2005
December 14, 2005 @ 8:04 AM
HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE!
December 05, 2005 @ 2:43 PM
Sorry I haven't been blogging lately, but I'm still hard at work on my new novel. As soon as I'm done with this draft, I'll send everyone an e-newsletter update.Thanks for your understanding! And keep an eye out for the MLD DVD!
November 18, 2005 @ 2:43 PM
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2005
BOSTON CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTER
PLEASE JOIN US
www.maconferenceforwomen.org
Join women from across Massachusetts for this day-long event, which pulls together more
than 75 nationally recognized experts and female leaders to address women on business,
career, and financial concerns, as well as family, health and education issues.
Bertice Berry, Ph.D., award-winning entertainer, lecturer, and comedienne
Lorraine Monroe, Ph.D., a world-renowned speaker, President and CEO of The Lorraine Monroe Leadership Institute
Claire Cook, best-selling author, Must Love Dogs, which is now a new movie, starring Diane Lane and John Cusack
Janet Hanson, Founder, Milestone Capital and 85 Broads
Susan M. Love, M.D., President and Medical Director of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation
Susan Lyne, President and Chief Executive Officer of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.
Mariane Pearl, widow of Daniel Pearl and author, A Mighty Heart
Pamela Thomas-Graham, Chairman of CNBC and best-selling author, Ivy League Mystery Series
Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Ph.D., renowned Harvard Business School professor and co-author,
Confidence: How Winning Streaks & Losing Streaks Begin & End
Jean Kilbourne, author, Can’t Buy My Love: How Advertising Changes the Way We Think and Feel
Governor Ann Richards, Former Texas Governor and Author
Judith Warner, bestselling author, Perfect Madness
brought to you in conjunction with
The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women
August 18, 2005 @ 2:43 PM
If my last e-newsletter didn't get to you, try adding newsletter@clairecook.com to your address book, or adding it to your safe senders list. And, if you haven't subscribed to my free e-newsletter, you can put yourself on the list to get the next one by typing in your email address here. And here's the one you just missed:
Hi Everybody!
Well, I don't know about you but I've certainly had more relaxing summers! Thanks so very much to everyone for getting out there to support Must Love Dogs and me. I don't want to get all sappy on you, but the generosity of spirit has been truly overwhelming. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
So often the author is marginalized when her book gets turned into a movie, but my experience has been anything but that - I even made the MLD photo spread in Hollywood's Daily Variety! There have been so many kind and wonderful articles and interviews, plus I think every TV crew in New England has been to our house. Unfortunately, now the secret is out - no, our 1890's Victorian does not have central air. And, yes, there are many weeds in my garden.
But, who cares - I'm having a blast, and books and movie are doing very, very well. The Must Love Dogs movie will open in at least 16 countries around the world, and the book is right behind it - last I checked, translations were out or being planned in Brazil, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Poland, Thailand, with more in the works.
I've received about a gazillion requests for details about the LA premiere, so here goes. How hip was the hotel we stayed at? Why, Courtney Love was even taken out in an ambulance while we were there. (She was feeling faint.) We rode in a stretch limo to the premiere, and they actually announced me to the media line when we arrived. Timing is everything, and I guess no real celebrities had arrived yet, so when we started walking the red carpet (which was actually a green Astroturf carpet studded with fire hydrants - so cute) all the photographers started yelling, "Claire, Claire, over here. Claire, over here," and snapping away. It was hilarious - just like in the movies. I couldn't stop laughing.
Inside, we were given seats of honor in the front row of the first balcony, and when Gary David Goldberg got up to introduce the movie, he began by saying, "None of us would be here tonight without Claire Cook and her wonderful novel." I couldn't believe it - the good seats and free popcorn would have been plenty! Midway through the movie, I completely forgot that it was my book or Gary's movie - I just got pulled into the story and the characters. I guess that's about the biggest compliment I could give this movie. It's sweet and funny, and just so upbeat, and I think it really captures the spirit of the book.
