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Alan Cook
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Computer expert turned author, Alan writes mysteries and books about walking, as well as articles and poetry.
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My mother and grandmother wrote articles and poetry, so it's no surprise that I took after them. My preferred area for fiction is the mystery, since I am an avid puzzle solver, but I have also done a number of long walks (the coast of California, Los Angeles to Denver, and the UK End-to-End from John O'Groats to Land's End) and write on walking as well. I live on a hilltop in Southern California with my wife.
Birth Place: Buffalo, NY
Accomplishments: Alan's mystery, "Run into Trouble" has won a Silver Quill award from the American Authors Association and been named best Pacific West book by Reader Views. Alan's mystery, "Honeymoon for Three," has won 2 awards. It has received a Silver Quill Award from the American Authors Association and been named Best Mountain West Book by Reader Views. Alan's book, "Walking the World: Memories and Adventures," has been named "One of the Top 10 Walking Memoirs and Tales of Long Walks" by walking.about.com. His short story, "Hot Days, Cold Nights," appears in the Jeffery Deaver edited anthology, "A Hot and Sultry Night for Crime." It is available to read free here.
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Books
|  | Dangerous Wind by Alan Cook
Amnesia victim Carol Golden has to help find a boyfriend she doesn't remember who is trying to cause the "downfall of the Western World."...
Kindle (eBook)
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 | Dancing with Bulls by Alan Cook
While on a vacation at Knossos Palace in Crete, Matthew and Mason are spirited back 4,000 years ago to the Minoan civilization where they have to dance with a bull...
Kindle (eBook)
Amazon.com
Createspace
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 | Run into Trouble by Alan Cook
Winner of 2009 Silver Quill award from the American Authors Association and named best Pacific West book by Reader Views.
Drake and Melody are one of 10 teams entered in a race along the coast of California for a prize of a million dollars--in 1969 during the Cold War.
But is the Cold War about to heat up?
Watch the video trailer here: Kindle (eBook)
Nook (eBook)
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble.com
Amazon Kindle
Barnes and Noble NOOKbook
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 | Honeymoon for Three by Alan Cook
Winner Silver Quill award from American Author's Association and Best Mountain West book from Readers Views. It is 1964, 10 years after Gary Blanchard’s high school adventures in The Hayloft. He and his love, Penny, are going on the trip of their lives, and, oh yes, they’re getting married along the way. What they don’t know is that they’re being stalked by Alfred, a high school classmate of Penny...
Kindle (eBook)
Nook (eBook)
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble.com
Amazon Kindle
Barnes and Noble NOOKbook
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 | The Hayloft: a 1950s mystery by Alan Cook
Bobby sox, slow dancing, bomb shelters—and murder. Within two weeks after starting his senior year of high school in the 1950s, Gary Blanchard finds himself kicked out of one school and attending another—the school where his cousin, Ralph, mysteriously died six months before. Ralph’s death was labeled an accident, but when Gary talks to people about it, he gets suspicious. Did Ralph fall from the...
Kindle (eBook)
Nook (eBook)
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble.com
Amazon Kindle
Barnes and Noble NOOKbook
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 | Hotline to Murder by Alan Cook
“I like the characters…as well as the Hotline for the setting. This is a great mystery.”
Tony Schmidt joins the Central Hotline in sunny Bonita Beach, California to improve his listening skills. Shahla Lawton joins the Hotline to fulfill a volunteering requirement for her high school. Neither one expects to get mixed up in a murder investigation.
But that is before Sh...
Kindle (eBook)
Nook (eBook)
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble.com
Amazon Kindle
Barnes and Noble NOOKbook
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Short Stories
Cashbox--Matthew and Mason Mystery by Alan Cook
M&M Mystery No. 6. What would you do if you found a box full of money?...
Over the Cliff--Matthew and Mason Mystery by Alan Cook
M&M Mystery #4. Matthew discovers a boy clinging to the side of a cliff and learns that he was pushed....
Homerun--Matthew and Mason Mystery by Alan Cook
M&M Mystery No. 2. Matthew helps Tank Thompson get the baseball with which he set a homerun record, so when it disappears, Matthew feels obligated to help find it....
