Blog and Photos

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="49dfd521erlcgo.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>ClaireCook.com</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ClaireCook.com"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>Blog and Photos</B>   |   <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE WILDWATER WALKING CLUB"><U>THE WILDWATER WALKING CLUB</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reinvention Contest!!"><U>Reinvention Contest!!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Read an excerpt of Wildwater"><U>Read an excerpt of Wildwater</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Walking Group Guide"><U>Walking Group Guide</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Novels"><U>Novels</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Stay in the Loop"><U>Stay in the Loop</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aspiring Writers"><U>Aspiring Writers</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="For Book Clubs"><U>For Book Clubs</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Buy Books"><U>Buy Books</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Me"><U>About Me</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Translations"><U>Translations</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Voice Books"><U>Voice Books</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U>Events</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Info"><U>Contact Info</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=25% BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="49cd2993.jpg"> <div> <B>Click below for blog archives</B><B>.</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2008"><U><B>2008</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2007"><U><B>2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2006"><U><B>2006</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2005"><U><B>2005</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2004"><U><B>2004</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2003"><U><B>2003</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Click here to enter the</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reinvention Contest!!"><U><B>WILDWATER GIVEAWAY!</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Be my friend at </B><A HREF="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/88452.Claire_Cook" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/884"><U><B>Goodreads</B></U></A><B>!</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Follow me on</B></div> <div> <A HREF="https://twitter.com/WalkwithClaire" TARGET="_top" TITLE="https://twitter.com/WalkwithClaire"><U><B>Twitter</B></U></A><B>!</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Be my friend at </B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1054173000&ref=profile" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profil"><U><B>Facebook</B></U></A><A HREF="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1054173000&ref=profile" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profil"><U><B>!</B></U></A></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="59a01010.gif" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=398 BGCOLOR="#9999FF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <IMG SRC="4a02c6c0.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="108" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Wednesday, July 1, 2009 @ 4:31 PM</B></I></div> <div> What a great blog post!</div> <div> <A HREF="http://onewomanseye.blogspot.com/2009/07/taking-note-claire-cook.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://onewomanseye.blogspot.com/2009/07"><U><I><B>http://onewomanseye.blogspot.com/2009/07/taking-note-claire-cook.html</B></I></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 2:57 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> I still can't believe The Today Show spent yesterday hanging out at my house and also attended my reinvention workshop last night at Front Street Bookshop! (It got so crowded, we had to move things outside!) Below, Amy Robach, producer Minah Kathuria, and Paul and Joel, as well as some of the fabulous women who attended the workshop. What a fun day!</div> <bR> <div> Can't wait to see the piece on Today! As soon as I know when it will air, I'll post the info right here...</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="5f5c8bd0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="189" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   <IMG SRC="5fdc8a90.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="169" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="6012cae0.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="174" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="65796c80.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </B></I><I><B><IMG SRC="607c8850.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="133" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </B></I><I><B><IMG SRC="60594c80.jpg" border=0 width="148" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="609c8940.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="148" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="60b86c80.jpg" border=0 width="134" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="60d8ec80.jpg" border=0 width="142" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </B></I></div> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="60f2cc70.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="199" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </B></I><I><B><IMG SRC="6532cc40.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="196" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I><I><B> </B></I></div> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="65f0bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="6610bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="61190b90.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="185" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="66415c80.jpg" border=0 width="277" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="64c2ca50.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="165" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </B></I><I><B><IMG SRC="669c82d0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="301" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <IMG SRC="6172cc70.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="199" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <div> <IMG SRC="61dc8900.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="144" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <IMG SRC="6682cc10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="193" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </div> <div> <IMG SRC="61f2cbe0.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="190" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="621c88f0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="143" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="623c88c0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="140" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="625c8850.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="133" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="627c8830.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="131" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="629c8950.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="149" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="62b85c80.jpg" border=0 width="133" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="62dc88e0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="142" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="62fc8930.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="147" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="631c88d0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="141" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="633c89d0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="157" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="6359bc80.jpg" border=0 width="155" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="637c8860.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="134" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="639c8900.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="144" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="63b2ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <IMG SRC="63fa2c80.jpg" border=0 width="162" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="6652cc00.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="192" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="641c8900.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="144" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="643c8910.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="145" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="647c88e0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="142" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="666c8e90.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="233" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="6492ce30.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="227" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#00FF00" FACE="Arial" ><I><B><IMG SRC="6590bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></FONT></div> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="64e2ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </B></I><I><B><IMG SRC="6500bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </B></I></div> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="65d0bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </B></I><I><B><IMG SRC="65b2c8f0.