The after party was on a huge roof completely covered with Astroturf. The Must Love Dogs soundtrack blared and adoptable dogs from an LA shelter mingled with the stars (celestial as well as thespian). The buffet tables were topped with actual bright green sod, and the food was served in tiny silver dog dishes. There was a corner set up where you could have your official premiere photo taken so it looked like you were on the MLD poster. To see ours, go to my blog at http://www.clairecook.com/id2.htm and scroll down.
It was a truly magical night, but I think the Scituate Premiere party, which took place a week later when the movie opened nationally, was even more fun. Front Street Book Shop and Patriot Cinemas did an amazing job. Champagne, doggie bags, book marks made out of strips of the actual movie trailer. We all wore feather boas and paraded down the street from the bookstore to the theater. I think there are probably still pink feathers fluttering around the streets of Scituate, Massachusetts. My name was in lights outside the theater, everybody signed an enormous poster on the wall inside, there were prizes under the chairs, and they even let me push the button to start the movie. Such an unforgettable night, and one I'll always be grateful for, as I will for the other terrific movie screenings and book signings that followed. To see the photos, go to http://www.clairecook.com/id2.htm.
Okay, back to work for me. I'm hiding out so I can write my fourth novel, and won't begin booking any more events until sometime after the first of the year. I also won't be checking email very often until I'm done. I'll let you know when I come up for air again.
Once again, many thanks to friends, family, readers, booksellers and the media for your continued support, and please forward this email to everyone you know!
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: http://www.clairecook.com/id25.htm
xxxxx,
Claire
August 16, 2005 @ 12:06 PM
Well, it's certainly taken me long enough, but here are some photos from the Must Love Dogs Scituate Premiere Party. Most of the photos by Edie Scott of Patriot Cinemas, with a few additions by Jill Flynne, Kathy Grein and others. Thanks! (Captions below each photo.)
How lucky am I to live in a place like Scituate, Massachusetts!?!?! That's the crowd outside Front Street Book Shop. Everybody else is inside drinking all the champagne at the sold-out premiere party. Amazingly, they turned away well over 200 people, and people are already trying to get tickets for the Multiple Choice premiere party. It might be a bit premature -- I'm thinking we should probably at least wait until Working Title has hired the actors. Anyway, a huge thanks to Pam, Peg and to all my old friends at Front Street Bookshop, all my new friends at Patriot Cinemas at the Mill Wharf, everybody who attended the party, and every single person who's gone to see this movie or is planning to!
Look how many people dressed in pink to match their boas... By the way, now I know why ducks don't need winter coats -- feather boas really keep you warm, especially on 90 degree days.
Inside it was all about catching up with old friends and new.
Then it was time to head to the theater. Only in Scituate could I get my name up in lights like this. Hope Gary David Goldberg doesn't mind me getting credit for his movie!
Just in case anybody missed my name outside...
I love it...
So cool...
It really was a barking good time! Maybe even beyond bark.
Feathers flew and popcorn popped...
It was pretty overwhelming.
So I tried for earnest and humble, maybe even prayerful.
The crowd wasn't buying it for a minute. Thanks, guys.
So I got to work and Pam let me pick the winners!
A flashback to cheerleading days...
Then Jim, the manager of Patriot Cinemas at The Mill Wharf, took me into the projection room to see my movie. That's my movie! Isn't it beautiful?!?!
That's me in the window telling everyone, "Hey, you guys, I saw my movie!"
I still can't believe Jim let me push the start button. A high point in a magical night.
And how much did everybody like the Must Love Dogs movie? This much!
August 10, 2005 @ 7:11 AM
Fabulous story in the August/September issue of the New York Dog Magazine. If you haven't seen it, click on the graphic below:
August 2, 2005 @ 8:01 AM
I've been so crazed I haven't had a minute to blog. Here are some LA premiere photos I've been meaning to put up:
This is us outside our stretch limo! My first apartment was smaller than this car. Our suites at the Hollywood Roosevelt were huge, too. And, of course, I'm carrying a book in my boa-wrapped dog pocketbook!
Here's a close-up of my doggie bag!
And here's a picture of us at the premiere, which was held at the Cinerama Dome on Sunset Boulevard.
July 25, 2005 @ 5:12 PM
Things are looking good for Must Love Dogs, the movie. I'm sooooo excited!
