <bR> <div> Thanks! Right now it looks like my next novel will be published in June. Keep watchng my website -- I'll share the details as soon as I have them....</div> <bR> <div> <B>"Love your books. I'm an aspiring writer. What advice do you have for me?"</B></div> <bR> <div> If you missed my aspiring writers page, click here. If you live in the Southeast, I'll be at the Amelia Island Book Festival October 4-7. I'm giving the keynote address at a luncheon, which is sold out, but there's also a "Chat with Claire Cook" on Oct. 6 at 3 PM, so come find me and I'll be happy to chat with you about your writing. If you live in New England, I'll be teaching a free writing workshop on Oct. 30 at 7 PM at the Scituate, MA library. Make sure you call ahead and reserve a spot, since there's limited space and it filled up fast last time I did it, so you have to be on the list. </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="1e190080.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="264" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> So much fun at the Dover Public Library last week!</div> <bR> <div> <B>"Claire Cook's infectious humor charmed everyone - days later, people were still commenting on her lively spirit and warm personality. Her story was inspiring to all of us would-be writers and storytellers, and it was refreshing to meet someone whose success hasn't tarnished her sense of self."</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Jane Granatino</B></div> <div> <B>Acting Director</B></div> <div> <B>Dover Town Library</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1e290b80.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="184" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div>  And what a great turnout at the Mashpee Women's Club luncheon!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> September 15, 2007 @ 5:53 PM</div> <bR> <div> So many nice people have taken the time to email. Thanks -- your encouragment means so much!</div> <bR> <div> "I want to thank you so much for Life's a Beach (superb title).  I tend to read “serious” (translation - uncreative) “geek” books in economics, politics, philosophy, and social matters.  It was pure wicked pleasure to read your book -filled with loveable self-centered characters; incorrigible Boyfriends (both feline and human); normal dysfunctional families; set in exotic locales (California; Cape Cod, and of course, let us not forget Marshbury, Massachusetts).  Your book, although highly entertaining, was still quite educational.  (FROG, OLA, Gregorian chants, and gaffers are part of my newly acquired vocabulary that I plan to pepper into my conversations with family and friends in order to impress them.)"</div> <bR> <div> "...I thank you Claire for giving me something special to share with my sister.  I plan to send my sister a copy of <I>Life's a Beach</I> that you personally signed.  I anticipate many meaningful discussions with her about your book, and most especially to resolve the fundamental question:  WHICH ONE OF US IS GINGER AND WHICH ONE IS GERI?  There is only one correct Answer:  I AM GINGER "</div> <bR> <div> "I 've enjoyed Life's A Beach as my favorite thus far.The level of humor, the mastery of such clever dialogue -- you're soaring."</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1e4c8960.png" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="0"><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Garamond" >"I ... went to your website; I enjoyed it so much I thought I would send you a pic of my flipflops on vacation. For some reason I have always taken pictures of my feet in</FONT></div> <div> different, interesting places. These are my feet, dressed to the nines</div> <div> (tens?!?) in toenail polish and a TOE RING!!! I was such a floozy in</div> <div> Maui!!! I thought you would enjoy the photo and maybe immortalize my feet</div> <div> on vacation. They are now back home in Oregon, polishless,</div> <div> ringless,...socked and shoed...sigh....</div> <div> Thank you for writing such funny entertaining books."</div> <bR> <div> September 8, 2007 @ 8:23AM</div> <bR> <div> I took a break from working on revisions for my next novel to chat with the oh-so-wonderful Robin of Reading with Robin this morning. It's always so much fun to talk to her, and if you're a book lover and an early riser, you can listen to her show live from 7-8 AM on Saturdays, by going to <A HREF="http://readingwithrobin.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://readingwithrobin.com"><U>readingwithrobin.com</U></A> and clicking on the listen live link. I was on  today to talk up this event, which I absolutely can't wait to do. Such a great cause, and I know we'll have a blast!</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>Wednesday, September 26</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>12-3</B></I></div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:robin@readingwithrobin.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:robin@readingwithrobin.com"><U><I><B>Reading with Robin</B></I></U></A><I><B> Luncheon</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>to benefit</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>ACS Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk</B></I></div> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.readingwithrobin.blogspot.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.readingwithrobin.blogspot.com"><U><B><U>www.readingwithrobin.blogspot.com</U></B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <I><B>Crowne Plaza at the Crossing</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Warwick, Rhode Island</B></I></div> <bR> <div> And belatedly, here are some photos from Cape Cod Writers' Center. What a nice group of aspiring writers!</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="1a8902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Now that it's September, I guess I should move my Life's a Beach flip flop gallery to a less conspicuous location. Not that I have any intention of giving up my own personal flip flops this early, of course. I'm hoping I can get away with wearing them to the Reading with Robin luncheon in two weeks and to the Amelia Island Book Festival in October. Anyway, thanks to everyone who came out to see me with or without flip flops this summer -- your support means everything!</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1e6966e0.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="110" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="1e796710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="1e896710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B><IMG SRC="1e996710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></FONT></div> <div> <I><B> </B></I></div> <div> <IMG SRC="1ea96710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="1eb96710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="1ec96710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="1ed96710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </div> <div> <IMG SRC="1ee96710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="1ef96710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="1f096710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="1f196710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </div> <div> <IMG SRC="1f296710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="1f396710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="1f496710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="1f596710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  </div> <div> <IMG SRC="1f696710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="1f796710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="1f896970.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="151" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <IMG SRC="1fa96a30.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="163" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </div> <div> <IMG SRC="1fb96710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="1fc96710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="1fd96710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="1fe96710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </div> <div> <IMG SRC="1ff96710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="20096710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF6666" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="20196710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="20296710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="20396710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF6666" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="20496710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="20596710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="20696710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="20796710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="20896710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF6666" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="20996710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </FONT><IMG SRC="20a96710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="20b96710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="20c96710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> August 20, 2007 @ 8:12 AM</div> <bR> <div> I'm lost in revisions on my next novel, but will come up for air long enough to head down to <A HREF="http://capecodwriterscenter.org/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://capecodwriterscenter.org/"><U>Cape Cod Writers Center </U></A>later on Wednesday to teach "Finding the Muse" and then do a master class with ICM's Tina Wexler and Carole Goldberg, books editor of the Hartford Courant. I'm getting lots of email from former students saying they'll be back again. Can't wait to catch up with all of you, and I hope your writing is going well.</div> <bR> <div> August 12, 2007 @ 2:00 PM</div> <bR> <div> I'm catching up on my email. It's so great that readers who discovered my writing for the first time with <I>Life's a Beach</I>, are now reading the rest of my books. Thanks! Here's a nice note....