DAVE COOK's first horror novel is called A GIFT TO DIE FOR. A former IT
journalist, Dave's technical articles have appeared in magazines around
the world.
226 Thu November 13 2003 - 15:17:37 Fullname: Victoria Email:
superjordz@hotmail.com Comments: WOW! Absolutley LOVE the short story, my favourite you've written to date! You give just enough away to satisfy the reader but not too much to patronise your audience. I got goosebumps at the end!!! Its simple yet effective - the way the best stories should be. On reading other comments I think Ron made a good point in saying the book could be slightly more gothic, your latest project (the new book about the coal mining villiage) is much darker, I'd personally like to see more of that - it's what you do best! x
227 Thu November 13 2003 - 13:58:38 Fullname: Helen Yates Email:
hly1@cant.ac.uk Comments: What am I doing at Uni? At the moment, Im going insane because this weel, I had to prove to my teacher that Im capable to do my individual study on the actress Jodie Foster. I completed that task yesterday and this weekend, Im starring in two plays for our Variety Show and unlucky me, due to writing the scrupt of one, gets to be director. We go on stage tomorrow and Im utterly terrified. Hopefully I have pics of the dress rehearsal tonight so when theyre done, Ill post them up on a site and all fellow fans of you and Graham Masterton can have a good giggle at me :)
Okay Ive gone way off topic. Seriously Im doing Media and Cultural Studies with American Studies. Im down in Canterbury Christ Church so I don’t want much of Channel M (although my dad does).
On the writing, Ive decided to put my Star Wars trilogy on the net (at http://adultfan.nexcess.net/aff/authors.php?no=7751 I wish someone would review my work so far!) but I cant carry on without sorting out Chapter 6 which is important in the development of feelings between Luke and a female character I made up!)
One more thing: Sorry to hear about your tooth Jamie. I had a huge hole in one of my teeth last year (so big it went straight to the nerve). I booked an appointment with the dentist but until then, I could not eat anything properly so I developed a trick. I used to buy a lot of stuff off ebay and it would come in bubble wrap. I would rip take some of the wrap (not much) and then I would chew on it with the sore tooth. Sounds daft but it dulled the pain!!!!
Ive just finished CHANEL HOUSE (for the upteenth time) and Im thinking what to read next- maybe PREY- Ive not read that yet!!!
Okay, Im off to my next lecture….
Helen
xxxxx
228 Thu November 13 2003 - 09:52:11 Fullname: Dave Cook Email:
info@davecook.biz Comments: Jamie, sorry about the tooth! I find a glass of whisky usually numbs the pain - trouble is, there's never any here when you need it. As for reading, yup, I like Grisham, too. Though I often have difficulty keeping track of everyone! At the moment, I'm reading James Herbert's THE MAGIC COTTAGE and then after that it'll be NIGHT WARRIORS by the master himself, Graham Masterton. Dave.
229 Wed November 12 2003 - 11:43:12 Fullname: Jamie Scott Email:
scottytotty21@hotmail.com Comments: Hi all. Ow! Just come back from the dentist and my tooth is hurting like crazy. Anyway, I wondering what kind of book people are reading at the mo. Mine's a John Grisham thriller called the Pelican Brief. Ok so it's not horror but hey it makes a nice change every now and then. Catcha later, Jamie.
230 Sun November 09 2003 - 16:45:31 Fullname: Dave Cook Email:
info@davecook.biz Comments: Helen, I know exactly what you mean about writing those all-important scenes that must be "planted" or else something which occurs later just doesn't make sense. When I have those problems, I tend to write the problematic piece first in outline form and then carry on with the story. I don't return to polish up the important piece until the story is finished. Well, it seems to work for me. :-)
Good look with your writing and acting career. Which course are you covering at Uni? You sound a lot like my daughter, Victoria, who along with her friend, Kingdom, left a couple of messages on here the other day. They both live in Manchester. Victoria graduated from Salford Uni in early summer, and Kingdom is a Man Utd supporter! Victoria still crops up from time as a TV presenter on Manchester’s Channel M. She’s also into acting and is a regular on the club circuit in Manchester, appearing on stage with her comedy routine. Perhaps Victoria will elaborate further on that the next time she honours us with her presence on this board... Dave. xxx
231 Sun November 09 2003 - 12:36:11 Fullname: Helen Yates Email:
hly1@cant.ac.uk Comments: Dave, in my opinon, writing a book is pig easy but theres always going to be a few scenes which are important to the story but there's a problem- you cant write them. For my recent fan fic (it’s a LORD OF THE RINGS fic called AN ELF AND HER KING) and I need to add a scene in Chapter 22 so that something that has to happen in Chapter 25 CAN happen (if you see what Im saying) But Ive had difficulty writing it effectively so last night I just wrote it and hopefully anyone who reads it will dismiss it as progress and get to grips on what happens form Chapter 25 to the end!!!