“Happy days are here again with `Must Love Dogs,' a wonderful picture that gives love and laughter a new leash on life. With a script of crackling wit and a crackerjack cast, it's everything a terrific romantic comedy is cracked up to be. It races along at a smile a minute.”
“Diane Lane and John Cusack are irresistible in the most joyous girl-and-boyous romance of the year.”
Gene Shalit / TODAY
“Wonderfully heartwarming and undeniably hilarious. A dream come true for the hopeless romantic in all of us.... You'll love it.”
“Two paws up! Diane Lane is absolutely enchanting in this clever and warm-hearted romantic comedy.”
“It's virtually impossible not to fall in love with the clever, funny and undeniably charming `Must Love Dogs.'
Earl Dittman / Wireless Magazines
“Four paws up for `Must Love Dogs!'”
“`Must Love Dogs' is absolutely adorable. Cute, funny and irresistible.”
Francine Brokaw / Los Angeles Family Magazine
“`Must Love Dogs' is the first must-see romantic comedy of the year!"
“Diane Lane and John Cusack are a must-see combination!”
“Diane Lane has perfect comic timing!"
“Without a doubt, this summer's perfect date movie.”
Jimmy Carter / NBC-TV, Nashville
“Lots of laughs and love - A `perfect match,' Hollywood style.”
Sara Edwards / CN8 The Comcast Network
“A great movie - it will make you laugh and cry.”
Muna Ismail / E Talk Daily, CTV
“Adorable and romantic.”
“Diane Lane is at her best.”
Maria Salas / NBC-TV, Miami
“Hopelessly romantic and hysterically funny!”
“I loved this film!”
Chuck Thomas / Movie Reviews and Previews
“A delightful and intelligent romantic comedy; Diane Lane is enchanting."
Jeffrey Lyons / NBC - TV
"Sweet and charming, it wraps a leash around your heart…"
SUSAN GRANGER / SSG SYNDICATE
“Must love Diane Lane and John Cusack! The perfect summer date movie."
Shelli Sonstein / Q104.3 Radio New YorK
“You'll fall in love with `Must Love Dogs.' It's the must-see date movie of the summer.”
Robin Milling / 
Milling About, WENN
“You will love everyone in this movie....a sweet love story that's irresistible. Diane Lane is terrific and John Cusack couldn't be better. A refreshing quirky romance that's only special effect is the magic created by the excellent ensemble of actual, relatable actors. Go and enjoy.”
“You'll love everybody in this movie.”
JOANNA LANGFIELD / THE MOVIE MINUTE
“`Must Love Dogs', Must See Film!”
Renee Falcone / IAG PRODUCTIONS
“`Must Love Dogs' is an enchanting heartbreaker. A goofy, euphoric amorous adventure in matchmaking cyberspace."
Prairie Miller / Long Island Press
July 25, 2005 @ 5:10 PM
Here's a link to a great article written about the book to movie experience by the fabulous Carole Goldberg of the Hartford Courant:
July 24, 2005 @ 12:11 PM
We're back from the Must Love Dogs premiere -- what a blast! I'll tell you more once I've unpacked, but in the meantime, here's our official premiere photo, as well as the AP coverage. (Thank you, Michael Cidoni, for mentioning me!)
By MICHAEL CIDONI, Associated Press Writer Fri Jul 22, 3:02 PM ET
LOS ANGELES - This premiere's arrivals-line carpet looked suspiciously like Astroturf — that artificial and, perhaps more importantly, easy-to-clean grass-like material.
Good thing, as the human stars of "Must Love Dogs" were preceded by a parade of pampered pooches.
The pets mainly pouted and panted during a hot and humid Thursday evening. And when the actors finally made the scene at Hollywood's Cinerama Theatre, it's doubtful that fewer were happier than the melting mutts.
Based on Claire Cook's best-selling romantic-comedy novel, "Must Love Dogs" follows Sarah, a recent divorcee, played by
Diane Lane, who is plunged into the world of personal ads and dating.
Eventually, she stumbles across another reluctant romantic (John Cusack) who just may be Mr. Right. Both of their ads, by the way, end with the words, "must love dogs."