</div> <bR> <div> "I<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > just finished "Multiple Choice", laughing til I cried. Thank you for such a fun read. I had just finished "A Thousand Splendid Suns" which had made me cry for the mistreated Afghan women, and although it's an excellent book, I needed something lighter and more related to my life. I've read all your books now and enjoyed them thoroughly."</FONT></div> <div>  </div> <div> Also, I posted an entry at EveryWomansVoice.com called "Sticking Up For Harry." To read it, go to <A HREF="http://www.everywomansvoice.com/?q=node/256" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.everywomansvoice.com/?q=node/"><U>http://www.everywomansvoice.com/?q=node/256 </U></A>, and while you're there, make sure you check out the rest of the Voice site.</div> <bR> <div> August 7, 2007 @ 8:13 AM</div> <bR> <div> Just realized I never posted last week's newsletter, so here it is. If yours isn't getting through to you, try adding newsletter@clairecook.com to your address book or safe senders list. And if you're not signed up, click here. </div> <bR> <div> Subject: Life's a Beach in August!</div> <bR> <div> Hi Everybody!</div> <bR> <div> Just a note to thank all the wonderful booksellers and librarians who hosted me and all the fabulous readers who came out to say hi on my Life's a Beach book tour. My life has been a total beach all summer! Pina Coladas (you ordered a “flip” for rum, a “flop” for no rum) served by cute college guys in hula skirts, a street studded with glow-in-the-dark shark signs, entire in-store beach scenes complete with sand, coolers, and beach chairs. If you'd like to see for yourself, just go to http://www.clairecook.com/id2.htm. And while you're there, make sure you find your feet on the Life's a Beach Walk of Fun! </div> <bR> <div> Lots of book groups came to my events to buy books before meeting to discuss Life's a Beach later in the summer. I hope you'll all send me photos so I can post them on my website. And, don't forget, Life's a Beach discussion questions are posted at http://clairecook.com/id26.htm. If your group has a question you think I should add to the page, please email that to me, too. Who knows, maybe it will make it into the book group discussion guide in the paperback!   </div> <bR> <div> There's still a month of summer left, so I hope you'll keep talking up Life's a Beach to your friends and family! Thanks to you, it's gone back for a third printing, so keep up the good work! I'm forever grateful to everyone at the other end of this newsletter for your support.</div> <div>  </div> <div> As soon as I catch my breath, I'll post a new essay at http://everywomansvoice.com. But don't wait for me -- check it out now and see what some of the other Voice authors have to say, and weigh in on the Voice message boards yourself!</div> <bR> <div> Have a great rest of the summer! I'll be heading into revisions on my next novel soon. I'll keep you posted!</div> <bR> <div> Thanks so much for forwarding this email to anyone and everyone who might be looking for a fun summer read. Talk to you soon, and thanks again!</div> <bR> <div> xxxxx,</div> <bR> <div> Claire</div> <bR> <bR> <div> August 6, 2007 @ 5:55PM</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="20dc80b0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="267" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="2" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="20ec8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Dog the Bounty Hunter selling <I>Life's a Beach</I>?? Only at Borders in Kingston, MA, where they've sold a record 220 copies!</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="20f2ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Having trounced their sister store in Braintree, these are the victory spoils!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> August 2, 2007 @ 11:02 AM</div> <bR> <div> Still playing catch up, but as soon as I finish writing a newsletter, I'm going to curl up and read for a week! I'm getting so much great email from so many nice readers. Here's one that just came in -</div> <bR> <div> "Dearest Claire,</div> <div> What a joy it was to meet you! I had a wonderful time & you were a hoot to talk to!</div> <div> I've posted your link on my Message Board. </div> <div> You have officially replaced Jill Conner Browne in our hearts.</div> <div> I am enjoying my pseudo-celebrity status from appearing on your website. LOL!</div> <div> Please visit DeLand again soon! You are truly genuine & that's hard to find now days!</div> <bR> <div> Devouring your book with love & laughter!"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> July 30, 2007 @ 12:28 PM</div> <bR> <div> Still finding photos, and I'm hoping I'll eventually find my kitchen counter underneath all the stuff that's piled up....</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2102ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2112ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Loved these Life's a Beach signs at Nantucket Bookworks, and they're even for sale at the store!</div> <bR> <div> July 28, 2007 @ 7: 22 AM</div> <bR> <div> I'm trying to catch up on all the email that's been piling up while I've been traveling. Some of my favorite snippets so far...</div> <bR> <div> "My husband gave me a copy of Life's a Beach which you autographed for him in Petoskey, Michigan. You wrote 'Happy Anniversary from that wonderful husband of yours.' He liked that. I thought the rest of the book was better."</div> <bR> <div> "I have already given the signed copy you personalized to my grandmother, Orene, who will be 99 July 31. She has finished the book and these were her words.  'I loved the book...it was so well written and everything was done in a mannerly fashion.....there wasn't anything in the book that was ugly .....it was a sweet novel.'"</div> <bR> <div> <B>"Dear Ms. Cook, Just wanted to tell you Life's a Beach is the only book my mother and I ever agreed on. Usually she has bad taste, but we both actually liked this one, keep up the good work and maybe I'll read your other ones now too."</B></div> <bR> <div> "Hi Claire, read your book while on vacation in Ohio and loved it. I will buy copies for my Mom and sister. Loved your mention of the Red Hatters, of which I am one! Best wishes for continued success with your book tour!"</div> <bR> <div> "I read "Life's a Beach" after seeing a blurb in Good Housekeeping Magazine about good summer reading. It is a great novel and I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters and their adventures. Life is too short (I am 55 already), not to take the time to say 'Thanks' to someone whose writing has touched our lives."</div> <bR> <div> "I loved the new book 'Life's a Beach'. As soon as I got home from the brunch at Atlantica I sat right down and read the whole thing. Finished about 2:00 AM. I have all of your books out on loan right now and still haven't seen my friend Amy to give her her autographed copy. Of course you stole the title from a book I was going to write but you beat me to it as I am a first class procrastinator. However, yours is better anyway. Lots of Luck."</div> <bR> <div> "Everybody's trying to borrow my copy of BEACH, but I am telling them to buy their own so you don't have to get a day job. See you at Cape Cod Writers Center, my last fun summer activity before I start my day job again- teaching. Remember the days when your life was really a beach????"</div> <bR> <div> So sweet. So funny. And of course I always wonder when people are trying to be funny and when it just happens. Maybe they wonder the same thing about me.</div> <bR> <div> And here's a link to a nice article I don't think I've posted yet...</div> <bR> <div> <U>http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070715/LIFE/707150301/1005</U></div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> July 27, 2007 @ 1: 06 PM</div> <bR> <div> More book tour photos...</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21296c80.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21396c80.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21496c80.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Flip flop sweaters from northern Michigan to Cape Cod!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="215075e0.jpg" border=0 width="263" height="350" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="12" VSPACE="0">  </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Robyn rocks at Tropical Nights at the Muse Bookshop in DeLand, Florida!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2162ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Number one on the bestseller list at Saturn Booksellers in Gaylord, MI!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2172ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="4" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2182ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Such a great, beachy display at Borders in Kingston, MA! And everybody loved those drinks with the umbrellas in them!</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2192ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Sisters at Saturn Booksellers in Gaylord, MI!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21a2ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Cousins at the Odyssey in South Hadley, MA</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21b2ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Old friends at the Vero Beach Book Center!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21c2ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> New friends at the Vero Beach Book Center!</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21d2ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21e2ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Fab decorations at the Florida Center for the Book in Fort Lauderdale!