Interview with author George L. Cook

Hi again 🙂

This time I am talking to author George Cook who lives in New Jersey. He has served in the United States Army and the New Jersey National Guard. He is involved in politics, and he currently serves on his local board of education. George is President of the Board this year. He is married with one child. He loves sports, action movies, and of course writing.

Q: Do you remember the first story you wrote?

George Cook: It was a very bad science fiction story I wrote right after seeing Star Wars for the first time. Actually, it was an outright Star Wars ripoff except that my bad guy wore a Samurai helmet.

Q: Were you inspired by someone or something?

George L. Cook: I always loved writing essays and short stories in school, but I think that my father belonging to a science fiction book of the month club is what got me into books and later into writing.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about your book “The Dead War Series”?

George L. Cook: The Dead War Series is about humanity’s battle to take back the earth from the dead. I describe it like The Walking Dead meets Black Hawk Down. It focuses mainly on the soldiers that fight the war. Sergeant Richards is the hero of the story, but he is one of many valiant men and woman that fight to save the Earth. But the story is not as cut and dry as that. As the war rages on Sergeant Richards and the others begin to realize that the biggest threat to humanity is itself.

Q: How did you come up with the stories for the books?

George L. Cook: The stories came easily and some came after watching the news and all that was going on in the world. I also have a vivid imagination and already have the whole series mapped out.

Q: Can you tell us something about the main character Sergeant Richards?

George L. Cook: Sergeant Richards is a former Newark police officer who joins the army to fight back against the dead after his family is killed and Newark is overrun by the dead. After joining the army he soon becomes a special forces scout. These men must often traverse cities alone to deliver messages from one base to another as all communications such as radio, television, and Internet are now gone.

Sergeant Richards has a sense of values that are constantly challenged as he fights to save humanity. He struggles within himself constantly as is not to proud of some of the things he has to do at times to save himself and to complete his missions.

Q: I understand you also wrote some short stories which are part of the series. What attracts you to short stories?

George L. Cook: The short stories were based on characters in the main story that was not that fleshed out and had some interesting scenes in the book. A favorite of mine is Private Smith. I may go back and write a prequel featuring him.

Q: Where do you see yourself in a couple of years in relation to writing?

George L. Cook: I hope to be a more prolific writer and of course a much better writer. I hope to be able to expand the universe of “The Dead War” and to have a loyal following.

Q: Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?

George L. Cook: Write, write, and write some more. Also, although criticism hurts to take it in and learn from it. Some critics and reviewers on websites may not have much tact in their reviews but what they write can be useful.

Q: Which author inspires you?

George L. Cook: I would say Stephen King but then again I am inspired by anyone who has the courage to write and put their work out there for all the world to see.

Q: What is the last book you read?

George L. Cook: Zombie War Z, but I have about 10 books by independent authors on my kindle that I have yet to read.

Q: Where can people go and read your work?

George L. Cook: The book is available at Amazon.com here:

Q: Where can people find you on the internet?

George L. Cook: I’m on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/gcook1 and Twitter here: https://twitter.com/#!/thedeadwar