Local Author Contributes to Latest ‘Chicken Soup’ Title

   Chicken Soup for the Soul is a heartfelt, pick-up and put-down book series that includes the sincerest stories of those who are enthusiastic enough to contribute. Each release is based around a specific topic, encompassing a conglomeration of laughs, loves and, honestly, sometimes the advice you’ve been searching for.
   This collection series continues to grow with every submission, and has seen more than 300 editions released within the span of a quarter century. 
   One prolific contributor to these books is Gwen Cooper, a new member of the Harrison community. Cooper has contributed to 22 titles including the most recently released: “101 Lessons Learned from Our Dogs.” 
   Within the next few months, Cooper expects her 23rd essay to be included in the “Chicken Soup” series. Cooper has a Bachelor of Arts degree. in English and has taught high school English. As her contributions to the series rose in number, she also has taken part in book signings and other community events.
   Through many efforts to keep pen to paper while navigating many losses, the pandemic and the challenges of being a new mother, Cooper recalls who and what inspired her to begin on her writing journey. “My journey with “Chicken Soup for the Soul” started back in 2016, and since it was a rough year, we suffered a multitude of losses,” said Cooper. “I’d seen an email about submissions and decided for myself that this type of  content would bring my writing back to life.”
   As a result of her success and the stories that she’s told, Cooper coined her experience as a “Cathartic way to work through my grief.” In the near future, she hopes to become a more active member of Harrison’s community, whether it be volunteering at the local library, writing more stories to bring us all some comfort during our worst times – as her writing did for herself – or to simply engage with the people around her.
   When it comes to pets, especially dogs, people are inherently interested in what makes dogs a man’s best friend. “Chicken Soup for the Soul” assimilates only a few of the many stories of dogs and their companions. You can expect with each read to be on the edge of your seat, laughing, crying and shamelessly admitting sympathy for other pet owners out in the world.
   In a release which accompanied the review copy, Amy Newmark, publisher and editor-in-chief of “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” summed it up by saying, “It’s remarkable how much dogs add to our lives.”