</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="21f075e0.jpg" border=0 width="263" height="350" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Such great signs at Nantucket Bookworks!</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2202ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Life's a beach at the Muse Bookshop in DeLand, FL!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> July 24, 2007 @ 11: 14 AM</div> <bR> <div> Home again, home again and downloading my book tour photos...</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2212ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> So much fun to be on the billboard at the Vero Beach Book Center!</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="222075e0.jpg" border=0 width="263" height="350" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="2232ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Andrew served pina coladas in a hula skirt (you ordered a "flip" for rum, a "flop" for no rum) and everyone who attended got a present at Saturn Booksellers in Gaylord, Michigan!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2242ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> A trail of flip flops led the way to my event at Nantucket Bookworks!</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="225fa4d0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="333" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Flip flops on the podium at my Florida Center for the Book event in Ft. Lauderdale!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> July 15, 2007 @ 1:49 PM</div> <bR> <div> I'm just back from Michigan long enough to unpack my suitcase, then pack it again for Florida. I'll catch up next week!</div> <bR> <div> In the meantime, check out this review  in today's Boston Globe: </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2007/07/16/a_fun_beach_novel_with_moments_of_depth/ " TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/"><U><U>http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2007/07/16/a_fun_beach_novel_with_moments_of_depth/</U></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2007/07/16/a_fun_beach_novel_with_moments_of_depth/ " TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/"><U> </U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> And scroll down to see a photo of my Saturn Booksellers event in today's Shelf Awareness:</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://news.shelf-awareness.com/nview.jsp?appid=411&j=247684 " TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://news.shelf-awareness.com/nview.js"><U><U>http://news.shelf-awareness.com/nview.jsp?appid=411&j=247684</U></U></A><A HREF="http://news.shelf-awareness.com/nview.jsp?appid=411&j=247684 " TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://news.shelf-awareness.com/nview.js"><U> </U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> July 2, 2007 @ 10:14 AM</div> <bR> <div> Just in case you missed it on GMA this morning! Heat Up Your Summer With This Reading List</div> <div> (You can also go to <A HREF="http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Books/story?id=3334008&page=1" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Books/story?id"><U>http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Books/story?id=3334008&page=1</U></A>)</div> <bR> <div> <B>"Figure out what books you should take on vacation this summer by checking out our reading list </B></div> <div> <B>from Good Morning America! </B></div> <div> <B>July 2, 2007 </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"As you pack for summer vacation, you may find it difficult to choose reading material. The selection can be overwhelming, but "Good Morning America" has compiled a summer reading list just for you. </B></div> <div> <B>Check out the titles in four genres. These are the best books you can have poolside, at the beach or in the bed this summer!"</B></div> <bR> <div> Mystery/Thriller</div> <div> <B><U>Killer Weekend by Ridley Pearson</U></B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B><U>Lean, Mean, Thirteen by Janet Evanovich</U></B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B><U>The Good Guy Dean Koontz</U></B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Beach Reads</div> <div> <B><U>Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him by Daniel Ganek</U></B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B><U>Life's a Beach by Claire Cook</U></B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>**********YAY!!!********</B></FONT></div> <div> <B><U>I Love You Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle</U></B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Literary Fiction</div> <div> <B><U>Maytrees by Annie Dillard</U></B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B><U>On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan</U></B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B><U>Falling Man by Don DeLillo</U></B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Biography/Memoir</div> <div> <B><U>Crashing Through by Robert Kurson</U></B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B><U>Anchored In Love by John Carter Cash</U></B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B><U>Animal, Vegetable, Mineral by Barbara Kingsolve </U></B></div> <div> Copyright © 2007 ABC News Internet Ventures</div> <bR> <bR> <div> July 1, 2007 @ 8:00 PM</div> <bR> <div> My latest newsletter. (Click here to get the next one.)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Subject: Life's a Beach on Good Morning America Tomorrow!<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Courier New" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Hi Everybody!</div> <bR> <div> I’m just touching down between book tour stops to dig myself out from under a mountain of email and to send a huge thank you to readers, booksellers and librarians -- so many old friends and new -- for taking time out of your busy lives to support Life’s a Beach and me. You rock! In fact, so much so that Voice has gone back for a second printing already! I’m forever grateful to all of you for getting the momentum going. People read the books their friends tell them they enjoyed, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you talking up my new one!</div> <bR> <div> I hope you’ll continue to spread the word to your family and friends. And if you know anyone in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Michigan or Florida, please tell them to put on their most creative flip flops (or not!) and come out to see me. I promise we’ll have a blast! (Go to <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Courier New" ><U>http://www.clairecook.com/id24.htm</U></FONT> to see where I’ll be on the second half of my book tour.) </div> <bR> <div> Much as I love making new friends, the good news is I’m home sweet home for a few days. The bad news is my luggage didn’t quite make it, though I guess that means I don’t have to do laundry until it shows up. And if it doesn’t, well, it’s hard to tell what I’ll miss most -- my beachy new luggage, my Margaret Mitchell House mug, the redneck survival gift basket from Evening at Emory (long story!), or my cell phone charger.</div> <bR> <div> Fortunately, I was smart enough to carry my camera with me, and I hope you’ll check out my book tour photos and see the updated flip flop photo gallery at <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Courier New" ><U>http://www.clairecook.com/id2.htm.</U></FONT></div> <bR> <div> And set your alarm to watch Good Morning America tomorrow! Life’s a Beach is part of their summer beach read round-up! YAHOO!! Keep your fingers crossed they don’t run out of time right before they get to it! Thanks!</div> <bR> <div> Thanks, too, to the readers who have taken the time to say a few kind words about Life’s a Beach at amazon.com, bn.com and the message boards at everywomansvoice.com. It really makes a difference. By the way, you can post your review anonymously at all three sites. (At amazon, there’s a place at the end where you can switch your real name over to a nickname.) And again, I hope you’ll support your local bookseller and buy locally – but review globally!</div> <bR> <div> Thanks so much for forwarding this email to anyone and everyone who might be looking for a fun summer read. Talk to you soon, and thanks again!</div> <bR> <div> xxxxx,</div> <div> Claire</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> July 1, 2007 @ 3:24 PM</div> <bR> <div> I'm just going through my book tour photos now...</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2262ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> One flip flop is better than nothing....</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2272ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Carol Jankowski always does such a great job on the decorations at the Duxbury Library. And it was great to meet Marilyn Haraden, the new owner of Westwinds Bookshop.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1aa2ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A full house at Duxbury Free Library.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="229075e0.jpg" border=0 width="263" height="350" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> How do you know you've been hanging around together too long? When you show up at Duxbury Library in the exact same outfit. Okay, the flip flops are a different shade, but they're the SAME flip flops!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22a2ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A great time at the Cabbages and Kings literary brunch in at the Wequasset Inn in Chatham, MA.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22b075e0.jpg" border=0 width="263" height="350" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Flip flops rule!</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22c2ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A nice display outside Where the Sidewalk Ends in Chatham, MA. You can just see the free pedicure kits provided by Oasis Spa.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22d2c5b0.