Lane, glamorous in a candy-striped Ralph Lauren dress, told AP Television News that the film is ultimately about "recovering from a broken heart and also it's bucking up against cynicism with comedy. It's easy to become cynical when your heart is broken and you have to grow a sense of humor to deflect these negative self images."
Forcing Sarah back into circulation is a lovingly meddling sister, Carol, played by Elizabeth Perkins, who places an Internet personal ad on Sarah's behalf, but without her knowledge.
"(Carol) really does have the best intentions when she signs her up," commented Perkins, the character actress soon to be seen opposite Mary Louise Parker in Showtime's new series, "Weeds."
"But a piece of advice for everyone," Perkins continued, "never put anyone other than yourself online. It's a really dangerous proposition."
Besides Lane and Perkins, most of the film's other top-billed stars were nowhere to be found.
Fortunately, Cook arrived early and stayed with the media to the end, charming reporters with her wit, wisdom and bona fide enthusiasm.
The author said she was proud of the film, but acknowledged it's a different work from her own, and warned that fans of the novel should brace themselves for some key plot changes.
"They kind of opened it up by adding all of the perfectmatch.com stuff, which I think works beautifully," Cook noted. "It's much more visual.
"And, oh, (director Gary Goldberg) changed the dog! Can you imagine? Mother Theresa (the dog Sarah borrows for her date) is a Saint Bernard in the book, which is kind of a visual joke, I guess — a Catholic joke."
But in the movie, Theresa is a Newfoundland — "because Gary loves newfies," Cook explained. "I think he has every right to pick the dog. I would have been happy if it was a possum, you know?"
The Oscar-nominated Lane, 40, has made few comedies in her 25-year career, but said she couldn't resist the chance to work with Goldberg, whose credits include the sitcoms "Family Ties" and "Spin City."
"He has a lot of fabulous comedy history," Lane said. "I mean, he knows his material and when he believed that I could do it, I said, 'Maybe he's right, because he ought to know.'"
July 12, 2005 @ 11:23 AM
Here's another contest for you, or maybe it's part of the same one -- what do I know? Click below to enter to win a Hollywood celebrity makeover trip and a 2005 Chrysler Sebring convertible. I wonder if you're allowed to win if you wrote the book . . .
July 12, 2005 @ 8:42 AM
Click below to go to perfectmatch.com and enter to win a trip to the Must Love Dogs premiere!
I've just finished doing an interview for the really nice people at The New York Dog Magazine. The cover is great, but I can't get it to copy so I can show it to you. But click on the graphic below to find out more about the magazine. I also hear they're planning a contest to give away copies of Must Love Dogs, the book.
I've getting reports that Diane Lane is on the cover of Redbook magazine, and someone just told me there's something in Vanity Fair and also in the Delta magazine. I can't keep up with it all!
July 10, 2005 @ 10:26 AM
I promise I'll get another e-newsletter out this week, so if you haven't signed up yet, just click here and enter your email address.
Dana Barbuto from The Patriot Ledger has written a couple of really great articles that came out this weekend, about the movie and my novels. Thanks, Dana! Follow the links below to read them:
July 3, 2005 @ 12:24 PM
So cool -- I've been getting MLD billboard reports from NY and LA, and now from Philly from people there for Live 8. I hear Must Love Dogs is on billboards, buses and even on park benches all over the city!
And the MLD movie tie-in paperback is finally available in bookstores everywhere. Isn't it beautiful?!?
July 2, 2005 @ 10:03 AM
Well, it took me long enough to get them up here, but below are a couple of photos, taken by Lisa Fabiano of Hearts & Stars (Thanks, Lisa!) of the event Jeanne Ray and I did at the Canton Public Library. What a blast!
That's us, with our well-trained husbands, signing stock at the end of the night.
And here we are answering questions. What a nice group of people!
Jeanne looks perfectly composed, but I look like I'm waiting for a bird to land on my hand.
June 21, 2005@9:28 AM
Tomorrow night at 7:30 I'll be doing an event for one of my favorite bookstores, Hearts & Stars, with one of my favorite novelists, Jeanne Ray, who's on book tour for her wonderful fourth novel, JULIE AND ROMEO GET LUCKY. Hope to see you there!
