With the publication of her first novel “Becoming Magdalene,” Elizabeth Cook, Citrus College’s institutional design librarian, has added another title to her professional repertoire: author.
Cook’s novel—written under her pen-name “Elisabeth Fitzgerald,” was inspired by the “chick literature” (“chick lit”) movement of the early 1990s. Novels of this genre usually depict a female protagonist and follow her character development throughout the story.
Like many other “chick lit” novels, Cook’s novel also follows the journey of a young woman. Magdalene Vega— a successful horror screenplay writer, leaves her career and hometown of Chicago for a new life in Los Angeles. There, she is struck by a massive culture-shock that leads her to question her identity.
On the surface, the story of Magdalene appears to relate to Cook’s own.
“I am also from Chicago, and I love horror as much as she does. I also worked in entertainment like her,” said Cook. “However, the novel is a coming of age story, but it’s not my coming of age story,” she said.
Instead, the novel is meant for college-aged students and people in their twenties.
“Your twenties are very important because it’s when you do much of your growing and when you’re finding yourself,” Cook said.
“I also try to write novels where the characters are relatable, and I think it’s important for people—college students especially—to see themselves reflected in the books they read,” she added.
Cook’s sister, Amy Ritza was also a big inspiration for the novel’s main character.
“I felt that (Maggie) was very relatable” said Ritza. “She went through all the same feelings any girl beginning a relationship feels—excited but cautious. All of her insecurities started to come out,” Ritza continued. “I have been in her shoes.”
Carrie Cornish, Cook’s long-time friend shared a similar sentiment.
“Like Magdalene, I also moved to Los Angeles from the Midwest in my 20s…(There) were many times I found Magdalene was going through the exact same thing I did when I first moved here—the traffic shock, the shock over rent prices, the Hollywood culture. All of it was stuff I went through,” Cornish said.
Still, it is primarily from Cook’s exposure to students at Citrus College that she draws most of her inspiration.
“Working with students in the library and working at community college, you meet so many interesting people. So many interesting stories come through” Cook said.
“Sometimes someone will say something, and it will go in a completely different tangent in my brain,” she later added.
Often, those tangents take her through gothic inspired narratives, illuminated by moments of love and humor.
It is through those moments that Cook conveys her message.
“Sometimes we end up doing something different than what we had initially planned, and that’s okay,” said Cook. “It’s important for college students to know that. But it’s still important to try.”
Cook—speaking from personal experience, explained how her own career path and goals changed over the years.
“I worked in entertainment for years, and I moved out here to work in entertainment, and I did,” Cook said. “But I realized I hated it. After I left entertainment, I wandered aimlessly for a while.”
It was at this point that she realized that she wanted to work at the library.
“I used to work at a library when I was younger, and I remember I loved it,” Cook recalled.
She then enrolled in graduate school and realized that she loved being in college and around students, which was what eventually brought her to Citrus College.
“I love working here. I see this as my career,” said Cook. “Writing for me is a hobby—something I do on the side just for myself.”
Currently, she is working on her second novel and hopes to continue with her writing.