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="347" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> With Dawn and Caitlin from Armchair Bookstore in Dennis, MA.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22e2ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Another capacity crowd and tons of fun at Inkwell Bookstore's event at Nimrod Restaurant in Falmouth, MA.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22f2ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> This is Margaret Mitchell's real typewriter at the Margaret Mitchell House in Atlanta! I can't believe I got to try it out!</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="230075e0.jpg" border=0 width="263" height="350" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Some of the aspiring writers at my fabulous writing workshop at Evening at Emory.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2312ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> So nice to finally visit the famous Page and Palette in Fairhope, Alabama. And what a cute display!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> June 23, 2007 @ 7:07 PM</div> <bR> <div> Packing up and getting ready to head out again! So much fun! Will catch up and post more photos soon....</div> <bR> <bR> <div> June 20, 2007 @2:45 PM</div> <bR> <div> Running like crazy. Hope you'll catch up with me on book tour....</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="232ca5e0.jpg" border=0 width="202" height="350" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="0"> </div> <bR> <div> A gorgeous Life's a Beach hat specially made by Sydney and now gracing my office!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2332c500.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="336" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> But not before Joan Grenier, owner of The Odyssey Bookshop, got a chance to try it on!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2342ce40.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="228" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23590d40.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="212" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> June 17, 2007 @11:38 AM</div> <bR> <div> I'm meeting so many great people on book tour, and here's a sweet and touching email I just received from one of them:</div> <bR> <div> "Having been a lifelong reader, I am a little heartbroken that I haven't been</div> <div> able to pass the love of reading on to my daughter. I remember fondly the</div> <div> days when she would drag the book basket across the living room floor</div> <div> asking, "We read?" Those days are long gone, unfortunately. However, I</div> <div> convinced her to come with me to your appearance at PSB (ok, so the offer of</div> <div> dinner out afterwards did have some appeal) and am happy to say she's half</div> <div> way through Life's a Beach and has already asked me what she should read</div> <div> next! It warms a mother's heart...a thirty-something reader in the making!</div> <div> Your warm and friendly presentation had a lot to do with this, and for that</div> <div> I thank you.</div> <bR> <div> I finished Life's a Beach earlier this morning and loved it. Noah the</div> <div> glassbloah was divine..."</div> <bR> <div> And some event photos...</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2362cd10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="209" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Such a great group of women at Baker Books in North Dartmouth!</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2372cd40.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="212" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> On the right is the one and only Robin from Reading with Robin. </div> <div> You can listen to it live on Saturday mornings, even if you don't live anywhere near Providence.</div> <div>  Go to <A HREF="http://readingwithrobin.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://readingwithrobin.com"><U>readingwithrobin.com</U></A> to find out more. </div> <bR> <div> June 13, 2007 @1:17 PM</div> <bR> <div> I had so much fun doing "Wired" with the fabulous Leslie Gaydos on NECN. Everybody was so friendly, I just wanted to move right in. You can watch the show here:</div> <bR> <div> <U>http://www.boston.com/news/necn/Shows/wired/</U> </div> <bR> <div> I also had a blast at Newtonville Books last night, but I forgot to take pictures! Sorry. My event was recorded for the Boston Globe's Great Writers podcast, and I was so focused on not walking away from the microphone, my camera completely slipped my mind. The link to my podcast will be up on Sunday.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> June 10, 2007 @10:25AM</div> <bR> <div> So many nice emails coming in from readers...</div> <bR> <div> "Last night ... and the night before, I stayed up until 3:30 and 4 a.m. respectively ... because I couldn't put down "Life's A Beach." I really enjoyed it. I loved the big-hearted Manny and his open mind ... especially when it came to his acceptance of Ginger and Riley's ideas; he was a "human from Hollywood." Nice!"</div> <bR> <div> "You know what "Beach" has that most other books don't? Great pacing! You don't have to race to find out what's coming, but we (the readers) <I>think</I> we do."</div> <bR> <div> "Claire, I love the book! I think it's my favorite probably because I can relate to the "what direction is my life taking," that Ginger is experiencing. I'm not through it yet but as I read on....... the book continues to gain momentum. Thanks for writing another fun read."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> June 10, 2007 @11:31 AM</div> <bR> <div> Okay, I'm back from a great first week of book tour and playing catch up. </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >The talented Lauren Falcone interviewed me for today's Boston Herald, and you can read it by clicking here:</FONT> <A HREF="http://theedge.bostonherald.com/bookNews/view.bg?articleid=1005498&chkEm=1 " TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://theedge.bostonherald.com/bookNews"><U>http://theedge.bostonherald.com/bookNews/view.bg?articleid=1005498&chkEm=1 </U></A></div> <bR> <div> The week started off with these gorgeous flowers from my wonderful publisher, Voice. They're still going strong almost a week later:</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="238c80b0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="267" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> First of the day was a fabulous author coffee hosted by Buttonwood Books and Toys in Cohasset. Below are events coordinator Totsie McGonagle, owner Betsey Detwiler, Hank Phillippi Ryan, David Gessner and me:</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2392caf0.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="175" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> And later in the day, the biggest flip flops ever at Front Street Bookshop, where the signing line stretched into the street!</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="23a2ce30.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="227" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23b075e0.jpg" border=0 width="263" height="350" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="4" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23c2c2f0.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="303" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23d2ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> After a great event at Brookline Booksmith, my flip flops couldn't wait to get into bed at the Kearsarge Inn in North Conway: </div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="23e2ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Such a nice group of women joined me for a wonderful luncheon put on by the White Birch Books in North Conway, NH:</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="23f2ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> A fabulous<I> Life's a Beach</I> window display at The Book Rack in Newburyport, MA:</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2402ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> June 5, 2007 @ 7:09 AM</div> <bR> <div>  Today's the <I>Life's a Beach</I> official publication day! Stay tuned....</div> <bR> <div> June 4, 2007 @ 12:42 PM</div> <bR> <div> Someone just sent me a photo montage of BEA -- and if you click below and look closely, I'm in one of the photos -- holding a flip flop bag, of course!</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://bookexpoamerica.com/App/homepage.cfm?moduleid=4306&appname=288&campaignid=61326772&iUserCampaignID=30661833 " TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://bookexpoamerica.com/App/homepage."><U>http://bookexpoamerica.com/App/homepage.cfm?moduleid=4306&appname=288&campaignid=61326772&iUserCampaignID=30661833 </U></A></div> <bR> <div> June 3, 2007 @ 4:31 PM</div> <bR> <div> A huge thanks to everyone who stood in my signing line at Book Expo America and sounded so excited about <I>Life's a Beach</I>! I'll never forget your kindness and enthusiasm. You made feel like a rock star for a day!</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2422ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="2442ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="245c2e40.jpg" border=0 width="450" height="228" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="246902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="247902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> That's me below with the fabulous Beth Gebhard, publicity director at Hyperion and Voice, sitting behind me like my fairy goddaughter.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2485e070.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="263" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> June 2, 2007 @ 9:09 PM</div> <bR> <div> Here's a great interview by Jen VIdo. Thanks, Jen!</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.hcplonline.info/readers/meettheauthor.