Secret of Nim--Matthew and Mason Mystery by Alan Cook
M&M Mystery No. 5. When Mason sees Sue Ellen disappear from the school yard, he and Matthew are off on the adventure of their lives, with a mathematical twist. (Appendix on winning at Nim at the end.)...
Case of the Missing Presidents, The--Matthew and Mason Mystery by Alan Cook
M&M Mystery No. 1. When money disappears from the school cafeteria cash register, Mason discovers a clue and gets help from Matthew to solve the case....
Dam, The--Matthew and Mason Mystery by Alan Cook
M&M Mystery #3. When Mason's friend who has cerebral palsy disappears, Mason thinks he may have an idea as to what happened to her....
Echo's Story--Matthew and Mason Adventure by Alan Cook
Echo tells what happened between her, Zeus, Hera and Narcissus. See also "Echo and Narcissus" under Poetry....
Antietam Adventure--Matthew and Mason Adventure by Alan Cook
Matthew and Mason trace the route of their ancestor at the Civil War battle of Antietam, not knowing that they will be called upon to save his regiment from disaster....
Freedom Sneezes--Matthew and Mason Mystery by Alan Cook
What kinds of freedoms are guaranteed by the Bill of Rights? See quotations in my book, "Freedom's Light: Quotations from History's Champions of Freedom."...
Glow of Christmas--Matthew and Mason Mystery by Alan Cook
What if the glow of Christmas comes from your neighbor's house that's on fire?...
Schedule C by Alan Cook
An IRS mystery....
Little Willie Chews the Scenery by Alan Cook
Little Willie poems were written long ago and tell about gruesome happenings. Does life imitate art here?...
Hollywood's Burning by Alan Cook
It's 1961 Los Angeles and people are dying by the ocean--and then there are the photographs and the fire. Although this is a work of fiction, the fire was real....
Have a Nice Knife by Alan Cook
Jamie Stern, cub reporter for the Palos Verdes Press, is lucky enough to be close by when billionaire Stephen Mack's body is discovered in his mansion. With the help of Arthur Brandon, the mystery wr...
Red Dress by Alan Cook
When Priscilla looks for a fellow hedge fund trader who is missing, she finds out he may be the victim of a sex scam she is well familiar with....
Freeway Exit by Alan Cook
Oh, those Los Angeles freeways. What a way to go!...
Moon Over Murder by Alan Cook
A teenage boy in the 1950s gets a dream summer job working in a restaurant beside a lake, owned by his aunt and uncle. It doesn't hurt that three pretty female cousins are waitresses and that they li...
Hot Days, Cold Nights by Alan Cook
Originally published in the Jeffery Deaver anthology, "A Hot and Sultry Night for Crime."...
Good Woman, A by Alan Cook
John Webster doesn't think he's a stalker. He's just in love. But after he appears in court, strange things start to happen....
Human Touch, A by Alan Cook
Let's hope the future isn't like this....
Chemist and the Farmgirl, The by Alan Cook
Two struggling graduate students meet at the University of Michigan during the depression.
For more on Gerhard and Lura, see "How My Parents Got Rich--And How You Can Too" in Articles....
Murder in Lingerie by Alan Cook
Aura isn't expecting any excitement during her shift working at an upscale department store, but......
First Kiss by Alan Cook
When you're a junior in high school, everybody assumes that you've kissed a girl--even in the fifties....
Compute This by Alan Cook
Return with us now to those days of big computers in icy rooms with raised floors. But wait--something is terribly wrong......
Sure Bet by Alan Cook
Peavy has always been a cautious man, that is until he finds a gambling strategy that is foolproof....
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Poetry
Librarian by Alan Cook
Winner of the President's Award for the Torrance, California Shakespeare competition 2013...
Minotaur, The by Alan Cook
For a different take on life in ancient Crete, see my young adult beautifully illustrated book, "Dancing with Bulls."...
Bull Leaper by Alan Cook
Also see my young adult beautifully illustrated book, "Dancing with Bulls."...
Witchcraft by Alan Cook
Who among us has not been under the spell of another?...
Mermaid by Alan Cook
Haven't we all been seduced by an impossible vision?...
Poet's Lament by Alan Cook
There are more poets in the world than there are people who read poetry. What can we do about it?...
