Author Bio
Craig A. Cooper - Writing frees my mind and feeds my soul.
I grew up in a small village on the outskirts of Calgary, Alberta, the oldest of two brothers and a sister. My childhood was shaped by a deep love of storytelling—my dad would read to us, as would my mom. Family road trips were filled with audiobooks, further igniting my passion for the art of storytelling.
My first foray into writing came when I created a book for a school assignment. As a homeschooler, my mom sent it to a publisher who was interested in publishing it after some editing. At the time, I was young and naïve, and I didn’t pursue the opportunity. It’s a decision I would later regret, but it set the stage for a twenty-year journey to finally complete Life Adrift.
Now calling Vancouver home, I channeled my frustration with traffic into creativity, writing a feature-length script for Road Rager’s Anonymous in just a week—more than 130 pages. In a manic burst, I used that script as a blueprint to create the novel, Road Rager’s Anonymous.
In 2020, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Looking back at my work, I see how my condition has fueled both my creativity and my struggles. My moods come through in my writing, and unfortunately, they’ve sometimes taken a toll on my family—especially my wife, Chantal, and our children. Writing Road Rager’s often left me angry, and while working on Life Adrift, I experience manic episodes where I write for hours, completing chapters in mere days, often with only a few hours of sleep.
Through it all, my family remains a constant source of support and love. Chantal’s unwavering encouragement and understanding have been essential as I navigate this creative journey. My children, too, have been a grounding force, even when my moods veer into darker places.
I’ve learned to balance my writing with self-awareness, grounding myself through music and my family’s love. One day, I may write about my experience with bipolar disorder—the losses, the challenges, and the newfound freedoms. But for now, my focus is on creating stories that connect with others, embracing both the beauty and chaos of life.