JASON SETNYK
Cornwall-area author Tom Cooper has spent the past decade chronicling the chaotic charm of aging through the lens of his fictional village, Clarence Mills. A former pilot and graphic designer who once worked on the Canadarm, Cooper now writes full-time in retirement, creating stories full of self-deprecating humour and rural absurdity.
His latest release, The Day That Loyalty Backfired…and other (comic) senior moments!, is the first volume in an eight-book (and counting) series. Each story is a standalone anecdote rooted in real life, then embellished for maximum laughs.
“Every single story has a true thread,” said Cooper. “But they’re enhanced for comedy. That’s the part I love-taking something small and spinning it into something hilarious.”
Cooper writes daily, usually from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m., driven by a work ethic and creative streak that hasn’t slowed since he began this new chapter at age 70. “I was averaging a book a year. The ideas never stop coming,” he explained.
Inspired by Stephen Leacock and W.O. Mitchell, Cooper creates a vivid ensemble cast in Clarence Mills-a fictional hamlet shaped by his 22 years living in Eastern Ontario. “There’s a certain honesty to rural life,” he said. “That’s what I wanted to capture: the foibles, the friendships, and the unexpected chaos.”
Beyond the laughs, his stories often carry deeper messages. In one tale, a bilingual exchange in a local café serves as a metaphor for breaking cultural and linguistic barriers. “Whenever I can help people connect-whether it’s through English, French, or Spanish-I will,” Cooper said. “It’s about communication and kindness.”
With more stories on the way, Cooper isn’t slowing down anytime soon. “Growing older is inevitable,” he added with a smile, “but taking life too seriously? That’s never been an option.”
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