Amy Anne Diane by Alan Cook
A poem about my ancestor....
Clarence High School Alma Mater by Alan Cook
I wrote the alma mater for my high school in 1951. Entered and won a contest for the words--got $10. Still the alma mater....
Corporal Ed Lincoln, 23rd New York by Alan Cook
My great grandfather, Lansing Edgar Lincoln (1842-1916), fought in the Civil War. Also see my adventure story, "Antietam Adventure."...
Can-Can by Alan Cook
I first saw Can-Can on Broadway with the original cast, including Gwen Verdon and Lilo (whew!). Saw a revival recently in which we were asked to make up our own lyrics. Here are mine....
Limericks--Lady from France by Alan Cook
Limericks are 5 line poems, usually racy. Here are some about the lady from France....
Eyeful by Alan Cook
The 2 sections of this poem are based on actual media reports. One I believe was the subject of a letter to Ann Landers....
Olympians, The by Alan Cook
A salute to the athletes who particpate in the Olympic Games...
Hugs by Alan Cook
This is the hugging generation. Enjoy!...
Berlin Wall (1961-1989) by Alan Cook
Watch and listen to a Berlin Wall graffiti animated version by Reallusion on YouTube. Link below poem.
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Echo and Narcissus by Alan Cook
The Greek myth of Echo and Narcissus. For Echo's side of the story, see also, "Echo's Story" under Stories....
Holy Summer Day by Alan Cook
Watch out for those trainee priests!...
Old Codger by Alan Cook
We all grow older, but we don't have to grow older gracefully....
Risk by Alan Cook
Ratings by Alan Cook
We've all done it....
Your Smile by Alan Cook
Freedom Goes Softly by Alan Cook
Like the frog in the pot of water slowly being heated, we may not realize what's going on until it's too late....
Keep on Truckin' by Alan Cook
Written before "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell, but I think it expresses one of his themes quite nicely....
Global Warming by Alan Cook
Topless Lass by Alan Cook
Well, what would you do?...
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Articles
Circling the Globe--Travel in a Suspense Novel by Alan Cook
My suspense novel, Dangerous Wind , takes place on all 7 continents....
Computer Match--in 1964 by Alan Cook
We met through a computer match--in 1964!...
Greek Myths--the Making of Dancing with Bulls by Alan Cook
When I wrote my young-adult adventure book, Dancing with Bulls, I wanted to make it realistic enough so that it might have happened....
Relatively Dead: Alzheimer's, Ponzi Schemes and the Grandparent Scam by Alan Cook
"Relatively Dead" is the second Carol Golden amnesia mystery. Carol looks for her cousins who seem to be targeted for murder, and encounters Alzheimer's, a Ponzi scheme and the Grandparent scam....
Writing a Mystery Set in the Fifties by Alan Cook
I didn't have much trouble writing a mystery set in the fifties--"The Hayloft"--because, you see I was there....
Amnesia Mysteries--What it's like to have amnesia by Alan Cook
I have written 3 amnesia mysteries in the Carol Golden series. Two of them are published. Another to come in 2013....
Sex, Girls and Me in the Fifties by Alan Cook
If you think there wasn't any sex in the fifties, you're right--at least as far as I was concerned. See my mystery novel, "The Hayloft" for more stories about high school in the fifties....
Amazon Kindle Publication by Alan Cook
If you've written a book, published or not, you can publish it on Amazon Kindle...
Psychology of Panties by Alan Cook
A Psychology class outdoors in the fifties with surprising results....
Chocolate Cake--Grab Your Opportunities by Alan Cook
When life gives you chocolate cake, be prepared to enjoy it and make the most of it....
Giving Directions by Alan Cook
I am the author of "Walking the World: Memories and Adventures."
As a walker, I've often been asked to give directions to motorists. Sometimes I even get them right....
War Games by Alan Cook
War has always been with us and always will be, but perhaps we can make it less destructive....
Amnesia Mystery--The Making of Forget to Remember by Alan Cook
How I came to write my amnesia mystery, "Forget to Remember."...
Amsterdam by Alan Cook
Amsterdam is a great walking city--if you don't get run over by the trams, motor bikes or bicycles....