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="143" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Saturday, June 20, 2009 @ 2:57 PM</B></I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>FREE REINVENTION WORKSHOP</B></div> <div> <B>FOR WOMEN </B></div> <div> <B>Monday, June 29 @ 5:30 PM </B></div> <div> <B>Front Street Bookshop</B></div> <div> <B>165 Front Street</B></div> <div> <B>Scituate, MA</B></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Okay, so it's a tough economy. Don't get depressed - GET CREATIVE!</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Whether you're an aspiring writer, a maybe entrepreneur, or just wondering what your next chapter might be, I'll share the secrets I've learned on my own journey - from writing my first novel in my minivan at my daughter's swim practice, to walking the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of the movie version of my second novel, to becoming the bestselling author of six-and-a-half novels. </div> <bR> <div> I'll also include a few tips from the characters I've created, whose own entrepreneurial adventures have included sea glass jewelry, makeup kits, lavender products, and custom clotheslines! </div> <bR> <div> Bring your hopes, your dreams, your questions, and your stories -- and get ready to NETWORK! </div> <bR> <div> For more information, call Front Street Bookshop at 781-545-5011. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Thursday, June 18, 2009 @ 12:11  PM</B></I></div> <div> YAY, a draft of my next novel is off to Brenda Copeland, my wonderful editor at Hyperion Voice. My house is a mess, I haven't seen my friends in forever, my website, Facebook and Twitter have all been left unattended too long, but it's a book!! Or at least it will be after several sets of revisions. </div> <div> And in the meantime, so many great emails have come in -- if I haven't answered yours yet, it won't be long! And I love the <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reinvention Contest!!"><U>reinvention</U></A> stories on The <A HREF="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=62041507856" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=62"><U>Wildwater Walking Club page on Facebook</U></A>. If you haven't checked them out yet, I hope you will -- and make sure you post your own reinvention story, too.</div> <div> So many nice comments about WILDWATER, too:</div> <div> What an awesome book!...</div> <div> I have been procrastinating to start walking since November 2008 when I was RIF'd from my Corporate America IT job. It's incredible how I can relate to this book and the inspiration it is. There is NO WAY I am not going to start walking my woe away! Not to mention eating healtier and when my severance pay ends, doing something I can't wait to get to once my eyes open in the morning. </div> <bR> <div> THANK YOU, CLAIRE COOK! Words can not express my appreciation for this book!!! - Rebekah</div> <bR> <div> Wildwater Walking Club was fantastic!!! I loved the charactors, I did not want the book to end. I can't wait for the next one. You are the best! - Charlotte</div> <bR> <div> And I love that I'm even being asked for lavender advice!! The funny thing about writing novels is that each book teaches you so much, and then you forget it immediately when you go on to the next book. But yes, you can cut your whole lavender plant back after you've harvested the lavender stalks!</div> <bR> <div> Just finished your new book and enjoyed it a lot. This is the first of your </div> <div> books that I have read. The comaraderie of the 3 women was teriffic. </div> <div> After an operation, a friend gave me a lavender plant. The only thing I </div> <div> ever knew about lavender was the Yardleys of London cologne that my mom used </div> <div> to wear. Anyway, I live in Boca Raton Fl. and after a while decided to give </div> <div> it a shot and plant it in the backyard where it has done quite well. After </div> <div> reading the book, I went to see if there was a tag on it so I knew what </div> <div> kind I had (not to be) and then cut off all the flowered stalks to dry them </div> <div> and cut away all the dead stuff. Can I just cut the whole thing back? You </div> <div> must have learned a lot about the plants before you wrote the book. I will </div> <div> remember your book with a smile each time I look out at my plant. </div> <div> Thank you - Bobbie </div> <bR> <div> I didn't realize you had a new book out. I have read all six and really enjoyed them.</div> <div> Wildwater has special meaning to me, when I read about Seattle and a lavender festival - I knew exactly where you meant. My older sister and my brother-in-law  live in Seattle. They also own a weekend place - in Sequim, on Lost Mountain, no less.</div> <div> I'm going to get another copy as a surprise for my sister. - Jane</div> <bR> <div> Okay, I'm off to answer my email, and maybe even clean my house!</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Friday, June 5, 2009 @ 3:03  PM</B></I></div> <div> Writing, writing, writing away on my next novel, but here are some Wildwater Walking photos!</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>    </div> <div> <IMG SRC="5e590c90.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="201" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  <IMG SRC="5f10ba60.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="166" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  <IMG SRC="5eb2c8e0.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="142" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="5e381c80.jpg" border=0 width="129" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="5dfc6c80.jpg" border=0 width="198" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="5e17ec80.jpg" border=0 width="126" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="5f0908f0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="143" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <I><B>Tuesday, June 2, 2009 @ 1:18  PM</B></I></div> <div> Just catching up on the newspapers that piled up while I was in NYC. How much do I love The Patriot Ledger, my local bookstores, and everyone who lives on the South Shore! A local author just couldn't be luckier. Thanks so much for your support, everybody!!!</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Patriot Ledger</B> bestseller list from last weekend:</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Hardcover Fiction</U></B> </div> <div> <B>1. </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>The Wildwater Walking Club</B></FONT><B>, </B>Claire Cook</div> <div> <B>2. Tea Time for the Traditionally Built, </B>Alexander McCall Smith</div> <div> <B>3. The 8th Confession, </B>James Patterson</div> <div> <B>4. First Family, </B>David Baldacci</div> <div> <B>5. Wicked Prey, </B>John Sandford</div> <div> <B>6. Cemetery Dance, </B>Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child</div> <div> <B>7. The Forgotten Garden, </B>Kate Morton</div> <div> <B>8. Tethered, </B>Amy MacKinnon</div> <div> <B>9. Dead and Gone, </B>Charlaine Harris</div> <div> <B>10. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, </B>Mary Ann Shaffer</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Paperback Fiction</U></B></div> <div> <B>1. The Shack, </B>William P. Young</div> <div> <B>2. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, </B>Mary Ann Shaffer</div> <div> <B>3. Unaccustomed Earth, </B>Jhumpa Lahiri</div> <div> <B>4. Firefly Lane, </B>Kristin Hannah</div> <div> <B>5. Angels and Demons, </B>Dan Brown</div> <div> <B>6. </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Summer Blowout</B></FONT><B>, </B>Claire Cook</div> <div> <B>7. Vision in White, </B>Nora Roberts</div> <div> <B>8. </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Life’s a Beach</B></FONT><B>, </B>Claire Cook</div> <div> <B>9. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, </B>Junot Diaz</div> <div> <B>10. American Wife, </B>Curtis Sittenfeld</div> <div> <I>The following bookstores participated in this survey: Buttonwood Books & Toys, Cohasset; Front Street Book Shop, Scituate; Westwinds Bookshop, Duxbury; and Barnes & Noble, Braintree.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Monday, June 1, 2009 @ 10:51  AM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Back from Book Expo in NYC. So much fun, and I met so many interesting people! </div> <bR> <div> Just starting to go through my WILDWATER book tour photos. Thanks so much for coming out to see me, everybody!!</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="5ddc2f50.jpg" border=0 width="450" height="245" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> And a huge thanks to Janice for writing the following review and posting it at Amazon & Borders.com. What a nice thing to do -- and it really helps get the word out!</div> <bR> <div> Hey, Everyone! </div> <bR> <div> Time to head to the sporting goods store and purchase a new pair of walking shoes. Because, while reading this energizing, inspiring and thoroughly entertaining novel, you're going to be itching to get started. </div> <bR> <div> Wildwater Walking Club is about three women; neighbors who start walking together more due to proximity than anything else. But who in so doing, discover that even though they are in different phases of their respective lives, they share more in common than not. What starts as a need for companionship develops into camaraderie which becomes the real friendship that is "The Wildwater Walking Club". The adventures, high jinx, escapades, relationships and life exploration that follow will leave you not only laughing out loud but also believing that you, too can achieve the life YOU desire....one step at a time! (I must caution that you may very well develop an affinity for lavender-infused champagne along the way!) </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Sunday, May 24, 2009 @ 2:59 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Sorry I haven't posted more lately. Between <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U>book events</U></A>, <A HREF="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1054173000&ref=profile" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profil"><U>Facebook</U></A>, <A HREF="http://twitter.com/WalkwithClaire" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://twitter.com/WalkwithClaire"><U>Twitter,</U></A> interviews, walking, and oh right, my family, things have been CRAZY!