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.hcplonline.info/readers/meett"><U>http://www.hcplonline.info/readers/meettheauthor.htm</U></A></div> <bR> <div> May 31, 2007 @ 11:19 AM</div> <bR> <div> Where the Sidewalk Ends, the Chatham bookstore where I'll be signing on Thursday, June 21 from 2:30-4:00 pm has a special promotion with Oasis Spa and Salon. Get a 10% discount on pedicures and a free pedicure kit giveaway if you purchase a copy <I>Life's a Beach</I>! Call the store at 508-945-0499 for more info. Hmm, wonder if I'll have time to get one while I'm there....</div> <bR> <div> May 29, 2007 @ 9:15 AM </div> <bR> <div> As an author, it's so exciting when your book starts making it out into the world. This from a reader in Atlanta:</div> <bR> <div> "Just wanted to write and say I loved Life's a Beach!! I read it on my first day at the beach yesterday, and I couldn't put it down. I have the sunburn to prove it! (ouch)</div> <bR> <div> "It really was enjoyable, I found myself actually laughing out loud and loved the relationships in there. I think my favorite characters were the mom and dad, especially when they were running from the law :) I could certainly relate to Ginger in her FROG, seeing I just moved out of my parents basement last week. The image of her pushing Boyfriend down the street in her cat stroller was hysterical! I could also relate to Geri, as I was checking my CrackBerry between chapters!"</div> <bR> <div> May 27, 2007 @ 10:19 AM </div> <bR> <div> Many thanks to Candy Hammond for the wonderful article in today's Cape Cod Times:</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070527/LIFE/705270365" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.d"><U>http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070527/LIFE/705270365  </U></A></div> <bR> <div> May 23, 2007 @ 7:23 AM </div> <bR> <div> Here's my latest newsletter, in case you missed it. (Clear here to put your name on the list for the next one.)</div> <bR> <div> Hi Everybody! </div> <bR> <div> A million thanks to all the independent booksellers who took time out of their busy lives to make Life’s a Beach a June Book Sense pick! To see the list, go to <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>http://www.clairecook.com/id2.htm</U></FONT> and scroll down. Life’s a Beach was the COVER of the New York Post Saturday (5/19) summer reading section, "Booked for the Summer." Click on this link to see for yourself: <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>http://www.nypost.com/seven/05192007/entertainment/booked_for_the_summer_enterta inment_billy_heller_and_katherine_pushkar.htm</U></FONT>. </div> <bR> <div> Also, look for Life’s a Beach in the Newsday summer reading roundup this Sunday (5/27). And keep an eye out for the July issues of Good Housekeeping, Redbook and Coastal Living – Life’s a Beach is a summer book pick for all three magazines! </div> <bR> <div> Okay, on to the really important news. The final Life’s a Beach book, flip flop and beach bag contest winner is from Colorado. She says she can’t remember her age or her hair color, but she’s pretty sure she wears a size L flip flop, because her feet have grown two sizes since childbirth. </div> <bR> <div> The rest of you are on your own! My house is bursting at the seams with all the wild and wonderful flip flop paraphernalia everyone has been sending me, but honestly, the best gift you can ever give me is to buy a copy of Life’s a Beach -- and spread the word to your friends and family. Thank you so much!</div> <bR> <div> I know, I know, I’m up to three things, but while it’s so important to buy locally and keep your neighborhood bookstore alive and thriving, you can really help get the word out about Life’s a Beach by reviewing globally. If you could take the time to say a few kind words about Life’s a Beach at amazon.com, bn.com and everywomansvoice.com, I’d really appreciate it. And if you email your quote to me at <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>claire@clairecook.com</U></FONT>, I’d be thrilled and honored to post it on my website, too. </div> <bR> <div> I hope you’ve started decorating your flip flops and have picked a date to come see me on my Life’s a Beach book tour. (Go to <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>http://clairecook.com/id24.htm</U></FONT> to see the schedule.) I’m hearing reports of lots of fun, beachy events in the works, and I know we’ll have a blast at all of them! If you can’t make it to an event, or if I’m not coming to your neck of the woods this time around, you can just contact one of the booksellers to make arrangements to have a signed and personalized book shipped to you. All events are flip flop optional, of course, but my personal feeling is that we should grab every chance we get to plug in our glue guns and get creative! If you need some inspiration, a reader sent me a link to a great flip flop photo gallery: <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>http://snap.tbo.com/pages/gallery.php?gallery=311823</U></FONT>. I’ll be posting my own photo gallery of the most creative flip flops at all my book events at <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>http://www.clairecook.com/id2.htm</U></FONT>. I can’t wait to see what you come up with! </div> <bR> <div> Thanks again to all the book groups who have been in touch to tell me they’ll be reading Life’s a Beach this summer. Book group discussion questions are posted at <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>http://www.clairecook.com/id26.htm</U></FONT>. And many thanks to the booksellers and librarians who have suggested Life's a Beach to your book groups. Feel free to post these discussion questions on your website or in your bookstore or library. </div> <bR> <div> Thanks for forwarding this email to other book and flip flop lovers in your life. If this free e-mail newsletter has been forwarded to you, you can subscribe by clicking on this link, or by copying and pasting it into your browser: <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>http://www.clairecook.com/id25.htm</U></FONT>. Hope to see you soon, and a huge thank you for all your support! </div> <bR> <div> xxxxx, </div> <div> Claire </div> <bR> <bR> <div> May 17, 2007 @ 2:10 PM </div> <bR> <div> I've been crazy busy, finishing a draft of my next novel, doing lots of interviews, getting organized for the release of <I>Life's a Beach</I> at Book Expo America in NYC. Publication date always seems so far away that it'll never get here, and then suddenly things are going way too fast!</div> <bR> <div> Stay tuned...I'll send out a newsletter next week. In the meantime, some photos....</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="249afe90.jpg" border=0 width="175" height="233" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Don't know how well the beach scene shows up in this photo, but this is </B></I></div> <div> <I><B>my official Life's a Beach book tour suitcase. I couldn't resist.</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="24aab820.jpg" border=0 width="171" height="130" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>However have I managed to survive up until now, without a flip flop </B></I></div> <div> <I><B>strainer for my sink! And how did my sink get this clean?</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="24baf830.jpg" border=0 width="175" height="131" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>This flip flop collar is from a dear old friend and dog lover, </B></I></div> <div> <I><B>and one of my kids' all time favorite teachers!</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> May 3, 2007 @ 9:28 PM </div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="468" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="415"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="415" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="46"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="46" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 86 WIDTH="415"><bR> <bR> <div> YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>The June 2007 Book Sense Picks</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="46"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="86" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="46" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 2913 WIDTH="415"><div> <B>1. THE BLOOD OF FLOWERS</B><I><B>: A Novel</B></I><B>, by Anita Amirrezvani</B> (Little, Brown, $23.99, 978-0316065764 / 0316065765) "It is a feat to bring off a serious, historically-set novel where the history doesn't overwhelm the human story, nor does the human tale simply use the history as furniture. This most impressive, captivating debut -- a novel of a young woman finding her way into life in 17th century Iran -- is one that does justice to both story and history." --<B>Rick Simonson, The Elliott Bay Book Company, Seattle, WA</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS, by Khaled Hosseini</B> (Riverhead, $25.95, 9781594489501 / 1594489505) "While offering a historical perspective on Afghanistan, Hosseini's new novel renders an incredible story, beautifully told. Readers will fully experience the humanity of this struggling country, right through the entirely satisfying ending." --<B>Missie Olm, The Reader's Loft, Green Bay, WI</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>THE RELIGION: </B><I><B>A Novel</B></I><B>, by Tim Willocks</B> (FSG, $26, 9780374248659 / 0374248656) "<I>The Religion</I>, set during the Turkish siege of Malta in 1565, is one of the best historical novels I have ever read. The characters are fascinating, and their lives so compelling that you are intertwined with them until the last page is finished." --<B>Brian Delambre, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, OH</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>LIFE'S A BEACH, by Claire Cook</B> (Voice / Hyperion, $23.95, 9781401303242 / 1401303242) "This is a delightful, insightful look at life, love, growing up, and turning 50. Meet the