I really hope to take up acting and writing as a proper career soon (ironically next weekend, Im starring in a play that I wrote and driected. Its only 10 minutes long but hey its fame!!!) But with university and all, I have to take it up as a pleasure thing, which is good enough for me!!!
Oh and PS IM A MANCUNIAN AND I SUPPORT MAN UNITED!!!! COME ON YOUR REDS!!! There I'm done! Is there anyone else out there who is from good old crazy Manchester!
Helen
xxxxx
232 Fri November 07 2003 - 20:57:13 Fullname: Dave Cook Email:
info@davecook.biz Comments: Hi Ron, delighted you enjoyed A GIFT TO DIE FOR. It seems to be going down well with everyone so far - let's hope it stays that way. :-) Nothing new on the book front until next year, I'm afraid. Though there will be the occasional short story popping up from time to time. Don't worry, I'll keep you posted! Dave.
233 Fri November 07 2003 - 17:06:22 Fullname: Ron Fletcher Email: Comments: Dave, thought Id let you know I finished "a gift to die for" last night. I usually like my horror slightly more gothic, but hey I loved it! Cracking story, well done! When's your next one due? Ron
234 Thu November 06 2003 - 22:02:12 Fullname: Daddy Cook Email: Comments: Hi Vickii! Goodness me, you made it... welcome aboard! This is turning into a special day: chatting to you on the phone, chatting to you on my message board, and now Newcastle Utd has just won in Switzerland – yippee! I’ll pop a copy of PLENTY LONG ENOUGH in the post first thing in the morning, so you should receive it Saturday. In the meantime, I’ll keep a look out for any Mancunians tuning in. Love, Dad. xxx
235 Thu November 06 2003 - 21:50:37 Fullname: Dave Cook Email:
info@davecook.biz Comments: Yo Kingdom! A big welcome and thanks for fixing the modem for Vickii. As for Sunday, you being a Man Utd supporter, I know you’ll be supporting us and not the blues. You never know, Vickii might even teach you some more Geordie! :-)
236 Thu November 06 2003 - 19:43:25 Fullname: Victoria C Email:
superjordz@hotmail.com Comments: HEY D.C!!! Kingdom fixed the internet for me-turns out the modem was not plugged in. Hmmmm, an easy mistake to make. anyway I told everyone in the office at work about the website so maybe you'll have a few mancunians tuning in!!
Love you loads!!!! Your youngest x
237 Thu November 06 2003 - 19:37:43 Fullname: kingdom Thenga Email:
superjordz@hotmail.com Comments: Congrats on the short story-can't wait to read A GIFT TO DIE FOR nad hey hope to see a good game on sunday howay the lads
ta ta
kt
238 Thu November 06 2003 - 16:50:03 Fullname: Dave Cook Email:
info@davecook.biz Comments: Helen, please feel free to rabbit on here anytime you like! That's what this board is for. :-)
Oh, and thanks for the congrats on getting my book published. I found writing the book the easy-peasy bit. But as you probably already know, the big-time publishers in the UK just aren’t interested in us newbies. Besides, by the sound of things you’re having success with writing fan fiction on the Net. Who knows, maybe that could lead to you having a whole series of books published? I’d buy ‘em, that’s for sure!!! :-) Dave. xxx
239 Thu November 06 2003 - 10:45:46 Fullname: Helen Yates Email:
hly1@cant.ac.uk Comments: Well, I'll try not to be a big stalker. Im so gentle, I cant say boo to a goose.
Anyway where are my manners? Congrats on having your first novel published. I tried to get my novel published so at the moment, Im stuck to writing fan fiction on the net (which is fun and proving popular among readers!!!) Due to the success of my first one, Im halfway through my second one and planning three more!!!
Okay Im rabbiting on- I best go!!!
Helen
xxxxx
240 Wed November 05 2003 - 11:17:24 Fullname: Dave Cook Email:
info@davecook.biz Comments: Hi Helen - welcome! Actually, I love stalkers. I'm such an old crock these days that even the most placid, gentle, and kindest of stalkers in the whole wide world would find it a doddle to catch me. :-) Dave xxx