</div> <bR> <div> So many nice comments coming in. Here are two:</div> <bR> <div> "Claire, I just finished reading The Wildwater Waliking Club. Oh how I wish that Rosie, Noreen, and Tess were my neighbors! I felt like I had known them all my life. Rosie and I even share the same birthday. What a wonderful story about the power of friendship!"</div> <bR> <div> "I LOVED the book!!!!! I couldnt put it down! Now all I have to do is get a pedometer and start moving! This has really motiviated me! =)"</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="5d52ca90.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="169" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="5d8c6c80.jpg" border=0 width="198" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="5da0bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Wednesday, May 13, 2009 @ 12:15 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Here's my latest newsletter. If you're on the list, and you're not getting it, make sure you add newsletter@clairecook.com to your address book or safe senders list. And if you're not on the list, click <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Stay in the Loop"><U>here</U></A>.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>"Now I knew that the hardest part of any workout was just putting on your sneakers." </B></div> <div> <B>                                                                    - THE WILDWATER WALKING CLUB</B></div> <bR> <div> Hi Everybody!</div> <bR> <div> THE WILDWATER WALKING CLUB is in bookstores everywhere! I hope you'll walk your way to the nearest bookstore and check it out. The cover is so fabulous, and it's been great to hear what readers are saying about what's behind the cover, too: </div> <bR> <div> “I just finished reading Wildwater and I LOVED it!!!” </div> <bR> <div> “I fell in love with Rosie, Tess and Noreen, and it was just the kick I needed to call my own friends and start walking again. It gave me some good ideas for my own reinvention, too.”</div> <bR> <div> “Truly enjoyed it and love, love, LOVED Noreen.”</div> <bR> <div> “…sat outside and soaked up the Florida sunshine, drank 4 Aquafinas and began AND finished your book today!”</div> <bR> <div> “It was wicked good, thank you for writing it!!! I can't wait for your next book!!!”</div> <bR> <div> This time around I'm making videos with my brand new flip camera. I hope you'll check out the first two on the home page at http://ClaireCook.com and share them with your friends.</div> <bR> <div> If you're in Massachusetts, New Hampshire or Connecticut, please join me for one of my WILDWATER events. I guarantee we'll have lots of fun, and you might even win a purple pedometer, and some other cool stuff. And of course, you just might become a walk star in the next video!</div> <bR> <div> Sunday, May 17</div> <div> 2 PM  -- free event but ticketed, so call Westwinds at 781-934-2128 to reserve a space.        </div> <div> WESTWINDS BOOKSHOP Sunday Salon @ DUXBURY FREE LIBRARY</div> <div> 77 Alden Street</div> <div> Duxbury, MA  </div> <bR> <div> Tuesday, May 19          </div> <div> 7 PM </div> <div> RIVERRUN BOOKSTORE              </div> <div> 20 Congress Street</div> <div> Portsmouth, NH  </div> <bR> <div> Thursday, May 21          </div> <div> 7 PM</div> <div> R.J. JULIA BOOKSELLERS               </div> <div> 768 Boston Post Road</div> <div> Madison, CT  </div> <bR> <div> Tuesday, May 26          </div> <div> Noon - 1 PM </div> <div> TITCOMB'S BOOKSHOP         </div> <div> 432 Rte 6A</div> <div> East Sandwich, MA  </div> <bR> <div> Tuesday, May 26 </div> <div> 3 PM - walk around the lighthouse with me!</div> <div> 4-5 PM - signing       </div> <div> WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS</div> <div> 432 Main Street</div> <div> Chatham, MA  </div> <bR> <div> May 29 & 30</div> <div> Book Expo , NYC</div> <div> Friday - I'll be one of the authors at ABA's Celebration of Bookselling Luncheon. Saturday - I'll be signing at the Hyperion Café in the IndieBound room from noon-2pm. </div> <bR> <div> If you're not in walking (okay, driving) distance to any of these, you can still join me virtually on Wednesday, May 27 from 12-1 EST at CHAUNCEY'S BOOK CLUB on Facebook. And you still have time to win sneakers, a pedometer and a signed copy at THE WILDWATER WALKING CLUB page on Facebook - just click through to both from ClaireCook.com. </div> <bR> <div> Let's start a walking revolution - one step at a time! Thanks for your continuing support. </div> <bR> <div> xxxxx</div> <div> Claire</div> <div> Follow me on Twitter at <A HREF="http://WalkwithClaire " TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://WalkwithClaire "><U>http://WalkwithClaire  </U></A> </div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Tuesday, May 12, 2009 @ 9:23 AM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Just two of the nice messages coming in...</div> <bR> <div> "I just have to tell you that I received your book today as part of my Mothers Day gifts (along with a high tech Omron pedometer with software that will let me download my progress to my PC and some new Nikes)... sat outside and soaked up the Florida sunshine, drank 4 Aquafinas and began AND finished your book today! Truly enjoyed it and love, love, LOVED Noreen. Just finished setting up my pedometer, measuring stride length, weight (aack), and time and am planning on logging in at least 5000 steps between now and bedtime. Yes, it's after 8:00 but the dog will enjoy the evening stroll."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "I want to say a very BIG THANK YOU!!! for my signed copy of "The Wildwater Walking Club"!!! My husband went to all the trouble to contact the bookstore and ordered my very first signed book from one of my favorite authors! Needless to say when the package arrived today I wasn't sure what it was. Upon opening it and flipping through the first few pages I came across your note. I about fell out of my chair! Then immediately proceeded to call my mother and brag! He did this for our 5th anniversary I am SOOOOOO excited! I cant wait to read this book and, like all your others, I'm sure I will do so in one sitting! </div> <bR> <div> Thank you again for taking the time to do this. It means the world to me! I have all of your other books in hardback as well! If you are ever in the Dallas/Fort Worth area I will surely be there!"</div> <bR> <div> Great shout out from <A HREF="http://thebestwalk.com/walks/ " TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://thebestwalk.com/walks/ "><U>http://thebestwalk.com/walks/ </U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Sunday, May 10, 2009 @ 3:41PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Happy Mother's Day! </div> <bR> <div> I'll post event photos as soon as things slow down enough to catch up. Thanks to all my wonderful readers and all those great booksellers out there for being so supportive. Walk on!</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Tuesday, May 5, 2009 @ 8:08PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> So exciting! Today is the official publication day of The Wildwater Walking Club! Thanks for all the nice messages on Facebook and Twitter, everybody. I'm so glad you're excited about my new novel!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Monday, May 4, 2009 @ 1:14 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> So many nice comments coming in...</div> <bR> <div> I just finished reading your book and I LOVED it!!! I must admit though that as I was reading about Noreen, Tess, and Rosie walking I felt guilty because I was just lounging on a couch. I was tempted to get up and walk around my house while I read it to squash the guilt...It was wicked good, thank you for writing it!!! I can't wait for your next book!!! </div> <bR> <div> Can't wait to see you in Portsmouth, NH on May 19th, but I'm not sure I can wait until then to read your new book.</div> <bR> <div> I talked the Borders book manager in Crestview Hills, KY into calling me as soon as their shipment of Wildwater Walking Club arrived. He told me that there are no more books for the public b/c they have all been reserved!!! He had to order more!!! AWESOME!!!</div> <bR> <div> sent the reading glasses link to a couple of old Talbots friends and had 2 responses in my inbox this am.</div> <div> we were laid off 2 1/2 years ago-thought they might be interested in the storyline – they were!</div> <bR> <div> Amazon just notified me that my copy is in the mail! I can't wait! Woo-hoo!!!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Sunday, May 3, 2009 @ 2:26 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Thanks to everyone who turned out for my first events! Just putting up a video on YouTube. If you missed it, here it is: <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La7yEEoos0s" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La7yEEoos"><U>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La7yEEoos0s</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Thursday, April 30, 2009 @ 10:03 AM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Thanks to Nancy Murray Young and Brian Nanos for the great shout outs in the Mariner!