Walsh family: Ginger -- still looking for herself at 41; Geri -- her BlackBerry obsessed sister who is turning 50; Dad -- the take-it-or-leave-it dump diver; and Mom -- a Kama Sutra T-shirt wearing parent. You will love them all." --<B>Janet Bollum, The Muse Book Shop, DeLand, FL</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>FIVE SKIES: </B><I><B>A Novel</B></I><B>, by Ron Carlson</B> (Viking, $23.95, 9780670038503 / 0670038504) "Set in Idaho, this is a simple story of three men, two older and one younger, who spend the summer building a stunt ramp beside a river canyon. The older men both have issues with recent deaths of a loved one, and the young man is drifting and unsure of what to do with a life that began with petty crimes. As the younger man discovers that he has value as the older men mentor him, a healing process begins. An exquisite novel." --<B>Susan Wasson, Bookworks, Albuquerque, NM</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>LANDSMAN: </B><I><B>A Novel</B></I><B>, by Peter Charles Melman</B> (Counterpoint, $24.95, 9781582433677 / 1582433674) "After being manipulated into committing a robbery that becomes a murder, Elias Abrams avoids retribution by enlisting in the Confederate Army. Elias' basic goodness and moral sense are resurrected through a newfound understanding of kinship. <I>Landsman</I> is both earthy and mythic, with themes of patricide, betrayal, and hope brought to satisfying and human resolution." --<B>Julia Cowlishaw, Shaman Drum Bookshop, Ann Arbor, MI </B>(BBC Audiobooks America, Unabridged Audio, $39.95 CD, 9781602832923 / 1602832927)</div> <bR> <div> <B>FALLING MAN: </B><I><B>A Novel</B></I><B>, by Don DeLillo</B> (Scribner, $26, 9781416546023 / 1416546022) "Through the testimony of a 9 / 11 survivor and the deep impact of his return in the lives of his estranged wife and son, DeLillo succeeds in giving the reader a chance to revisit that tragedy from an emotionally renewed standpoint. This remarkable novel is a revelatory approach to the one seminal event that shaped this new century and is a stunning achievement." --<B>Marie du Vaure, Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena, CA</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>DIVISADERO, by Michael Ondaatje</B> (Delacorte, $25, 9780307266354 / 0307266354) "Ondaatje's spellbinding new novel revolves around three adopted siblings whose lives break apart and eventually reconnect years later. Their story parallels another unusual family unit, a reclusive writer and his gypsy neighbors searching for a peaceful life in post-war France. As usual, Ondaatje's storytelling is highly individual and utterly hypnotizing, as story leads into story, and the reader arrives at the end with a longing to turn to page one and begin again." --<B>Rich Rennicks, Malaprop's Bookstore / Cafe, Asheville, NC</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>ANIMAL, VEGETABLE, MIRACLE: </B><I><B>A Year of Food Life</B></I><B>, by Barbara Kingsolver, Steven L. Hopp and Camille Kingsolver,</B> (HarperCollins, $26.95, 9780060852559 / 0060852550) "This account of Kingsolver's and her family's attempt to eat only locally grown food is incredibly thought-provoking, asking you to examine where your food really comes from and what it really costs in terms of environmental effects, transportation, and people's livelihoods. There are lots of suggested actions people can take, and the whole thing is hysterically funny." --<B>Kate Reynolds, Colgate Bookstore, Hamilton, NY</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>SOON I WILL BE INVINCIBLE: </B><I><B>A Novel</B></I><B>, by Austin Grossman</B> (Pantheon, $22.95, 9780375424861 / 0375424865) "This is a funny, sad, and wonderful book about superheroes and their evil genius counterparts. It seems that even super powers can't protect you from the insecurities and relationship problems that we un-super types experience. Clearly keeping the villains from taking over the world (yet again) calls for more than nifty outfits. Great fun." --<B>Lisa Wright, Oblong Books and Music, Millerton, NY</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>LAND OF LINCOLN: </B><I><B>Adventures in Abe's America</B></I><B>, by Andrew Ferguson</B> (Atlantic, $24, 9780871139672 / 0871139677) "With grace, insight, and great good humor, Ferguson travels the blue highways to discover the stories behind our fascination with the 16th president. During the course of the journey, readers come to know a Lincoln who was an icon, an enigma, an intimate, and an enemy. And it is a journey well worth taking, honest!" --<B>Joe Drabyak, Chester County Book & Music Company, West Chester, PA</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>THE GRAVEDIGGER'S DAUGHTER, by Joyce Carol Oates</B> (Ecco, $26.95, 9780061236822 / 0061236829) "Oates' dramatic novel spans three generations of a family haunted by the effects of Nazi Germany. Through Rebecca's eyes (the daughter of the title), we see chilling domestic abuse but intrepid survival skills. Full of suspense, fear, anxiety, hope -- get ready for an emotional trip with a gifted author." --<B>Bonnie Stone, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE, by Lee Child</B> (Delacorte, $26, 9780385340557 / 0385340559) "Simply put, Jack Reacher, Lee Child's longtime protagonist, is the smartest, stealthiest, most suave good guy since James Bond. Life stops when a new Lee Child novel arrives; one could not pry it out of my hands!" --<B>Andy Nettell, Arches Book Company, Moab, UT</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>WHAT YOU HAVE LEFT: </B><I><B>A Novel</B></I><B>, by Will Allison</B> (Free Press, $23, 9781416541394 / 141654139X) "Will Allison has a deep and sympathetic feel for his characters, who come from a group of folks that aren't much represented in current fiction. I know some of these folks myself, and I think he's done a marvelous job of rendering them -- warts, passions, frustrations, and all." --<B>Tom Campbell, The Regulator Bookshop, Durham, NC</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>FROM THE PALMER RAIDS TO THE PATRIOT ACT: </B><I><B>A History of the Fight for Free Speech in America</B></I><B>, by Christoper M. Finan</B> (Beacon, $25.95, 9780807044285 / 0807044288) "This is one of the most important -- and readable -- books written about the price of freedom in a democracy. Do we want to pay for our freedom and security with our free speech? Timely and urgent, this is an essential book for citizens, politicians, and government officials to read and embrace." --<B>Alicia Greene, Olsson's Books & Records, Washington, DC</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>THE LAST CHINESE CHEF: </B><I><B>A Novel</B></I><B>, by Nicole Mones</B> (Houghton, $24, 9780618619665 / 0618619666) "Mones tells the story of the cultural and historical aspects of Chinese cooking within a story about an American food writer, Maggie McElroy, who is desperately trying to figure out her own life. This is food and travel writing at its best." --<B>Debbie Burton, The Rediscovered Bookshop, Boise, ID</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>THREE BAGS FULL: </B><I><B>A Sheep Detective Story</B></I><B>, by Leonie Swann</B> (Flying Dolphin, $22.95, 9780385521116 / 0385521111) "When George Glenn's sheep find their shepherd dead in the pasture, they decide they must investigate his death. Led by Miss Maple, a particularly intelligent sheep, their quest for justice is surprising -- and thoroughly entertaining." --<B>Carol Schneck, Schuler Books & Music, Okemos, MI</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>THE SHADOW CATCHER: </B><I><B>A Novel</B></I><B>, by Marianne Wiggins</B> (Simon & Schuster, $25, 9780743265201 / 0743265203) "Marianne Wiggins' latest novel is a fictionalized account of photographer Edward S. Curtis, full of both beautiful and lyrical writing about love and loss and art and wonderful accounts of the road trips of the character 'Marianne Wiggins,' accounts which complete the story in a unique and impassioned manner. A literary delight." --<B>Kathleen Dixon, Islandtime Books & More, Washington Island, WI</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>AUSTENLAND: </B><I><B>A Novel</B></I><B>, by Shannon Hale</B> (Bloomsbury, $19.95, 9781596912854 / 1596912855) "Darcy-obsessed Jane Hayes is fantasizing her life away when her great aunt Carolyn tries to snap her out of it by sending her on a three-week visit to a Jane Austen fantasy camp. Tantalizing, funny, absolutely satisfying, and surprising to the last page, this delicious confection will be devoured by die-hard Austen fans." --<B>Linda Hillegass, Lee Booksellers, Lincoln, NE</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>WARM SPRINGS: </B><I><B>Traces of a Childhood at FDR's Polio Haven</B></I><B>, by Susan Richards Shreve</B> (Houghton, $24, 9780618658534 / 061865853X) "This new memoir is an immediately engaging story of the years Shreve spent at Warm Springs, the treatment center for polio set up by FDR. The book is fascinating on many levels: the history it covers of both our nation and our delivery of health care, and the heartbreaking coming-of-age story set in a facility for children, often suffering unimaginable pain, separated from their families. A lovely book, tender and funny." --<B>Leslie Reiner, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="46"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="2913" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="46" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 HEIGHT= 15 ><NOBR><div> (C) Copyright 2007 American Booksellers Association. All Rights Reserved</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> April 30, 2007 @ 8:18 AM</div> <bR> <div> I have the best readers ever. Thanks so much to everyone who's been sending me copies of Kim Franke-Folstad's great flip flop article in The Tampa Tribune. Lots of fab ideas in their online flip flop gallery for those flip flops I hope you're already starting to decorate:</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://snap.tbo.com/pages/gallery.php?gallery=311823" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://snap.tbo.com/pages/gallery.php?ga"><U><U>http://snap.tbo.com/pages/gallery.php?gallery=311823</U></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> April 29, 2007 @ 6:20 PM</div> <bR> <div> If you're reading this, you're probably a book lover. If you're not aware that book pages in newspapers all over the country are shrinking, you should be. The Atlanta Journal Constitution book page has just been eliminated, and you can sign a petition to get it (and the books editor) back by going to this link:</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.petitiononline.com/atl2007/petition.