How 'Seven Year Switch' Claire Cook became a bestselling author

If there is anyone in cyberspace who does not know who Claire Cook is, let me refresh your memory. 

She's the bestselling author of seven novels, including Must Love Dogs, which was adapted into a Warner Bros. movie starring Diane Lane and John Cusack, The Wildwater Walking Club, Life’s a Beach, and her latest, Seven Year Switch. Her reinvention workshops have been featured on The Today Show, and she has been a judge for the Thurber Humor Prize and the Family Circle fiction contest. Her books have been featured on Good Morning America and in People, Good Housekeeping, Redbook and more. She has two kids, seven brothers and sisters, and one husband. She lives in Scituate, MA.

But what many people might not know is that she came up with the idea of her first novel in her minivan outside of her daughter's swim practice at 5 a.m. and not only that, this was the moment it hit her that she might live her whole life without once going after her lifelong dream and that was writing a novel.

I think all aspiring authors have that "moment" when they say to themselves 'I've either got to go for it or I'll regret it the rest of my life.'

Whether it's for that reason or any other hundreds of reasons why authors write books, it's all part of that internal craving to get those words out there.

Claire's story is packed with punch, determination and drive.  I love to hear how authors went from inspiration to becoming a bestselling author, don't you?

Here's Claire's story:

"I remember the exact moment. I was sitting in my minivan outside my daughter’s swim practice at 5 AM, and it hit me that I might live my whole life without once going after my lifelong dream of writing a novel.

"I’d majored in film and creative writing in college, and fully expected that the moment I graduated I’d go into labor and a brilliant novel would emerge, fully formed, like giving birth.

"It didn't happen. Looking back, I can see that I had to live my life so I'd have something to write about, and if I could give my younger self some good advice, it would be not to beat myself up for the next couple of decades.

"But I did. I pretended I wasn't feeling terrible about not having the guts to write a novel. I followed my two children to school as a teacher, where I taught everything from multicultural games and dance, to open ocean rowing, to creative writing.

"And then one day I was 44, and the procrastination was suddenly more painful than actually writing a book. I didn’t tell a soul, but during one long cold New England winter I wrote a rough draft in my minivan in the pool parking lot.

"Amazingly, it sold to the first publisher who asked to read it. I think the trick to avoid rejection might be to procrastinate for decades and skip all those stages!

"Hindsight 20/20, if the first publisher you approach wants your book, you should get an agent fast! I only queried two agents, who were both so famous even I had heard of them. One wrote back: “Dear Claire, If your novel is half as funny as your query letter, you will definitely find someone, however it won’t be me.” I thought, ha, who needs an agent? So I submitted to Bridgeworks, the publisher who launched Tom Perrotta and Lorna Landvik, and they took it. I spent more on gas driving to the few stores who would let me do events than I made on the advance, but the novel did well enough to bring me to the attention of my agent, the famous Lisa Bankoff at ICM, and in her brilliant hands, my next novel went to auction – so it was all good!

"In any case, my first novel was published when I was 45. At 50, I walked the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of the adaptation of my second novel, Must Love Dogs. I'm now the bestselling author of seven novels, including The Wildwater Walking Club, Life’s a Beach, and my new one, Seven Year Switch.

"Midlife rocks. I love sharing my story because I think it gives hope to so many women (and a few good men!) with buried dreams just like mine. If I can do it, so can you. For writing and reinvention tips, go to http://ClaireCook.com."

Claire welcomes you to friend her on Facebook at http://facebook.com/ClaireCookbooks/. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ClaireCookbooks/.

If you would like to purchase your copy of Claire Cook's new book, Seven Year Switch, Amazon or Barnes & Noble are the best ways to obtain your copies, although it can be bought in most Virginia Beach bookstores.