</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Thursday, April 30, 2009 @ 8:50 AM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="5c5dc1b0.png" border=0 width="220" height="283" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="15" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Just finished a great interview with the fabulous Rob Hakala of WATD radio! He's always so much fun to talk to, and has one of the world's best radio voices. If you're not already a fan, here's a link:</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.959watd.com/RobHakala.php" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.959watd.com/RobHakala.php"><U>http://www.959watd.com/RobHakala.php</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Tuesday, April 28, 2009 @ 2:01 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> How much do I love Valerie Russo and The Patriot Ledger! How nice of them to feature Wildwater and my <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U>events </U></A>in today's Window Dressing column. </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B> <IMG SRC="5c113c80.jpg" border=0 width="275" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Sunday, April 26, 2009 @ 6:07 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> So many nice messages coming in...</div> <bR> <div> "I am so excited about your book, the idea of wallking with my friends again, and just getting myself up off of the couch!  So, after reading about your book in the Hartford Courant today, I decided to contact my friends and tell them I am working on a way for all of us to connect on a regular basis, even if it is long distance! We can use our cell phones, and walk and talk together...I reserved a place at your appearance at the RJ Julia bookstore in Madison CT and hope to give you an update then. Thanks for giving me the nudge I needed to STEP TO IT!!!!"<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> "One of my Facebook friends sent me the review of Wildwater Walking Club. I cannot wait to read this book. I'm looking for my old pedometer now. I know it is here somewhere."</div> <bR> <div> "I wish you were going to be in Texas for book tour again, but I called the store of your first stop and ordered a signed book for my Mom. They will ship for Mother's Day."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Sunday, April 26, 2009 @ 11:50 AM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> What a great review in today's Hartford Courant by Carole Goldberg. Love her!</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5bf8c8c0.png" border=0 width="140" height="140" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="45" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>A Timely Chick-Lit Tale About Facing Life's Changes</B></div> <div> Claire Cook's Sixth Novel Chronicles Newly Jobless Woman Forced To Redefine Herself</div> <div> By CAROLE GOLDBERG | Special to The Courant </div> <div> April 26, 2009 </div> <div> When Claire Cook began writing her sixth novel, she had no idea what the economy would be like when it was published. "The Wildwater Walking Club" will be in stores on May 5, and it may be in the vanguard of a new genre: buyout-themed chick lit. Click here to read the rest... <A HREF="http://www.courant.com/features/booksmags/hc-wildwater0426.artapr26,0,1744475.story" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.courant.com/features/booksmag"><U>http://www.courant.com/features/booksmags/hc-wildwater0426.artapr26,0,1744475.story</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Saturday, April 25, 2009 @ 5:05 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> And this from a wonderful bookseller at Titcomb's on Cape Cod. Such a great bookstore! I'll be doing a signing there on <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U>May 26 at noon</U></A>. </div> <bR> <div> "Claire, I finished the advance copy of 'Wildwater' this morning-you've done it again!!! I will be heartily hand-selling this book...I will see you when you come for your signing...best of luck with 'Wildwater'"</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Saturday, April 25, 2009 @ 9:03 AM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Had a phone chat with another great book club discussing Summer Blowout, this one from Lake Worth, FL. So much fun. Here's an excerpt of a note from one of the members:</div> <div>  </div> <div> "Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with our book club last night. It was very enjoyable and informative. I look foward to your next book, The Wildwater Walking Club. When I lived in NY, I had a nightly walking group of women friends. Since moving to Florida 7 years ago I have not had a simmilar experience. That I have to say is one of the things I miss most about NY. I am sure that your new book will have many moments in it that I will relate to. Thanks again for the chat."</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Tuesday, April 21, 2009 @ 4:49 PM</B></I></div> <div> If you haven't checked out my <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U>events page</U></A> yet, I hope you will. I can't wait to get out and see people again!</div> <bR> <div> "THE WILDWATER WALKING CLUB"...a quick smart read that will get you thinking about walking, friendship and making time for the things you love." -- Bookreporter.com </div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Thursday, April 16, 2009 @ 12:08 PM</B></I></div> <div> Very cool that today's Today Show mentioned both walking and talking with a friend and LAVENDER as inexpensive ways to reduce stress in a tough economy. How cutting edge is The Wildwater Walking Club!</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B> <div><iframe height="339" width="425" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/30245418#30245418" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><p style="font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #999; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center; width: 425px;">Visit msnbc.com for <a style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com">Breaking News</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">World News</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">News about the Economy</a></p></div>  </B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Wednesday, April 8, 2009 @ 8:10 PM</B></I></div> <div> I was just trying to catch up on the mountain of email that has come in since I sent out my last newsletter, and my overloaded server crashed and I lost all the emails that have come in to ClaireATClaireCook.com since Tuesday. If you sent me an email, can you resend? Thank you!</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Wednesday, April 8, 2009 @ 3:53 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Seeking walking stories, photos, and video clips for a The Wildwater Walking Club video to be created by my wild, wacky and wonderful publisher. Hurry! This is your chance to be a walk star! Post at <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>http://facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=62041507856</U></FONT></div> <div> or email them to <A HREF="mailto:thewildwaterwalkingclub@gmail.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:thewildwaterwalkingclub@gmail.com"><U>thewildwaterwalkingclub@gmail.com</U></A>. <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#00FF00" FACE="Arial" ><I><B> </B></I></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Tuesday, April 7, 2009 @ 10:40 AM</B></I></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Read an excerpt of Wildwater"><U><I><B><IMG SRC="5b9a9650.jpg" border=0 width="425" height="357" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Friday, April 3, 2009 @ 8:14 AM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> YAY! The Wildwater Walking Club is an Indie Next pick for May! A HUGE thank you to the wonderful booksellers who took time out of their busy lives to nominate it. LONG LIVE THE INDIES!!!!</div> <bR> <div> And a great big, heartfelt thank you to Jackie Blem for this fabulous quote:</div> <bR> <div> "Summer is coming and so is a new, hilarious book by Claire Cook. <I>The Wildwater Walking Club</I> follows 32 days in the lives of three neighboring women who come together for fellowship and understanding as they set their pedometers for their daily walks. Cook once again blends familiar and serious issues with her keen sense of humor to serve up a treat for her vast legion of fans." --Jackie Blem, <A HREF="http://tatteredcover.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://tatteredcover.com"><U>Tattered Cover Bookstore</U></A>, Denver, CO</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Thursday, April 2, 2009 @ 2:22 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Apparently the official paperback publication date for Summer Blowout isn't until next Tuesday -- oops! But I'm getting reports that it's already on store shelves. In any case, it won't be long!</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Wednesday, April 1, 2009 @ 5:07 AM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> The Wildwater Walking Club went to auction in Germany! The winner, and my new German publisher, is Ullstein, who also publishes Dennis Lehane and Joanne Harris and many others. So cool!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Wednesday, April 1, 2009 @ 9:03 AM</B></I></div> <div> Summer Blowout is officially a paperback today, complete with book group guide and sneak peek chapter of The Wildwater Walking Club, plus this great new cover....</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Summer Blowout"><U><IMG SRC="576b2130.jpg" border=0 width="178" height="275" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Wednesday, March 25, 2009 @ 10:54 AM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> I've been asking people to post 10 Things That Keep Me Walking lists over on <A HREF="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=62041507856" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=62"><U>The Wildwater Walking Club page at Facebook</U></A><A HREF="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=62041507856" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=62"><U>.</U></A> They're so great -- here are just a few of the most recent ones. I'd love to read YOURS....