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.petitiononline.com/atl2007/pe"><U><U>http://www.petitiononline.com/atl2007/petition.html</U></U></A></div> <bR> <div> If you're in Atlanta, there will be a Read In this Thursday, May 3 at 10 AM in front of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution at 72 Marietta Street. Everyone's encouraged to bring a book and hold it open your book and read aloud or to yourself. I wish I could be there. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> April 23, 2007 @ 1:52 PM</div> <bR> <div> Here's my latest newsletter, in case you missed it. (Click here to sign up for future newsletters.)</div> <bR> <div> Subject: Life's a Beach and Getting Beachier!</div> <bR> <div> Hi Everybody!</div> <bR> <div> Well, I'm not quite packing my suitcase for book tour, but I did find the right luggage - you certainly won't miss me at the airport! Check out the photo here to see what I mean. And, while you're there, you can see photos of the start of what promises to be an interesting <I>Life's A Beach</I> collection.  A dear old friend sent my dog a flip flop collar, and new friends and colleagues gave me a flip flop strainer for my sink. It's almost enough to make me do some dishes. Ha.</div> <bR> <div> Okay, start decorating your flip flops! The publication of <I>Life's a Beach</I> is just over a month away, and lots of my book tour events are already up here. I hope you'll check them out and mark your calendar - and spread the word to your family and friends, too. Thanks so much! </div> <bR> <div> You are also cordially invited to read a few short excerpts of <I>Life's a Beach</I> by clicking here.</div> <bR> <div> I hope you enjoy them, and I hope you'll take a minute to stop by Voice -- <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.everywomansvoice.com/?q=node/56&" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.everywomansvoice.com/?q=node/"><U><U>http://www.everywomansvoice.com/?q=node/56&#</U></U></A></FONT> -- and say a few kind words about them. While you're there, be sure to check out all the terrific books Voice is publishing, and let your own voice be heard by weighing in on the Voice message boards. </div> <bR> <div> A huge thank you to the amazing people on the other end of this newsletter! Literally within hours of sending out the last newsletter, I had contest entries from Indiana, South Carolina, South Dakota and West Virginia! Very impressive, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate your support. I'm still missing Idaho and Hawaii though - so I'm counting on you! </div> <bR> <div> If you still haven't entered the <I>Life's a Beach</I> advance reading copy, beach bag and flip flop contest (ONE ENTRY PER PERSON, PLEASE!), just click here.</div> <bR> <div> The March contest winner was from Florida (flip flop size S, age: none of your business) and the April winner was from Massachusetts (flip flop size L, age: 39). There'll be one more winner in May - and then <I>Life's a Beach</I> will be in stores everywhere in June.</div> <bR> <div> Thanks so much to the book groups who have been in touch to tell me they'll be reading <I>Life's a Beach</I> this summer. I've heard some pretty wild plans, many of them involving Beach Boys music and those flip flop wine coasters….  </div> <bR> <div> <I>Life's a Beach</I> discussion questions are posted here.</div> <bR> <div> Thanks so much to booksellers and librarians for suggesting <I>Life's a Beach</I> to your book groups, and feel free to post these discussion questions on your website or in your bookstore or library.</div> <bR> <div> Thanks for forwarding this email to other book and flip flop lovers in your life. If this free e-mail newsletter has been forwarded to you, you can subscribe by clicking here.</div> <bR> <div> xxxxx,</div> <div> Claire</div> <bR> <bR> <div> April 21, 2007 @ 11:49 AM</div> <bR> <div> A big chunk of my <I>Life's a Beach</I> book tour is now up. (Click here to see it now.) I hope I'll have an event somewhere near you, but if not, next time around please ask your local bookseller or librarian to contact their sales rep at Hyperion/Voice and invite me -- that's the way it happens. My wonderful publisher is usually kind and generous enough to send me wherever there's interest and enthusiasm for my novels, and wherever they think they'll get a big turnout.</div> <bR> <div> If I'm going to be anywhere remotely in your neck of the woods, PLEASE, PLEASE call your friends and make plans to come see me. I promise we'll have a blast! And don't forget to wear your fanciest flip flops!</div> <bR> <div> April 7, 2007 @ 4:16 PM</div> <bR> <div> I'm still writing away, but I'm picking up speed, which feels good. If you haven't been there yet, check out my book tour schedule and read some short excerpts of Life's a Beach! </div> <bR> <div> March 27, 2007 @ 1:27 PM</div> <bR> <div> A nice mention about the VOICE party I missed, because I was home working on my new novel! Oh, well, I'll get out of my house again eventually -- and I'm really glad everybody had a great time!</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/party_hopping/scene_hyperions_voice_launch_party_55727.asp" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/par"><U><U>http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/party_hopping/scene_hyperions_voice_launch_party_55727.asp</U></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> March 26, 2007 @ 11:33 AM</div> <bR> <div> If you haven't been there yet, make sure you check out <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#33FFFF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://everywomansvoice.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://everywomansvoice.com"><U><B>everywomansvoice.com</B></U></A></FONT>. Make sure you go to Authors and click on my name, and sign up to receive more info about this author!!! </div> <bR> <div> March 16, 2007 @ 11:42 AM</div> <bR> <div> So happy to be included in this article in <A HREF="http://shelf-awareness.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://shelf-awareness.com"><U>Shelf Awareness </U></A>by the wonderful Shannon McKenna:</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://news.shelf-awareness.com/nview.jsp?appid=411&j=186461#1321216" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://news.shelf-awareness.com/nview.js"><U><I>http://news.shelf-awareness.com/nview.jsp?appid=411&j=186461#1321216</I></U></A></div> <bR> <div> March 14, 2007 @ 3:01 PM</div> <bR> <div> Here's my latest newsletter. If you're not on the list, click here to sign up.</div> <bR> <div> Hi Everybody!</div> <bR> <div> Sorry to take so long to announce the February winner of the book, beach bag and flip flop contest, but I've been writing away, trying to get a jump on my next novel before I hit the road for my <I>Life's a Beach</I> book tour in June. The wonderful winner was from Wisconsin. Unlike some of the entrants, who listed their ages as “barely legal” or “old enough to be a grandmother, but not yours,” she owned right up to being 52 years old and wearing a size medium flip flop!</div> <bR> <div> Entries are still pouring in, which means you, wonderful readers, are continuing to spread the word to your families and friends - thank you so much! Australia, Denmark, Ireland and Scotland have arrived, and several people have pointed out that my feedback form doesn't have a place to fill out the country. I've made the change in the entry form, and thanks for pointing that out.</div> <bR> <div> Representatives of most of the fifty states have entered, but I'm really feeling a void without Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, South Carolina, South Dakota and West Virginia. Haven't heard from a single soul in those great states, so if you know anyone, please send them this way! </div> <bR> <div> And if you still haven't entered the <I>Life's a Beach </I>advance reading copy, beach bag and flip flop contest yourself, just click<B> </B><B>here</B>. And PLEASE, you only have to enter ONCE for a chance to win every month until Life's a Beach is published on June 5!</div> <bR> <div> In other news, if your book group is looking for a fun summer read, I hope you'll consider <I>Life's a Beach</I>. You could BYOBC (bring your own beach chair) and sit out on the deck and drink margaritas. You could invite someone to do pedicures while you find your wild side and decorate flip flops with sea glass, shells, feathers and jewels. You could call your local bookstore and see when I'll be visiting and ask whether they can arrange a pre or post event "exclusive" meeting for your group.</div> <bR> <div> Oh, the book, you want to talk about the book? Sure, it's always a good idea to get around to the book - eventually! I've posted some <I>Life's a Beach</I> discussion questions <B>here</B> to help get you started.</div> <bR> <div> If you're a bookseller or librarian, thanks so much for suggesting <I>Life's a Beach</I> to your book groups, and feel free to post these discussion questions on your website or in your bookstore or library.</div> <bR> <div> Stay tuned...I'll be posting a <I>Life's a Beach</I> excerpt as well as my book tour events before you know it!