C.J. Cooke, also known as Carolyn Jess-Cooke, is an accomplished author who grew up on a council estate in Belfast, Northern Ireland during the height of the Troubles. She began writing at the young age of seven and persistently pursued publishers with her manuscripts, which she typed on her grandparents' ancient typewriter and submitted with cover notes written on pages torn from school jotters.
C. J. Cooke is not only a novelist but also an award-winning poet, with her works published in twenty-three languages. She currently resides in Glasgow with her husband and four children. Cooke's writings have garnered numerous awards and have been translated into many different languages, showcasing her global appeal.
In addition to her work as an author, Cooke is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow. She holds a PhD in Literature from the Queen's University of Belfast and is currently researching the impact of motherhood on women's writing and creative writing interventions for mental health. Two of her books have been optioned for film, further highlighting the breadth of her success in the literary world.