Ann Cooper

Gwen Cooper is an American novelist and author based in New York City. Her most recognized work is the 2009 New York Times bestselling memoir, *Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned about Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat*. This book chronicles her experiences with Homer, an abandoned, eyeless cat she rescued as a kitten. The memoir, which draws from a popular online story about Homer confronting a thief, details their life together over 12 years, including their move from Miami to New York and navigating personal and professional challenges. Cooper wrote the book to convey that special-needs pets are capable of love and living fulfilling lives. Her first novel, *Diary of a South Beach Party Girl* (2007), was inspired by her time in Miami. In 2013, she released *Love Saves the Day*, a novel narrated by a cat, exploring themes of connection and adaptation. Cooper is actively involved with animal welfare organizations, donating a portion of her royalties and embarking on a unique book tour that visited no-kill animal shelters.

Gwen Cooper's literary output is largely centered around her deep connection with animals, particularly cats, and the profound life lessons derived from these relationships. Her breakthrough work, *Homer's Odyssey*, not only achieved bestseller status but also served as a platform to advocate for special-needs animals, emphasizing their capacity for love and a full life. This memoir, spanning over a decade, traces her journey with Homer, from his rescue as a vulnerable kitten to their shared experiences, including navigating significant life events like relocation and personal challenges. Cooper's narrative style often intertwines the animal's perspective with her own life, exploring themes of resilience, love, and the unexpected ways animals enrich human lives. Her fiction, such as *Diary of a South Beach Party Girl* and *Love Saves the Day*, also frequently incorporates animal characters and draws inspiration from her personal life and observations.

Beyond her writing, Gwen Cooper is a dedicated advocate for animal welfare. Her commitment is evident in her active participation with numerous animal-welfare organizations and her philanthropic efforts. A significant portion of the royalties from *Homer's Odyssey* is directed towards organizations that support abused, abandoned, and disabled animals. This dedication extended to a unique national book tour for her novel *Love Saves the Day*, which took place at no-kill animal shelters rather than traditional bookstores. Cooper highlighted the crucial work these shelters do, not only for animals but also for the human communities they serve, including vulnerable populations like the elderly and disabled. Her efforts underscore a belief that supporting animals often leads to broader positive impacts on society.

“ultimately a special-needs pet is just like any other pet, and just as capable of loving you and living a wonderful life as any other animal”

“love does save the day for millions of abused and abandoned animals through the work of shelters and rescue groups”

“when you help animals, you help people, too”