</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="627" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER ROWSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 263 WIDTH="46"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="263" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="46" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER COLSPAN=2 WIDTH="572"><div> <A HREF="http://annmah.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://annmah.net"><U><U>Ann Marie Mah</U></U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > (France) </FONT></div> <div>  </div> <div> 1. I'm vain. There, I said it. Walking helps me sweat and sweating helps me stay in shape.</div> <div> 2. I'm a hopeless hypochondriac (sad, but true).</div> <div> 3. It makes me feel strong and alive to be able to go places under my own steam.</div> <div> 4. Nothing's better for relieving anxiety and frustration than a brisk walk.</div> <div> 5. I live in Paris and love to explore its beautiful streets.</div> <div> 6. I can walk to the patisserie right around the corner...</div> <div> 7. ...and to the stand that makes Nutella crepes.</div> <div> 8. I'm a city girl, without a car, and my legs are my primary mode of transportation (which I love).</div> <div> 9. It leaves my mind clear to think up good ideas.</div> <div> 10. You never know what you're going to discover.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER COLSPAN=2 WIDTH="572"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="572" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="628" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER ROWSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 224 WIDTH="63"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="224" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="63" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER COLSPAN=2><NOBR><div> <U>Polly Kimmitt</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > (Worcester, MA) </FONT></div> <div> 1. The rush of clean air in my lungs gives me energy.</div> <div> 2. Watching the seasons crawl past, year after year, is very reassuring.</div> <div> 3. Listening to Genealogy Guys Podcast only happens on a walk.</div> <div> 4. I get sunshine on my face, even in winter!</div> <div> 5. A feeling of accomplishment follows me through the day.</div> <div> 6. The chance to let thoughts go where they will happens ONLY on a walkl.</div> <div> 7. It keeps cardiovascular system in really good shape.</div> <div> 8. I'd be the size of a grand New England barn if I didn't.</div> <div> 9. Good excuse to hang out with a friend for an hour or two.</div> <div> 10. It just feels really, really good!</div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER COLSPAN=2 WIDTH="556"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="556" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <U>Ellen Orleans</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > (Boulder, CO) </FONT></div> <div> Walking rocks because....</div> <bR> <div> 1. Walking takes me to the bus stop.</div> <div> 2. Walking takes me from the bus stop.</div> <div> 3. I see friends, neighbors, and co-workers when I walk.</div> <div> 4. Red lights don't bother nearly as much when I walk.</div> <div> 5. Boulder's 78 underpasses and overpasses making walking an adventure.</div> <div> 6. Sleep better at night;feel better during the day.</div> <div> 7. Watching the budding, leafing and turning of the trees.</div> <div> 8. Fill the gas tank less often and feel good I'm adding fewer carbon emissions to the air.</div> <div> 9. Justify buying good sock in fun colors.</div> <div> 10. Get to know the neighborhood kids, cats and dogs.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Tuesday, March 24, 2009 @ 9:52 AM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="599075e0.jpg" border=0 width="263" height="350" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="22" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Well, I'm walkin' the line these days, as in <I>deadline</I>. Every day it's a struggle to get those pages done, but I guess that's just the way it is with all good things. You want to procrastinate, you want to sabbotage yourself, but if you hang in there and keep putting one page in front of the other....eventually you have another book!</div> <bR> <div> Here's hoping anyway! Can't wait to be able to spend more time out there, taking in the blue skies and salt air.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Wednesday, March 18, 2009 @ 5:11 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> If you haven't found your way over to The Wildwater Walking Club page at Facebook, I hope you will. It's worth the trip not just to win sneakers, a pedometer and a signed copy of the novel, but you can also post your 10 Things That Keep Me Walking list there. Here's the link: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>http://facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=62041507856</U></FONT> </div> <bR> <div> And a HUGE thanks to everyone who has written to say that WILDWATER is on their Mother's Day list. If you're a mom, make sure you try to get your kids to throw in a pedometer, too. You SO deserve it!!!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 8:13 AM</B></I></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="506aaab0.png" border=0 width="170" height="171" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="6" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Happy St. Patrick's Day. Everybody!!</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Wednesday, March 12, 2009 @ 5:11 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> The wonderful Laura Lucy, owner of one of my favorite bookstores, White Birch Books in North Conway, NH, was kind enough to nominate The Wildwater Walking Club for the IndieNext list! Thank you, Laura! And long live the Indies!! If you're ever in North Conway, please stop in at White Birch and tell everybody hi for me.</div> <bR> <div> "<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Courier New" >Leave it to Claire Cook to make being downsized sound like so much fun! When Noreen takes a buyout and gets dumped by her smarmy boyfriend, she finds herself with a lot of free time. So she starts walking and meeting new people, and planting a garden and installing a clothesline, and basically enjoying herself. The Wildwater Walking Club is the perfect summer read!"                            </FONT></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> - Laura Lucy</div> <div> <B>White Birch Books</B></div> <div> <B>2568 Main St</B></div> <div> <B>North Conway, NH 03860</B></div> <div> <B>Tel: 603-356-3200</B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://whitebirchbooks.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://whitebirchbooks.com"><U><B>whitebirchbooks.com</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Wednesday, March 4, 2009 @ 3:40 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> How nice of a former high school classmate of mine to pass this along... Thanks, Wayne!</div> <bR> <div> Hi, Claire,</div> <bR> <div> You know you've arrived when you see your name in the crosswords! I saw </div> <div> this in the crossword puzzle of a local paper in Southern California </div> <div> last month:</div> <bR> <div> 94-Down; 5 letters: "____ a Beach": Claire Cook novel</div> <bR> <div> In case you didn't know, I wanted to pass it along. Take care, and </div> <div> continued success. Wayne </div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Wednesday, March 4, 2009 @ 11:56 AM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Here's my latest newsletter. If you're on the list, and you're not getting it, make sure you add newsletter@clairecook.com to your address book or safe senders list. And if you're not on the list, click <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Stay in the Loop"><U>here</U></A>.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="57af45e0.jpg" border=0 width="244" height="350" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="14" VSPACE="0">WILDWATER GIVEAWAY!</div> <bR> <div> Hi Everybody!</div> <bR> <div> Let the WILDWATER giveaway begin! Win an official The Wildwater Walking Club bag filled with sneakers, pedometer, and a signed copy of my upcoming novel, which is about a group of women who walk and talk, talk and walk, tally their steps, share their secrets, and learn what women everywhere are finding out - time flies and getting fit is actually fun when you're walking with friends.</div> <div>  </div> <div> This time around I'm doing the giveaway at Facebook, simply because it's such an easy place for you to enter the giveaway, as well as to post your walking stories and photos. (And it will make my life WAY easier, too!)</div> <bR> <div> If you're already on Facebook, just go to this link to enter: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=62041507856 " TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group"><U><U>http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=62041507856</U></U></A></FONT><A HREF="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=62041507856 " TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group"><U><U> </U></U></A> Click on "Join this Group" and you're automatically entered to win. </div> <bR> <div> After you enter, I hope you'll press "Invite People to Join" and invite your entire Facebook friend list to join The Wildwater Walking Club. It will REALLY help me spread the word! Thanks so much for your book buzz support -- I don't know what I'd do without you!</div> <bR> <div> I also hope you'll post your walking stories and photos right on the page. I think it's only fair that every time you post one, you'll get another chance to win, so that's how we'll do it. </div> <bR> <div> If you're not on Facebook, DON'T PANIC. It's not that hard. Just go to facebook.com and set up an account. (If you don't feel like filling out the whole profile, just skip to the next section.) </div> <bR> <div> Once you're in, go to the search area (upper right corner) and type in The Wildwater Walking Club. Click on the magnifying glass, and it'll bring you to the page. </div> <bR> <div> Click on “Join this Group” and you're automatically entered to WIN!