Carolyn jess cooke biography samples

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Her work has been published in twenty-three languages to date. Cooke  (Author)

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Four hundred years separate them.

One book binds them.

Glasgow 2024: Clem waits by her daughter’s hospital bed.

She has been nominated for an Edgar Award and an ITW Thriller Award, selected as Waterstones’ Paperback Book of the Year and a BBC 2 Pick, and has had two BooC.J. It can also help to know someone has been where you are, to know you're not alone.

Some of us may find comfort in motivational quotes, or something uplifting such as Pam Ayres poems.

Showing ourselves some self-love and shine some light in your cave.

Little Stones at My Window, by Mario Benedetti

Once in a while

joy throws little stones at my window

it wants to let me know that it's waiting for me

but today I'm calm

I'd almost say even-tempered

I'm going to keep anxiety locked up

and then lie flat on my back

which is an elegant and comfortable position

for receiving and believing news

who knows where I'll be next

or when my story will be taken into account

who knows what advice I still might come up with

and what easy way out I'll take not to follow it

don't worry, I won't gamble with an eviction

I won't tattoo remembering with forgetting

there are many things left to say and suppress

and many grapes left to fill our mouths

don't worry, I'm convinced

joy doesn't need to throw any more little stones

I'm coming

I'm coming

What can we learn from this? Good things are always on the horizon.

She started writing at the age of 7 and pestered publishers for many years with manuscripts typed on her grandparents’ old typewriter and cover notes written on pages ripped from school jotters. 

Since then, she has published 16 books in 23 languages and won numerous awards, including an Eric Gregory Award from the Society of Authors, a Tyrone Guthrie Prize, a K Blundell Award, and she has won a Northern Writer’s Award three times.

Even when you've hit rock bottom, hope always remains. She is also the founder and director of the Stay-at-Home! And don't worry about being a burden on people, the people you love will be thankful that you've opened up to them.

OCD by Neil Hilbon

The first time I saw her…

Everything in my head went quiet.

All the tics, all the constantly refreshing images just disappeared.

When you have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, you don’t really get quiet moments.

Even in bed, I’m thinking:

Did I lock the doors?

Yes.

Did I wash my hands? Her books have been reviewed in The New York Times, The Guardian, Good Housekeeping, and the Daily Mail. Born in Belfast, C.J. has a PhD in Literature from Queen’s University, Belfast, and is currently Reader in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow, where she also researches the impact of motherhood on women’s writing and creative writing interventions for mental health.

It also shines a light on the beauty we can find in those little moments of life of the people we love.

Resilience by Alex Elle

Look at you.

Still standing

after being

knocked down

and thrown out.

Look at you.

Still growing

after being

picked and plucked

and prodded out of

your home.

Look at you.

Still dancing

and singing

after being

defeated and disassembled.

Look at you, love.

Still here and hopeful

after it all.

What can we learn from this? There's always hope.

Yes.

But when I saw her, the only thing I could think about was the hairpin curve of her lips..

Or the eyelash on her cheek —

the eyelash on her cheek —

the eyelash on her cheek.

(Extract - see full poem performed below)

What can we learn from this? This poem will really speak to those with OCD, and the difficult impacts it can have on your life.

This is a reminder to keep going, because there is so much to love about life.

The owl and the chimpanzee by Jo Camacho.

The owl and the chimpanzee went to sea

In a beautiful boat called The Mind

The owl was sensible, clever and smart

The chimp was a little behind

The owl made decisions, based on fact

And knew where to steer its ship

The chimp reacted a little too fast

And often the boat would tip

The waves would come and crash aboard

The chimp would start to cry

Large tears would roll right down his face

Afraid that he would die

The chimp and the owl would wrestle at night

When the world was quiet and still

The chimp would jump up and rock the boat

And the boat would start to fill

Then the owl stepped in and grabbed a pail

And started to empty it out

And the chimp would start to get quite cross

And would often scream and shout

The battle continued night after night

Until the chimp started to see

That if it let the owl take control

A more peaceful night it would be

What can we learn from this? If you're familiar with the Chimp Paradox, you'll understand what this poem is referring to.

(Carolyn) Cooke is an acclaimed, award-winning poet, novelist and academic with numerous publications as Carolyn Jess-Cooke and Caro Carver. Shortly thereafter, she published four academic works in swift succession on Shakespearean Cinema and Film Sequels, before establishing her career as a poet, editor, and novelist.

Now Reader in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow, CJ convenes the prestigious MLitt Creative Writing and researches ways that creative writing can help with trauma and mental health.

Sometimes, you just need a rest.

Poem (unnamed) from The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur

When the world comes crashing at your feet

it’s okay to let others

help pick up the pieces

if we’re present to take part in your happiness

when your circumstances are great

we are more than capable

of sharing your pain

What can we learn from this? Sharing your problems with the people who love you and asking for help can take some serious weight off of your shoulders.

Her sixth novel, The Lighthouse Witches, was published in October 2021, and was an Indigo Book of the Month, an international bestseller, a New York Public Library Book of the Year and nominated for both an Edgar Award by Mystery Writers of America and an ITW Thriller Award in 2022. She has been nominated for an Edgar Award and an ITW Thriller Award, selected as Waterstones’ Paperback Book of the Year and a BBC 2 Pick, and has had two Book of the Month Club selections in the last year.