My Parents Could Teach Governments Good Financial Management by Alan Cook
Government officials should be able to balance a checkbook--and a budget. And how about making them do their own tax returns?...
Travel Mysteries--the Making of Honeymoon for Three by Alan Cook
When you write a "road mystery" it helps if you've actually been to the places you're writing about....
Academic Mysteries--The Making of The Hayloft by Alan Cook
My academic mystery, "The Hayloft," takes place in a high school in the fifties, B.E. (before everything. This article originally published in Mystery Readers Journal....
Mysteries Set in the South--The Making of the Lillian Morgan Mysteries by Alan Cook
Originally published in Mystery Readers Journal...
Los Angeles Mysteries--The Making of Hotline to Murder by Alan Cook
Originally published in "Mystery Readers Journal"...
Running the California Coast: The Making of Run into Trouble by Alan Cook
The making of RUN INTO TROUBLE, my mystery about running the California coast, set during the Cold War, which may be heating up. Originally published in Mystery Readers Journal...
Puzzles, Games and Murder: The Making of Thirteen Diamonds by Alan Cook
Puzzles, games and murder in a retirement community: the making of "Thirteen Diamonds."...
Crisis Hotline Listeners Help People by Alan Cook
Working on a crisis telephone hotline can be fulfilling--but don't take it home with you. (See also "Listening on a Crisis Hotline.") Read my mystery novel, "Hotline to Murder."...
Walking Saved My Life by Alan Cook
Walking improves your health, physical and mental. Many more walking stories in my book, "Walking the World: Memories and Adventures"...
How My Parents Got Rich--and How You Can Too by Alan Cook
We can all learn from how the people who lived through the depression managed their money.
For more on Gerhard and Lura, read "The Chemist and the Farmgirl," in Stories....
Listening on a Crisis Hotline by Alan Cook
Before you can be a listener on a crisis hotline you have to take a couse in listening, but that doesn't completely prepare you for the calls you get. But it did help me write my mystery/suspense nov...
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News
11 books at .99 on Kindle by Alan Cook
Now 11 books on Kindle....
My books can be borrowed from Amazon Kindle by Alan Cook
You can now borrow my e-books on Amazon Kindle....
Now 10 E-books for .99 by Alan Cook
I now have 10 e-books available on Amazon Kindle, Nook Book and other places for .99.
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Amnesia Mystery Catching On by Alan Cook
My new mystery, "Forget to Remember," is finding an audience among mystery lovers and genealogists....
9 E-books for $.99 by Alan Cook
Nine of my books are available as e-books for $.99, 7 of which are mysteries....
My Books on Smashwords by Alan Cook
My books are on Smashwords....
Awards for Run into Trouble by Alan Cook
What's better than winning a book award? Winning 2 book awards in the same month....
Article in Palos Verdes Peninsula News by Alan Cook
Newspaper Article...
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books by Alan Cook
I will be signing my books at the LA Times Festival of Books, April 25, 4-6 p.m., Sisters in Crime Booth #355 in front of Royce Hall....
Amazon Kindle Books on iPhone, iPod by Alan Cook
Amazon Kindle books are down downloadable to iPhone and iPod....
Run into Trouble published by Alan Cook
Run into Trouble, my new mystery/suspense novel has been published....
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Links
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| Alan Cook, Mystery and Walking Writer
Information about my books, including reviews, sample chapters and where to purchase them.
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Smashwords
Download my books as e-books in many different formats.
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Amazon Kindle
Download my books from Amazon Kindle
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Berlin Wall
Watch and listen to a Berlin Wall graffiti animated version of my poem, "Berlin Wall" by Reallusion on YouTube.
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Additional information
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| Books: Carol Golden mysteries: "Relatively Dead" and "Forget to Remember"; "Run into Trouble"; Gary Blanchard mysteries: "Honeymoon for Three" and "The Hayloft: a 1950s mystery." Also: "Hotline to Murder," and "Aces and Knaves" California mysteries; Lillian Morgan mysteries: "Catch a Falling Knife" and "Thirteen Diamonds." Walking book: "Walking the World: Memories and Adventures," with walking stories and inspiration. Books are available on Amazon Kindle and as e-books and through Smashwords.com |
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Contact
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