THE CANTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
786 Washington Street
Canton, MA
781-821-1515
June 17, 2005@8:22 PM
Thanks to everyone who has emailed to tell me about Shannon Ogden's great piece on New England Cable News. If you're anywhere in New England, it aired for the first time last night on NECN and will repeat all through the weekend. Wherever you live, you can watch it by following this link and scrolling down to "Featuring: Claire Cook."
June 15, 2005@5:07 PM
Sorry I haven't written. I've been doing so many interviews for the movie I've barely had a free minute. Not that I'm complaining!
May 30, 2005@9:01 AM
I'm heading out to the garden before it starts raining again. I've been getting lots of email asking if I've finished the new novel because I'm blogging again. Good eyes. Okay, I've finished a draft of the new novel, the first of many, and I'm taking a short break. The other question I've been getting is what's the new novel about? I'm not sure I know what any of my novels are about -- that's always the hardest question for me. But I will say the new novel has a Hollywood twist, and I'm having a lot of fun writing it. That's all you get for now though.
Here's another Warner Bros. publicity still from the Must Love Dogs movie -- Diane Lane, Mother Teresa and Dermot Mulroney at the dog park. Scroll down for more photos.
May 28, 2005@7:31 AM
A reader emailed to say she saw, on page 92 of the June 3rd issue of Entertainment Weekly magazine, that Must Love Dogs is one of Stephen King's summer movie picks! (I've never even met him, I swear!) It's his "pick for the summer's dark horse surprise." Dark dog surprise? Anyway, how cool is that!?! And thank you, Stephen King! And thanks to the reader who emailed (another Claire, by the way) to let me know.
Please take a minute while you're there to vote for Must Love Dogs at the Stephen King's Box Office Poll! Thanks so much!
May 27, 2005@8:38 AM
Love this story, which was sent to me by an old friend, who is also the mother of one of my former students:
"The receptionist where I work was trying to arrange a blind date for a friend and the cute UPS delivery guy. She was trying to think of a place to have them meet up -- I suggested the local Barnes & Noble and, as an icebreaker, that they try to find the book "Must Love Dogs" by Claire Cook. Somehow it just seemed appropriate. They found each other and the book -- and a good time was had by all."
May 24, 2005@10:57 AM
From: Claire Cook's Fabulous News! [mailto:newsletter@clairecook.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 10:57 AM
To: newsletter@clairecook.com
Subject: Multiple Choice!
Hi Everybody!
Just a quick note to share some great news -- Multiple Choice is the #2 BookSense Summer Paperback pick! I'm forever grateful to all those wonderful independent booksellers across the country for this honor, and I appreciate their support more than I can ever say. To see the full list, go to http://news.bookweb.org/booksense/3520.html. To find your nearest local BookSense bookseller, go to http://www.booksense.com/
Here's the terrific quote (from an equally terrific bookstore!):
2. MULTIPLE CHOICE, by Claire Cook (NAL, $14, 0451214889) "Claire Cook once again has proven that she can write a touching, witty, and sassy novel about families. This mother/daughter novel is a laugh-out-loud fun ride that every mother and daughter can relate to." --Karin Beyer, Saturn Booksellers, Gaylord, MI
To read an excerpt of Multiple Choice, go to http://clairecook.com/id16.htm.
To read an excerpt of Must Love Dogs, go to http://clairecook.com/id21.htm.
If you haven't seen the Must Love Dogs movie trailer yet, you can watch it by going to www.mustlovedogsmovie.com. (I watch it eight or ten times a day myself!) The movie (starring Diane Lane, John Cusack, Christopher Plummer, Dermot Mulroney, Elizabeth Perkins and Stockard Channing) opens nationally on July 29. I hope you'll mark your calendar if you haven't already.
As soon as I have the details for my summer book and movie events, I'll start posting them at http://clairecook.com/id24.htm so keep checking.
I've also added more photos to my blog. To see them, go to: http://www.clairecook.com/id2.htm
Many, many thanks to readers, booksellers, friends, family, and the media for your continued support, and I hope you'll forward this email to anyone and everyone!