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> March 9, 2007 @ 8:42 AM</div> <bR> <div> I'm packing up some books to send to Authors for African Literacy. You can see the webpage of author donors by clicking here:<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://camelbookdrive.wordpress.com/ " TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://camelbookdrive.wordpress.com/ "><U><B><U>Camel Book Drive</U></B></U></A></FONT> Donors can order books in English, Swahili or Somali via the website or send the books directly to Kenya on their own through your local post office. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> March 2, 2007 @ 6:44 AM</div> <bR> <div> So, I was at the gym the other day. I'd just come off the eliptical machine after a hard workout. Sweat was dripping into my eyes and they were stinging. I'd been writing all day and I was a mess, and not feeling very social, to put it mildly. I'd moved over to the nautilus machines and was just starting the rotary torso machine, when a very nice woman came up to me and said she was reading Multiple Choice and really enjoying it. </div> <bR> <div> I thanked her, and another very nice woman standing next to her said she was sorry to eavesdrop. "I see your pictures everywhere, she said, "and I just want to tell you you look much younger in person." </div> <bR> <div> "Thank you," I said to this perfect stranger. "You look younger in person, too." </div> <bR> <bR> <div> February 25, 2007 @ 12:36 PM</div> <bR> <div> The beach bag and book giveaway entries just keep on coming! And what a fun book tour I'm going to have. Keep checking my events page -- I'll start posting them soon.  It's so great that people are excited about Life's a Beach. I can't wait to be out on the road visiting with all my bookseller and reader buddies -- and making new friends! And it's pretty fabulous to look out the window and see the sun shining. I can almost believe that spring will really come. My pages are done for the day, so I get to go to the gym early -- such a treat! And such an exciting life I lead....</div> <bR> <div> February 10, 2007 @ 9:58 AM</div> <bR> <div> I know, I know. I've turned into such a slacker blogger. I'm always amazed when I read blogs about writing a book by authors who are in the process of writing a book. It just feels to me like writing the new novel is all I can manage. <I>Writing about </I>writing the new novel at the same time feels like cruel and unusual punishment -- it's enough to have to live through it! That being said, once I get pulled into the day's pages, it always feels good. And slowly but surely, brick by brick, page by page, these new characters are starting to come alive. So that's good.....</div> <bR> <div> February 6, 2007 @ 10:00 AM</div> <bR> <div> Hi Everybody!</div> <div> Well, it might be February but things are getting beachier by the minute.</div> <div> Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs) have gone out to booksellers across the country, so Life’s a Beach is really starting to feel like a book now! </div> <div> Some of these wonderful booksellers have already read my new novel and sent quotes to my publisher and to BookSense (thank you!), and a few of them have even sent me a copy, which means I get to display their quotes proudly and gratefully on my website. (Click here to read their kind words.)</div> <div> If you’re a bookseller reading this and you don’t have a Life’s a Beach ARC of your very own yet, you can go to this link to request one:</div> <div> <U>http://hyperionbooks.com/bookseller/index.htm</U> </div> <bR> <div> Okay, on to the book, beach bag and flip flop contest! I had no idea so many of you would enter! Thank you! And they just keep on coming! I’ve heard from people from 33 states, and also Canada, England, Denmark and Italy! And I don’t know how you managed to inject humor into an online form, but some of you did it. What a lot of sweet, funny people on the other end of this newsletter. </div> <div> Almost all of you were comfortable owning up to your ages, which ranged from 13 to 78. And those of you who didn’t think it was any of my business gav answers like “Happy,” “Old Enough” and “Younger Than You, My Dear.”</div> <div> Most of the entries were from women, but a few men entered, too. I don’t know why this surprised me, because I’ve always thought a man in pink and green froggy flip flops was HOT. </div> <div> Most of you were strangers, or I guess friends I haven’t met yet, but there were plenty of old friends and some relatives, too. It’s nice to know you’re still in my corner – and you still like free stuff!</div> <div> Only a couple people cheated and tried to enter more than once (this might well have been only menopausal forgetfulness), so pat yourselves on the back – most of my readers appear to be fun-loving but honest.</div> <div> And the January winner…duh-duh-duh-dah….is from the great New England state of….TEXAS! I don’t want to share her personal info, but she is 43-years-old and wears a size L flip flop. Congratulations! I can’t wait to see who winsin February!</div> <bR> <div> If you have no idea what I’m talking about, click here and enter to win a Life’s a Beach advance reading copy, beach bag and, yes, those froggy flip flops. If you’ve already entered, just wait – you’ll have a chance to win every month until Life’s a Beach is published on June 5!  </div> <bR> <div> xxxxx,</div> <div> Claire</div> <bR> <div> Thanks so much for telling your friends!</div> <bR> <div> January 21, 2007 @ 8:24 AM</div> <bR> <div> Sorry I haven't been very chatty. I'm just trying to keep my head in my new novel as it takes shape. Hope I'll remember how to talk when I get to this:</div> <bR> <div> The Boston Globe, Thursday, January 19, 2007, NAMES</div> <div> WILLIAMS TO MAKE DENTISTS SMILE</div> <div> You won't need laughing gas at next week's Yankee Dental Conference. That's because <B>Robin Williams</B>, the People's Choice winner as "funniest male star," is headlining. One of the largest conventions held in New England each year, a slew of celebs will be there. In addition to Williams, others attending include TV chef <B>Rocco DeSpirito</B>, ex-"Apprentice" boss <B>Carolyn Kepcher</B>, buxom whistle-blower <B>Erin Brockovich</B>, comedian <B>Jimmy Tingle</B>, and "Must Love Dogs" author <B>Claire Cook</B>. </div> <bR> <div> January 8, 2007 @ 4:44 PM</div> <div> I took a long walk in the rain this morning. It felt like April. And then another long walk just before dark. I looked down and saw a bright flash of yellow. A fully opened dandelion on January 8th in Massachusetts -- amazing!</div> <div> I'm hiding out working on my next new novel....</div> <div> January 3, 2007 @ 3:01 PM</div> <div> Here's my latest newsletter. If yours isn't coming through, make sure to add newsletter@clairecook.com to your address book or safe senders list. To add your name to the mailing list, click here.</div> <bR> <div> Hi Everybody!</div> <bR> <div> Just a quick note to invite you to visit my website so you can win a signed advance copy of my upcoming novel, <I>Life's a Beach</I>, as well as a nifty beach bag and a pair of froggy flip flops. I also have some cute flip flop mini notepads, so I'll throw one of those in, too, if I don't use them all up first scribbling notes for my next novel. Anyway, just go to <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://clairecook.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://clairecook.com/"><U><U>clairecook.com</U></U></A></FONT>, and click on the picture of the -- you got it -- beach bag, book and froggy flip flops.</div> <bR> <div> And yes, of course, my friends and family are allowed to win! But even if I already know your flip flop size, you still have to go to my website and fill out the form. I just wish EVERYBODY could win, but you'll all have a chance each month until <I>Life's a Beach </I>is published on June 5th.</div> <bR> <div> Hope your holidays were as wonderful as ours were -- we had such a great time! Yes, my son did get that Nintendo Wii from Santa (you wouldn't believe how many people emailed to give me tips on how to get my hands on one -- thanks!) My daughter brought her dog home with her - and the good news was our 55-pound dog didn't eat her extremely well-dressed (down vest, satin dress with brooch, etc.) 8-pound dog, which would definitely have put a damper on the festivities…. </div> <bR> <div> As for me, I'd have to say it was a pretty beachy Christmas. I got everything from flip flop ornaments to flip flop bowls to a flip flop clock to, well, flip flops. I'm sensing a trend here. Can't wait to see what happens on Valentine's Day. Do they make flip flop chocolates? Flip flop Chardonnay? I'll keep you posted….</div> <bR> <div> Okay, back to work for me. Here's to a fun and fabulous 2007 for each an every one of you!</div> <bR> <div> As always, thanks so much for forwarding this email to anyone and everyone who might be interested. If this free e-mail newsletter has been forwarded to you, you can subscribe by clicking on this link, or by copying and pasting it into your browser: <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.clairecook.com/id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.clairecook.com/id25.htm"><U><U>http://www.clairecook.com/id25.htm</U></U></A></FONT>. </div> <bR> <div> Talk to you next time….</div> <bR> <div> xxxxx,</div> <div> Claire</div> <bR> <div> January 2, 2007 @ 7:14 AM</div> <div> Did you see this article, "At Sea With a Book to Read" in the New York Times? Maybe <I>Life's a Beach </I>needs a Literary Cruise? </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/01/business/media/01cruise.html?_r=2&bl&ex=1167800400&en=be24fdac514c47b9&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin&oref=slogin" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/01/busine"><U>http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/01/business/media/01cruise.html?_r=2&bl&ex=1167800400&en=be24fdac514c47b9&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin&oref=slogin</U></A></div> <bR> <div> January 1, 2007 @ 7:21 AM</div> <div> Happy New Year! I'll send out a newsletter later this week, but right now I'm diving into a new novel. Wishing you luck with any and every new project you take on, too.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>