</div> <bR> <div> Once again, thanks for sharing this message with anyone and everyone who might be interested, and another huge thank you for your continuing support.</div> <bR> <div> See you on Facebook!</div> <bR> <div> xxxxxClaire</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Sunday, March 1, 2009 @ 9:24 AM</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="597a0d50.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="213" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="15" VSPACE="0"> </B></I> </div> <div> What <I>will </I>they think of next? Check out these swinging makeup glasses. The single lens swings over so you can see to put on your makeup. I understand the need, what I'm wondering about is the lack of depth perception looking through one eye -- I'd probably stab myself with the mascara wand. Still, I have to admit I wish I'd known about them when I was writing <A HREF="id8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Summer Blowout"><U>Summer Blowout</U></A>! And if you're dying to have a pair, go to <A HREF="http://www.peeperspecs.com/products/productDetail.asp?PROD_ID=176&DEPid=9&ROOT_dept=0" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.peeperspecs.com/products/prod"><U>http://www.peeperspecs.com/products/productDetail.asp?PROD_ID=176&DEPid=9&ROOT_dept=0</U></A></div> <bR> <div> Let me know how they work! And why do I think these will <I>not </I>be the next Snuggie...</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Tuesday, February 24, 2009 @ 6:03 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Check out my <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Walking Group Guide"><U>walking group guide</U></A>, beautifully formatted by my talented friends at Voice. And feel free to print and post wherever women gather! Thanks for spreading the word!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Sunday, February 22, 2009 @ 9:51 AM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Most of the walking stories I've been getting lately are about how much more fun it will be to walk when spring gets here. So true. But still, no matter what the weather, I always feel better after I get out there and get my walk in.</div> <bR> <div> In my last newsletter, I talked about walking with my imaginary characters. I was kidding. What I really do is walk along and think about the book, what might happen next, that sort of thing. My characters don't appear to me or whisper in my ear. I make them up.</div> <bR> <div> But I seem to have triggered something -- I've been getting emails from writers who say their characters talk to them, too. I have to say, six novels in and hard at work on a seventh, I've yet to have anything even remotely like the following happen to me. But thanks for sharing! And how great that we all have different writing processes -- maybe someday I'll have characters that write my books, too!</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>"As a fellow writer, I often take my characters along on walks – or, more precisely, they invite themselves along.... Sometimes they piece together bits of dialogue that have been missing from key scenes… often they talk with me about the direction their lives have taken and their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with that direction… sometimes they ignore me entirely and argue among themselves about one thing or another." - Rita</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Saturday, February 21, 2009 @ 3:53 PM</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div>   <IMG SRC="5842cc80.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="5822cc80.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> For The Vintage Club walking group in Atlanta, the reward is a stop at Starbucks! Thanks for sending the photos.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Thursday, February 19, 2009 @ 3:04 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> I LOVE Jill Miner and Saturn Booksellers!! Jill is just the most supportive bookseller ever, and her store is great. If you're ever in Northern Michigan, find your way to Gaylord and her store. It's totally worth the trip. Here's Jill's IndieBound nomination, which I appreciate SO SO much.</div> <bR> <div> "It's a conflict - does Claire Cook's new <I>Wildwater Walking Club </I>make you want to hurry home from work to finish reading the novel, or make you want to hurry home from work to start your <I>own </I>walking club/clothesline activism group/lavender farm/relationship?  Not that it matters, `cause when it comes to a Claire Cook novel, it's all good.  If this book doesn't make you laugh, cry, smile and yearn for change in your own life, you <I>definitely </I>need a new pair of sneakers!"</div> <div>  </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Jill Miner</div> <div> <A HREF="http://saturnbooksellers.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://saturnbooksellers.com/NASApp/stor"><U>Saturn Booksellers</U></A></div> <div> 133 W. Main St.</div> <div> Gaylord, MI 49735</div> <div> Tel: 989 732 8899</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Monday, February 16, 2009 @ 12:18 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I>So nice of </I><A HREF="http://hownottoactold.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://hownottoactold.com"><U><I>Pamela </I></U></A><A HREF="http://hownottoactold.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://hownottoactold.com"><U><I>Redmond Satran</I></U></A><I> to send me walking pics from Paris! Thanks, Pam!</I></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><IMG SRC="57cc80b0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="267" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="57ec80b0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="267" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Sunday, February 15, 2009 @ 3:37 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Don't miss the <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reinvention Contest!!"><U>WILDWATER GIVEAWAY!</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Sunday, February 15, 2009 @ 12:04 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Another great story...</div> <bR> <div> "My walking group story originates in Connecticut.  I've been a member of a 6-woman mall walking group since 1991.  It began as an offshoot of a study group, since several of us were working on our degrees at night and would get together to work on assignments each week. When we graduated, we missed getting together--we missed the comraderie but NOT the homework. Anyway, a new mall had recently opened in our area and one of the women started mall walking each day.  Those of us who worked full time joined her on weekends, each of us eventually bringing a buddy into the fold until there were 6 of us.  We tried to maintain a pace of 4 miles per hour, even getting called out by a mall security guard for "sprinting" which was SOOOOOO against the rules on the marble mall floors (insurance, you know!)  We would gather at the Santa chair for an annual holiday photo taken by one of the gal's husbands. We got busted by security for that too - "no sitting on Santa's chair!" - my gosh, we were then a group of 40-somethings trying to use the backdrop for a good photo--arrest us already! </div> <bR> <div> That little group saw us thru new marriages, divorces, new babies, kids leaving for college, job transfers, new boyfriends (ugh - don't ask!), more new boyfriends, aches and pains, illnesses, menopause, turning 60, male menopause - well, you get the idea.  It was cheaper and more fun than going to a shrink and the climate control of the mall allowed us to be consistent with our attendance.  We didn't worry about 5 degree temps with ice or 85 degree temps - we were THERE every Saturday at 8 and every Sunday at 9 burning up the floors whizzing past Victoria's Secret, Yankee Candle and Macy's." </div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 7:13 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I>"I wanted you to know that I just finished reading [a review copy of] your book - and I LOVED it!!  I took it with me to the ABA's Winter Institute last week and read it nonstop on the plane.</I></div> <div> <I> </I></div> <div> <I>A co-worker and I were sharing a room and reading one night before going to sleep.  She had a very dark novel that I hadn't cared for and I was laughing out loud enjoying your book.  Well, I couldn't stop reading passages to her (I was reading the part where they put up the posters against the ban one dark night) - and I just got the giggles and couldn't stop laughing!!!  I couldn't read I was laughing so hard!!</I></div> <div> <I> </I></div> <div> <I>The story is sweet and the characters likeable and real and funny.  I love your sense of family and friendships in your books - you put a lot of yourself in your writing, which is why we all love your books!"</I></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Vicky Uminowicz</div> <div> Titcomb's Bookshop</div> <div> 432 Route 6A</div> <div> East Sandwich, MA  02537</div> <div> <A HREF="http://titcombsbookshop.com " TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://titcombsbookshop.com "><U>www.titcombsbookshop.com</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Tuesday, February 10, 2009 @ 8:03 AM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Wow, that last newsletter is getting around. Thanks for your enthusiastic response, and if I haven't answered your email yet, I'm working on it! (My rule is that I have to finish my daily page quota before I do anything else, otherwise I'd never finish a draft of my next novel.) </div> <bR> <div> Looks like we're finally getting some good walking weather here. Hope you are, too!</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Sunday, February 1, 2009 @ 1:12 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I>As promised, here's my latest newsletter. Feel free to copy and send it to your friends...