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: http://www.clairecook.com/id25.htm
xxxxx,
Claire
May 21, 2005@9:32 AM
Well, who knew, there were still pet websites I hadn't heard from! First it was loversandleashes.com, then datemypet.com, then animalattraction.com. Now, here's one where you don't have to date anyone, you just get to watch! MyPetCams lets you keep an eye on your pet from your computer, whether you’re at work, traveling, or in another part of your house. What a concept -- and just think, maybe the next step will be MyHusbandCams or MyWildTeenagerCams or even, for dieting households, MyRefrigeratorCams. Anyway, if you want to check out the one that actually exists, click on the image below :
May 21, 2005 @ 8:50 AM
Even though I've been hiding out to write my fourth novel, I did sneak over to Scituate High School last week to talk to some of the graduating seniors and their teachers. The kids and their teachers were great and SHS librarian Kathy Feeney did an amazing job decorating the library -- thanks so much!
May 20, 2005 @ 9:15 AM
I woke up this morning and Multiple Choice was still the #2 BookSense Summer Paperback pick! I'm so glad I didn't dream it. A huge thanks to the great people at BookSense, and to all those wonderful independent booksellers who nominated Multiple Choice for the list. And I love the quote they used -- thanks Karin (and her boss, Jill Miner):
2. MULTIPLE CHOICE, by Claire Cook (NAL, $14, 0451214889) "Claire Cook once again has proven that she can write a touching, witty, and sassy novel about families. This mother/daughter novel is a laugh-out-loud fun ride that every mother and daughter can relate to." --Karin Beyer, Saturn Booksellers, Gaylord, MI
My niece, Brooke, sent me the following MLD movie link: (I was only joking about the dog, by the way.)
This photo was taken while Must Love Dogs was shooting at Paramount Lake in California. It was sent to me by a lovely woman whose daughter was one of the rowers/extras. Thanks so much!
May 19, 2005 @ 8:12 PM
I'm so thrilled! I just heard Multiple Choice is the #2 BookSense Summer Paperback pick! YAY!! To see the list, click here:
April 30, 2005 @ 12:06 PM
How's this for a great twist on internet dating? I wish I'd known about it when I was writing Must Love Dogs! Thanks to the nice people at datemypet.com for sending people to this site, too. Click below to visit:
April 28, 2005 @ 9:16 AM
Check out www.mustlovedogsmovie.com to see the movie trailer, as well the movie poster and photos from the set! Scroll down for the pictures I took on the set.
April 22, 2005 @6:03 PM
Well, here it is! The movie-tie in edition of Must Love Dogs will be available in July, and the movie opens across the country on July 29! Scroll down for photos. To read an excerpt, click here.
April 21, 2005 @6:02 PM
In case it somehow missed you, here's my new newsletter:
Hi Everybody!
My third novel, Multiple Choice, will be coming out in trade paperback in June, and it will include a book group guide I'm really proud of as well as an author interview. If your book group has additional questions, feel free to email them to me. I'm also looking forward to being out and about for some book events this summer. They're still in the planning stages right now, but I'll post them on my events page as soon as they're finalized: http://www.clairecook.com/id24.htm. And, in case you missed the exciting news, Working Title has optioned Multiple Choice. I'll keep you posted as things develop.
I've been lost in my new novel, letting the real world slip away, and I'm so glad I can count on all of you to keep me from missing anything! I woke up this morning to a flurry of email saying that the Must Love Dogs movie was featured on both ET and Extra last night. And, by the way, the vast majority of emails included excuses for watching those shows in the first place. I do that, too! I always say things like, "When I was flipping through People magazine because there was nothing else to read in the doctor's office..." Anyway, thank you all for letting me know!
I've also received lots of email asking what my new novel is about. I'm not sure I can even tell you what my other three novels are about - that's always such a tough question for me. And things change so much during the first draft, which is why it's aptly called the discovery draft. But, I will say that if you enjoyed my other novels, I think you'll like this one - and it has a Hollywood twist, too. That's all you get for now though!
