Clare Pooley transitioned from a career in advertising to writing, driven by her personal journey of embracing truth and authenticity. This experience deeply influenced her literary focus, emphasizing the power of revealing one's true self and sharing personal narratives. Her work is characterized by its honesty and a desire to connect with readers through shared life experiences. Pooley explores the transformative impact of truth on individuals and relationships, offering insightful perspectives on navigating life with greater openness.
Daphne, feeling invisible at 70, seeks companionship after a lonely birthday and joins a Senior Citizen's Social Club, where she meets an eclectic group of members with colorful pasts. While initially dismayed by the club's crafting activities, she finds camaraderie with a failed actor and a yarn-bomber. When a tragic incident threatens the club's closure, this unlikely team, aided by a teenage dad and a senior dog, bands together to fight back, all while grappling with their hidden secrets.
Every day at 8-05, Iona Iverson boards the train to go to work. As a seasoned commuter, she knows there are rules that everyone should follow- You must have a job to go to Don't consume hot food Always pack for any eventuality You must never speak to strangers on the train Iona sees the same group of people each day - ones she makes assumptions about, gives nicknames to, but never ever talks to. But then, one morning, Smart-but-Sexist-Surbiton chokes on a grape right in front of Iona. Suspiciously-Nice-New Malden steps up to help and saves his life, and this one event sparks a chain reaction. With nothing in common but their commute, an eclectic group of people learn that their assumptions about each other don't match reality. But when Iona's life begins to fall apart, will her new friends be there when she needs them most?
"A story about a solitary green notebook that brings together six strangers and leads to unexpected friendship, and even love--think Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine meets Love, Actually. "Everybody lies about their lives. What would happen if you shared the truth?" This is the question that Julian Jessop, an eccentric, seventy-nine-year-old artist, poses within a pale green exercise book that he labels The Authenticity Project, before leaving it behind in Monica's Café. When Monica discovers Julian's abandoned notebook, not only does she add her own story to the book, she is determined to find a way to help Julian feel less lonely. And so it goes with the others who find the green notebook that will soon contain their deepest selves. It will also knit the group together In Real Life at Monica's Cafe, where they'll discover the thrill and sometime-risk of being completely honest--and, for some, find unexpected love. With a cast of characters who are by turns quirky and funny, heartbreakingly sad and painfully true-to-life, The Authenticity Project is a novel readers will take to their hearts and read with unabashed pleasure.