</I></div> <bR> <div> Friends Don't Let Friends Walk Alone!</div> <bR> <div> Hi Everybody!</div> <bR> <div> When I asked you to send me your walking tips and stories, I thought maybe I'd get some new walking techniques, like how to avoid underhydrating or overstriding, or even underwalking. </div> <bR> <div> Maybe learn some new stretches to avoid sore calves or hear about the latest research on endorphins, or en<I>dolphins</I> as we call them near the beach. </div> <bR> <div> Find out what time you walk, where you walk, how long, how far, how fast. </div> <bR> <div> If you have a favorite brand of sneaker, T-shirt, hat. </div> <bR> <div> Whether you prefer paper or virtual walking logs, or pedometers that count your steps or your miles, or both. </div> <bR> <div> Whether your go-to walking website is mapmywalk.com or walking.about.com or  womenwalking.net or walkersandtalkers.com. Or ClaireCook.com, of course!</div> <bR> <div> But instead, I heard from a woman who started walking with a neighbor at the kindergarten bus stop, simply because they were both wearing sneakers and some holiday pounds. Almost two decades later, their kids have graduated and moved out, then back in, then out again, and the two women are still walking strong.</div> <bR> <div> Another woman emailed to say she and a group of friends take turns picking a place to walk on Sundays. They call it “going to church.” She said they're all so busy, they'd never see each other any other way, and I guess they figure if there is a God, She'll understand.</div> <bR> <div> Two other women plan to leave their homes at the exact same time and start walking toward each other. It keeps them from worrying about who's early or who's late, and half of the fun is wondering where along the path they'll meet. </div> <bR> <div> A college student told me that when she went off to school, she finally understood why her mother valued her walking friend, so she's pulled her own group together to walk and “share stories about classes, work, and our lack of love lives.”</div> <bR> <div> One woman and her friends forgot where they left their car while walking. Another woman likes to pretend to walk with faraway friends via cell phone. Several more still miss the friends they walked with for ages, until lives changed, and they moved or grew apart. </div> <bR> <div> So thanks for reminding me that the most important thing isn't how you walk or where you go, but who you walk with. And while I think there's great meditative value in walking alone, taking in nature, figuring out your shopping list or the next part of your novel, there is nothing like the joy of walking with a friend. </div> <bR> <div> Whether you're dissecting the day's news, sharing your old stories or creating some new ones, critiquing fashion trends in store windows or landscape choices in front yards, time flies and fitness is actually fun when you're sharing your walk with someone whose company you enjoy.</div> <bR> <div> Walking with your friends can also help you live longer, and fight disease and depression. Where would Lucy have been without Ethel? Mary without Rhoda? And maybe it's just me, but I sometimes still wonder what would have happened if Thelma and Louise had just ditched the car and walked off into the sunset together.</div> <bR> <div> So right now, not today or tomorrow, or as soon as you finish this or that or the other thing, but <I>really</I> right now, make a list of the friends you want to walk with, not only this week or this weekend, but on into your fit and fabulous nineties. And then pick up the phone, or send them this email. Or just walk yourself right over to their houses, knock on their doors, and tell them to start lacing up those sneakers. Fast. Because, after all, you haven't got all day.</div> <bR> <div> xxxxx</div> <div> Claire</div> <bR> <div> P.S. Keep walking - and keep those walking stories coming! Email them to <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:thewildwaterwalkingclub@gmail.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:thewildwaterwalkingclub@gmail.com"><U><U>thewildwaterwalkingclub@gmail.com</U></U></A></FONT>. </div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Friday, January 30, 2009 @ 2:26 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div>  I'm getting ready to send out a new newsletter, so stay tuned....</div> <bR> <div> In the meantime, to help make you feel that spring really is just around the corner, here are a few of the photos I took when I visited the Sequim Lavender Festival to do research for The Wildwater Walking Club.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="561902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">      <IMG SRC="565c80b0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="267" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div>    <IMG SRC="563c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="567c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="569c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="56bc8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Sunday, January 25, 2009 @ 7:14 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> When I'm writing a novel, as I am now, on a good day I finish my pages and then I go out walking and catch up on the things I absolutely have to do. On an extra good day, I say hi to my husband and spend some time answering email. </div> <bR> <div> One of the things I've learned is that if I start answering email, checking Facebook,Goodreads, MySpace, etc. FIRST, then the most important thing, my novel, just doesn't move forward. It really is a step by step, page by page ,day in and day out, hang in there thing to write a novel. All by way of saying I'm sorry if it takes me a while to get back to you. I really do appreciate hearing from old and new friends!</div> <bR> <div> Here are some snippets from recent emails... </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Q<FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Courier New" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" ><I>I just recently have become a fan of your books and writing! My question however is this.. Is Noah The Glassbloah in Life's a Beach real? If so, do you know if he is still in business? Have tried his website to no avail. Again, loving your books, hope to keep reading them as long as you keep writing them....</I></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#990000" FACE="Courier New" >A</FONT><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Courier New" > </FONT>Noah is a purely fictional character. The listings in the back of <I>Life's a Beach</I> serve as an epilog for the characters in the novel, but also include some real things I thought my readers would enjoy. I've always enjoyed mixing fact and fiction in this way, but I'm sorry it was confusing for you! (I kind of wish Noah was real, too!)</div> <bR> <div> Q <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" ><I>I met someone who is an old friend of yours. She said the Shaughnessy family in Summer Blowout was based on someone you dated? Is that true? Also, how do you get your ideas?</I></FONT></div> <bR> <div> A <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >From my old dates? Kidding. I write fiction. I make things up. Apparently, so do some of my old friends.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Ideas are the hardest part for some authors, but for me it's more difficult to stay with one idea until I have a book. I'd love to start a new book every week! Everywhere I look there's something interesting to write about. The world is such an endlessly fascinating place. And I'm sure bits and pieces of people I know find their way into my novels, but you'll just have to keep guessing which ones they are!</div> <bR> <div> Q<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Courier New" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" ><I>Where will you be going on book tour for your new one? I'm looking forward to reading it by the way. Also thank you for inspiring me to hunt down my pedometer and start walking again. </I></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#990000" FACE="Courier New" >A </FONT>Thanks so much for looking foward to reading THE WILDWATER WALKING CLUB. I'm really proud of it, and can't wait until it makes its way out into the world in May! As for book tour, I honestly don't know yet where I'll be. But keep watching my <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U>events</U></A> page, and I'll let you know as soon as I do! And so glad you're out there walking! </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Tuesday, January 20, 2009 @ 1:03 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> What a day!  <IMG SRC="55f89890.gif" border=0 width="137" height="137" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Tuesday, January 20, 2009 @ 8:30 AM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#33FFFF" FACE="Arial" ><I><IMG SRC="17ad0800.png" border=0 width="208" height="128" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="0"></I></FONT>So sad to hear to the news that the wonderful Schwartz bookshops are closing. I had such a great event at the Brookfield store, and this BookSense quote for <I>Life's a Beach</I> meant so much to me:</div> <div>     </div> <bR> <div> "Two sisters who both live in a trendy beachfront community couldn’t be more different. Ginger is still living above her parents’ garage, making jewelry and dating a glass blower, but that relationship is a bit, well, cracked. Geri supposedly has it altogether—marriage, kids, career, the works. A film crew comes to town; their lives are shaken up. The results are both fun and funny. Readers will see a bit of themselves in each sister. What more could you want for summer?" </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>- Nancy Quinn, Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops, Milwaukee, WI</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Monday, January 19, 2009 @ 3:18 PM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> I just finished today's pages and now I'm trying again to catch up on email. Here are some snippets...