Must Love Dogs, the movie, starring Diane Lane, John Cusack, Dermot Mulroney, Elizabeth Perkins, Christopher Plummer, Stockard Channing and many other talented actors, had its first preview several weeks ago to rave reviews, and they've moved the US opening up to July 29. Openings in other countries, including the UK, Germany, Switzerland and France, have also been scheduled - I'll keep you posted as I hear more. I hope you'll mark your calendar and plan on a trip to see it that very first weekend, when the box office numbers are so important. Thank you - and do you believe I'm talking about things like movie openings and box office numbers. It's absolutely surreal!
Speaking of surreal, I also got an email from my very nice German translator, Ingeborg, who was having a hard time coming up with a suitable German equivalent to "Oh, puh-lease." Every time I think of it, it makes me smile. Poor Ingeborg! My use of the vernacular has to be daunting, to say the least. She did say she laughed out loud in several places though, so that's encouraging.
The MLD movie poster and trailer will be out very soon, so keep an eye out. The poster is the basis for the new MLD movie tie-in paperback cover, which will be available in early July. Wait until you see it! I'll put it up on my website very soon, as soon as I get permission, so keep checking www.clairecook.com. I just don't want to get into trouble with Warner Bros. by doing it too soon - I'd hate to be uninvited to the premiere! (Just kidding. Everyone associated with the movie has been incredibly kind to me. In fact, I think I might well be the luckiest author to ever have her novel adapted for the screen.)
An audio version of Must Love Dogs, produced by Blackstone Audio, will be available in mid-July. I can't wait to hear it!
Many, many thanks to readers, booksellers, friends, family, and the media for your continued support, and I hope you'll forward this email to anyone and everyone!
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: http://www.clairecook.com/id25.htm
xxxxx,
Claire
April 18, 2005 @8:30 AM
I had such a fabulous time in Hartford, CT over the weekend at the National Writers Workshop. It was so nice to get away from the computer for a few days, and even nicer to speak to a ballroom full of enthusiastic readers and writers. I missed my new novel though, I couldn't wait to dive in again.
Carole Goldberg, the wonderful Courant book editor, put together a collection of essays about reading, which ran just before the event. Here's mine:
The Not-Yet-Joyful Readers
When I was teaching writing to middle-schoolers, the first thing I would ask my students at the start of the year was, "How many of you love to read?"
In a good year, maybe half the kids would raise their hands. "Great," I would say, beaming at the already converted. "And the rest of you .. ." I'd continue, looking around the room and pretending to glare while they pretended to cringe. "You just haven't found your book yet. But don't worry - you will."
And because I think you just have to be an avid, joyful reader before you can be a writer, that's where we'd start. The kids and I would bring in a crazy assortment of things - novels, magazines, comic books, manga, biographies, encyclopedias. The readers in the class would bring in their favorite books. I'd sprinkle in some award-winners and some of the books that had first hooked me, antiques like the original Nancy Drew mysteries. We'd swap everything around and curl up in corners all over the room and just read.
For the not-yet-joyful readers, the pressure was off. Many of them, I think, shy away from reading because it doesn't come as easily to them as it does to some of their classmates. Maybe they're slow readers, maybe there are some underlying learning issues, maybe they'd rather be out playing soccer. The way to make reading easier is to pick up speed, and the only way that's going to happen is if you read a lot, and the only way that's going to happen is if you give the kids some choice and make it FUN.
The truth, as I see it, is once you fall in love, really in love, with that first book, you'll never be able to stop. There will still be plenty of time to introduce the classics.
Now, in my new life as a novelist, every once in a while I'll get a letter from a reader like this one:
"Dear Claire, all my life I've envied my friends who are readers. The truth is I am a slow reader and have never been able to enjoy it very much. I almost never finish the book. I am writing to tell you that someone gave me one of your books, and I couldn't put it down. I stayed up late two nights and FINISHED IT! After I read the rest of yours, I'm hoping you can suggest some other books I might enjoy."
I like to picture this woman curled up in bed with a cup of tea and a huge pile of books on her bedside table, maybe even daydreaming about the book she'll write herself someday.
March 14, 2005 @2:37 PM
I'm still writing away, counting the days till spring.
