by Caroline Clarke (Author)

Award-winning journalist and host of Black Enterprise Business Report Caroline Clarke's moving memoir of her surprise discovery of her birthmother--Cookie Cole, the daughter of Nat King Cole--and the relationship that blossomed between them through the heartfelt messages they exchanged on hundreds of postcards.

Caroline Clarke was born in an era when adoptions were shameful and sealed. She kept her curiosity about her biological parents in check, until a series of small health problems raised concerns about her genetic heritage and its consequences for her two children's lives and her own.

Though the agency that handled her adoption could not reveal the name of her birth mother, it provided details that lead to a shocking truth. Caroline's birth mother and her family were related to a friend: Carole "Cookie" Cole, the daughter of iconic crooner and pianist Nat King Cole.

Drawing on details provided by the agency and her own investigative skills, Caroline embarked on a life-changing journey of discovery that stretched from coast to coast, forged through e-mail, phone calls, and post cards. The constancy, volume, and intimacy of her steady correspondence with Cookie filled the days and distance between them. Through brief yet poignant messages squeezed onto three-inch open-faced squares, mother and daughter revealed themselves, ultimately building a bond like no other.

A heartfelt, inspiring tribute to both Caroline's adoptive parents and her biological mother, Postcards from Cookie illuminates the enduring power of love to shape and guide our lives.

Front Jacket

Award-winning journalist Caroline Clarke was born in an era when adoptions were shameful and secret and sealed. Her story begins with a happy childhood in the Bronx. She never had any desire to know her birth parents until some health concerns led her to contact Spence-Chapin Family Services.

The adoption agency's response sparked a series of stunning discoveries. Caroline had known her biological family for more than twenty years. Her birth mother, nicknamed Cookie, was the sister of one of her dearest college friends. Moreover, the family was a prominent one, known throughout the world for not just one but two generations of musical greatness, including the singer Natalie Cole and her iconic father, Nat King Cole, whose music had filled Caroline's life.

And so Caroline's story begins again. Drawing on details provided by the agency and her own investigative skills, she embarks on a life-changing relationship with Cookie that stretches from coast to coast. Forged primarily through the mail, particularly hundreds of postcards, they share confidences, unite their families, and build a bond like no other.

Back Jacket

Award-winning journalist Caroline Clarke was born in an era when adoptions were shameful and secret and sealed. Her story begins with a happy childhood in the Bronx. She never had any desire to know her birth parents until some health concerns led her to contact Spence-Chapin Family Services.

The adoption agency's response sparked a series of stunning discoveries. Caroline had known her biological family for more than twenty years. Her birth mother, nicknamed "Cookie," was the sister of one of her dearest college friends. Moreover, the family was a prominent one, known throughout the world for not just one but two generations of musical greatness, including the singer Natalie Cole and her iconic father, Nat King Cole, whose music had filled Caroline's life.

And so Caroline's story begins again. Drawing on details provided by the agency and her own investigative skills, she embarks on a life-changing relationship with Cookie that stretches from coast to coast. Forged primarily through the mail, particularly hundreds of postcards, they share confidences, unite their families, and build a bond like no other.