</div> <bR> <div> - Your new book sounds facinating, and I can't wait to read it! What a great idea! I can already picture it in my mind!</div> <bR> <div> - I walk every Sunday morning with three other women -- we call it "going to Church." Each week one of us gets to pick where we go and then we often go out to brunch afterwards. I'd never see these friends otherwise since we're all so busy, and it's something I look forward to all week long.</div> <bR> <div> - May 5, huh? I know what I'm asking for this Mothers Day. My well trained children start asking me what I want the day after Valentines Day.That's a joke.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Hi Claire!  </B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> <B>When my family moved back to Vermont permanently, my mother and her friend Tina began to walk a stretch of our rural dirt road.  I joined them a few times as a teenager, but I was usually too busy with school and my own thing to walk with them.  Plus, it was hard!  Well, now that I'm in college, I finally see why my mother values those walks.  Not only does she get to exercise and stay fit, but she gets to catch up with her friend.  </B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> <B>Now that I am at college ( a small one in a Boston suburb), my friends and I have started going out and walking down to the beach at night.  It is a short walk, but there is nothing more relaxing to me than walking down the beach with Hillary, Abraham, or Jen, while we share stories about classes, work, or our lack of love lives!  </B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> <B>I can't wait to read your latest book!  I am eagerly awaiting its arrival on our library's shelves.  I am an avid reader and I love to write, but I can never seem to get inspired enough to keep it up.  Also, i can never find a subject!  </B></div> <div> <B>Thanks for your entertaining writing!</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> <I><B>Wednesday, January 14, 2009 @ 11:30 AM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Such a great trip to NYC. I loved seeing old friends and meeting new ones at Voice, and also getting to hang out with that rockin' special market team at Harper! A day filled with so many smart women -- and a few good men! <I>The Wildwater Walking Club</I> is starting to feel like a book, and I'm so incredibly lucky to have such great support.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="55e902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> And of course, even though I brought my camera, I forgot to take pictures until the last minute, when the truly wonderful Voice Executive Editor Barbara Jones came to my rescue and took a photo of me outside my car in front of MOMA. I love the starburst reflection of the light -- maybe it's a good omen for The Wildwater Walking Club. </div> <bR> <div> Of course, the driver thought I was a total tourist -- he even asked me if I wanted to keep the piece of paper with my name on it! (No, I'm not telling whether I took it or not....)</div> <bR> <div> And we were so busy talking on the way to the airport, he dropped me off at the wrong terminal. I had his number, so I guess I could have called him, but instead I just took the free shuttle bus all the way to the Marine Terminal -- which felt more like me than a car anyway! Plus I met this adorable mother and her son from China, and we chatted the whole way. </div> <bR> <div> And then, of course, as I was boarding the shuttle to Boston, I ran into someone who used to take aerobics from me about a zillion years ago!</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 9:53 AM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> So many responses and some great ideas came in after that last newsletter, I'm STILL going through them. I'm also trying to get ready for a trip to NY, but I promise I'll catch up as soon as I'm back. (I'm also thinking I might actually clean my house then.) </div> <bR> <div> Will share more later, but here are a few to start....</div> <bR> <div> Dear Claire,</div> <bR> <div> I can't wait for your latest book... many congratulations. And you </div> <div> look so fit and happy in your photo. You're an inspiration, and I'm </div> <div> going to start walking, too.</div> <bR> <div> I also wanted to thank you for being so kind and encouraging to new </div> <div> writers. I've seen your videos and read your tips, and they really </div> <div> helped me stay motivated to write my novel. And I actually sold it -- </div> <div> to Atria books for publication next year! It is truly a dream come </div> <div> true. So many thanks.</div> <bR> <div> Have a wonderful New Year!</div> <bR> <div> - I wrote a story for the Auburn News, our small local paper. It was about my friend Adele Smith and I walking all the streets in Auburn.</div> <div> We used to go walking together most every day...and though neither of us could remember whose idea it was to do all the streets, we started doing that. We used a planning board map to mark off the streets. There were a few small adventures..like forgetting where we parked the car when we were doing streets some distance from our homes and fllinching at some big barking dogs.</div> <bR> <div> Hi Claire - I cannot wait to read this new one. I dusted off my pedometer, laced up my shoes and a friend and I are out there everyday thanks to you! </div> <bR> <div> Claire, You don't know me. I happened to catch a video of you on-line talking to</div> <div> aspiring authors where you shared your own fear of avoiding writing for</div> <div> years because you were simply too afraid to begin. I wanted to thank you for</div> <div> your indirect encouragement and let you know that with those words, you</div> <div> sparked a little fire inside of me that I couldn't ignore.</div> <bR> <div> As a journalism major back in the lat 80's I spent some time after</div> <div> graduation in the field of marketing research, advertising sales, dabbled a</div> <div> bit in PR (internal only) and then left it all behind to be a mom. Over the</div> <div> years i kept finding myself writing newsletters, publishing motivational</div> <div> pieces for the school, doing some public speaking for non-profits and then</div> <div> your voice on-line told me the truth.</div> <bR> <div> I was a writer-in-hiding.</div> <bR> <div> Thank you for the wake up call.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Thursday, January 1, 2009 @ 8:03 AM</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Happy New Year, Everybody!</div> <bR> <div> Okay, even if you had a late night last night, it's time to lace up those sneakers and walk your way to a fun-filled and fabulous 2009. If you start walking 10,000 steps a day TODAY, you will not only be incredibly fit by the time my new novel, <I>The Wildwater Walking Club</I>, comes out in 125 days (but who's counting!) on May 5, but you will have totally earned the right to put up your feet and read a good book!</div> <bR> <div> <I>The Wildwater Walking Club</I> is the story of three women who walk and talk, and talk and walk, tally their steps, share their secrets, and let life take them in some new and surprising directions. And the best thing about it for me was that because my characters were walking 10,000 steps a day, I did, too! </div> <bR> <div> I love being a novelist, but the downside is that you spend most of your day sitting at the computer. So the gift of this novel was that it made me remember how great it feels to move. </div> <bR> <div> As the <I>Wildwater</I> narrator says:</div> <bR> <div> <I>“Now I knew that the hardest part of any workout was just putting on your sneakers. Once you got started, all you had to do was keep putting one foot in front of the other, no matter what was or wasn't happening in your life, no matter how happy or sad you were. I'd taken that first step because I wanted to look better. I wanted my clothes to fit. But it hadn't taken me long to figure out that the biggest benefit was less about vanity than it was about sanity. Walking always helped.”</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> So call up some friends and start walking! And go to <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE WILDWATER WALKING CLUB"><U><I>The Wildwater Walking Club</I></U></A><A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE WILDWATER WALKING CLUB"><U> page</U></A> for tips and inspiration, and to see some OLD aerobics photos from one of my former lives. I'll keep adding info and links (and even a giveaway!) between now and May 5, so check back often. </div> <bR> <div> And I hope you'll share YOUR walking stories, too. What keeps you putting one foot in front of the other? What's your favorite walking magazine, website, event, or walking tip? Send an email to <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:thewildwaterwalkingclub@gmail.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:thewildwaterwalkingclub@gmail.com"><U><U>thewildwaterwalkingclub@gmail.com</U></U></A></FONT> and I'll do my best to get everything up on my website, so we'll all be virtually, if not literally, walking together. </div> <bR> <div> Now get out there and take a walk on the wild side!</div> <bR> <div> xxxxx</div> <div> Claire  </div> <div>  </div> <div> P.S. If you're not already signed up for my e-newsletter, click <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Stay in the Loop"><U>here</U></A> to stay in the loop. And be sure to add newsletterATClaireCook.com to your address book or safe senders list.</div> <bR> <div> P.P.S. There's some new stuff up on my <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aspiring Writers"><U>Aspiring Writers page</U></A>, too!</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>