Here's an essay I wrote for the Hartford Courant, part of a piece called, "Knocking Them Dead, And Other Stories, Book Tours As a Rite of Passage for Authors"
I was eight weeks into the book tour for my third novel, "Multiple Choice," and literary life was good. Without exception, booksellers had been enthusiastic. From Boston to Atlanta to Minneapolis, readers were coming out to see me in encouraging numbers. The NPR interviewer in Houston had a sense of humor, and she'd read the book. Even though my cellphone rang onstage in Kansas City while Billie Letts was speaking, fortunately Billie had a sense of humor, too. Hardly anybody had asked me to sign a library book before they returned it, and only twice had bookless people approached the signing table for directions to the restroom.
R.J. Julia, in Madison, is one of the great independent bookstores, and I was thrilled that this time around they'd invited me. The reading room was as lovely as I'd imagined it, and amazingly, there was such a good crowd that the events coordinator had to bring in more chairs, the litmus test for an emerging novelist.
As I basked in the introduction, a woman walked through the doorway at the back of the room.
"Excuse me," she said loudly. "But is that Linda Greenlaw?"
"No," I said, with what I hoped was an encouraging smile. "But I bet I'm one of her favorite authors."
February 21, 2005 @ 11:10 AM
If you're a writer or an emerging writer and you're looking for a great workshop, l'll be teaching at the Hartford Courant National Writers Workshop in April. What a great roster -- I feel very lucky to be a part of it!.
January 21, 2005 @ 12:35 PM
The first person to send me these official Must Love Dogs production stills was Michael Cole, who knows absolutely everything about Diane Lane. Here's his website: http://www.thedianelaneheadquarters.com/
The photos are also available at sites like comingsoon.net, so I think it's okay for me to post them here:
John Cusack, Molly (aka Mother Teresa) and Diane Lane
Diane Lane and Molly
It's going to be such a fun movie! For the photos I took, scroll down . . .
January 19, 2005 @ 3:32 PM
Just in case you didn't receive it, here's my latest newsletter. To subscribe to this free email newsletter, click here.
Subject: Claire Cook's Fabulous News! Message
Hi Everybody!
I'm hard at work on my fourth novel, so this will be a quick update.
Thanks so much to everyone who watched the Golden Globes on Sunday and emailed to tell me that Diane Lane was introduced as starring in the upcoming Must Love Dogs! I don't know about you, but I certainly had goosebumps!
Well, it's a wrap! The Must Love Dogs movie finished shooting on December 18 at 1:30 AM at Warner Bros., and my family and I were lucky enough to be there to see it happen. It was sooooo exciting. We got to sit in a screening room and watch dailies, and they were really, really good - I can't wait to see the edited version. The actors surprised me by autographing my director's chair AND I even got to take it home. I'll never sit anywhere
else. We even got wrap presents - Nike parkas with a dog embroidered on the sleeve. And we got to go to the wrap party!
August 5th is the tentative release date for the movie, so mark your calendars. Many thanks to all the booksellers who are partnering with movie theaters to plan events to celebrate both the movie and the movie tie-in paperback edition of Must Love Dogs, which will be published in July. We're going to have so much fun!
Multiple Choice will be coming out in trade paperback in June, and it will include a book group guide and an author interview, so if your book group likes to wait for the paperback, you won't have to wait much longer. And if you'd rather read it sooner and own it in hardcover, you can find a book group guide here: http://www.clairecook.com/id15.htm
Hope 2005 is off to a great start for you. Multiple thanks to friends, family, readers, booksellers and the media for your continued support, and I hope you'll forward this email to anyone and everyone!
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:
xxxxx,
Claire
January 17, 2005 @ 8:09 AM
A belated Happy New Year! I've been hiding out writing my new novel, and just came up for air to post some photos.
My family and I went out to visit the Must Love Dogs set at Warner Bros. and to see the movie wrap just before Christmas! We even got to go to the wrap party.
All of the actors surprised me by autographing my director's chair. Dermot Mulroney even wrote, "Write On!" They let me take the whole chair home with me on the airplane. Let me tell you, it's not easy to get through LAX with a director's chair just before Christmas.
And, yes, I finally got to ride in the MLD golf carts!
This is Molly, one of the two dogs who play Mother Teresa! Her sister Mabel did the swimming scenes.
