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.
136 Fri January 23 2004 - 20:50:29 Fullname: Dave Cook Email: Comments: Tammy, I’m so sorry you didn’t win the big one. You would have really enjoyed holidaying in the UK: the cold, the biting wind, the rain, the damp, and the snow. What’s that you’re saying? You’d rather stay in California, or Mexico? Well, I can’t say that I blame you. lol
By the way, I’m glad you get on well with your husband’s father. I lost my Dad when I was in my early twenties. He was a lovely man, very good-natured and placid, and I still miss him lots. However, like you, I get on very well with my father-in-law, and since he lives only a few miles away, he quite often calls in for a chat and a cup of tea. It’s all very English, really, and quite civilised (or civilized if you’re American)... :-) Dave.xxx
137 Fri January 23 2004 - 20:45:46 Fullname: Dave Cook Email: Comments: DAVE, top three novels by the four authors we’ve mentioned? Boy, that’s a tough one! We’re covering a lot of years, here, so I wouldn’t take the following list as 100 percent accurate.
Koontz: Watchers, Midnight, and Fear Nothing. The latter is of course the first book in the so-called Moonlight Bay trilogy. Sadly there is no trilogy, since (as far as I know), it’s still made up of only two books.
Masterton: Prey, The House That Jack Built, and Ritual (love that cannibalism!). However, I suspect quite strongly that this list will change dramatically when I eventually get the time to catch up on Graham’s latest works, such as The Doorkeepers, Katie Maguire, and Trauma.
Herbert: The Magic Cottage, ’48, and Domain. I also enjoyed Once, which to be honest is a strange little tale, and I’m not too sure if it was the story I liked, or the fact that I read most of it sitting on a beach in Sri Lanka!
King: It, Christine, and Needful Things, but with Phantoms also getting a deserved mention.
How about you, DAVE? What's your top three favourite books of all time?
My next novel is well underway, thanks. Basically, it’s is a tale of horror (with a supernatural element) and revenge, as a small, secluded community sets out to punish three innocent people for the sins of their ancestors. Whether the book sees light of day this year, though, depends on a couple of things outside my control. For example, I’m hoping it will be a tad keener priced than the first - and if that means finding a new publisher, then so be it. Indeed, if there are any interested publishers out there reading this, please feel free to drop me line. :-) Dave.
Just a note to let you all know that I will be unable to take my "world cruise" to visit all my friends. We had a wonderful time at the casino, but came home poor. Oh well, another time, perhaps. "Dad" went home to Washington DC yesterday morning. We had such a wonderful time when he visits. My own father passed away a few years ago, so I always enjoy my "dad time". My husband is the only one of his 5 children that keeps in touch with him. He loves expensive, decadent meals & enjoys spoiling us whenever he visits. My husband's sisters all have resentment issues regarding an ugly divorce over 30 years ago. Quite sad, really. I dont have those issues so I get along with him wonderfully. My husband has worked hard to develop a good relationship with his dad. It's nice to see them spend time together. It brings joy to each of them.
Well, gotta go for now-talk to you soon. Peace-Tammy
139 Thu January 22 2004 - 23:06:44 Fullname: DAVE Email: Comments: Go on Tammy, WIN, WIN, WIN. Let us know how the eveing went?
Dave, a question,of the 4 authors you enjoy the most, what are your top 3 novels by each author?
Thanks alot for giving me some insight on how you work.
Is there any news yet on a 2nd novel, and if so whats the idea behind it?
CHEERS DAVE
140 Thu January 22 2004 - 13:28:03 Fullname: Dave Cook Email:
info@davecook.biz Comments: Tammy, wow, all that lovely food! You have my mouth watering profusely – especially since last night I had to put up with boring old cod and chips (french fries), although, admittedly, the cod was stuffed with prawns and an extremely delicious sauce! Send our best wishes to your father-in-law, and the very best of luck when you bet the farm in that Indian Casino. As Jamie says, if you win big time then a trip to the UK to meet up with all your friends would be lovely. Take care, Dave. xxx
141 Thu January 22 2004 - 09:54:07 Fullname: Jamie Scott Email:
scottytotty21@hotmail.com Comments: Tammy, cor, sounds like your’e having a great time. And all that lovely food too! Hope you manage a big win on the casino – if anyone deserves it you do. we’d all love to see you over here in England when you get that really big win! lol Jamie x
Hope everyone is doing well. I have been busy that last few days & havent had time to get online much. My father in law is visiting from Washinton DC so we have been playing "tourist". We spent a day in Ensenada Mexico shopping & dining on stuffed shrimp & lobster(yum yum yum)Last night we had a "night on the town" in La Jolla-fabulous (& quite expensive-ouch) dinner & "Top of the Cove" Very decadent. Today, we are going to have a buffett dinner at a local indian casino & then gamble our life's savings away-haha. Not all of it, of course-just gonna play a little. If I win BIG, I will remember all of you-No roses, just CASH!! lol
Wishing a great day to all-Peace, Tammy
143 Wed January 21 2004 - 13:48:55 Fullname: Dave Cook Email: Comments: Helen, I'm always happy - except, of course, when Newcastle United lose a match. And, thankfully, it’s been awhile since that’s happened. Hope you’re keeping well. :-) Dave. xxx
144 Wed January 21 2004 - 11:55:21 Fullname: Helen Yates Email:
hly1@cant.ac.uk Comments: Im back- after a whirlwind of stuff happening.
Dave, I saw your post about me on the other message board and you made me go red. I hope you;re happy :)
Helen
xxxxx
145 Tue January 20 2004 - 20:09:12 Fullname: Dave Cook Email:
info@davecook.biz Comments: Ron, shame on you! Okay, you share the same surname, but that’s all you have in common with Dave Fletcher. He’s a monster, whereas you are a scholar and gent. As different as chalk and cheese. :-) Dave.
146 Mon January 19 2004 - 23:40:27 Fullname: Ron Fletcher Email: Comments: Some fascinating stuff there Dave. And thank goodness Dave Fletcher wasn’t named after me. I must confess you had me quite worried after the name Fletcher cropped up in your book. Hopefully, you dont think I'm, such a bad apple as my fictional namesake. :) Ron.
147 Sun January 18 2004 - 20:10:55 Fullname: Dave Cook Email:
info@davecook.biz Comments: DAVE, virtually all my ideas come from within. Very often I begin by wondering, What would happen if... It helps also in this game if you have something of a warped and twisted mind - and I guess you could say I have one of those, even though I consider myself to be a good guy at heart! Same with my characters - lots of people have asked me if Dave Fletcher, the bad guy in A GIFT TO DIE FOR, was based on anyone I know. The truthful answer is no, he was simply a figment of my own corrupt little mind. lol
What sort of films do I like? Well, I love anything directed by our very own South Shields born Ridley Scott (particularly Blade Runner and Gladiator), and generally most films that manage to successfully combine Sci-Fi with horror (such as Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Thing, and the early Alien movies). I’m a sucker also for those classic black and white SF films from the fifties - basically, anything out of the norm. I dislike intensely any movie remotely smelling of TV soaps!
As for the biggest influence on my writing career, well, that’s a tough one. I could list dozens of children’s authors, I suppose. Writers such as Blyton (don’t laugh) W.E. Johns, and Malcolm Saville, since those authors were mostly responsible for sowing the seeds of my writing career by encouraging me to read, nothing more, nothing less. Followed later by my wife, Denise, and the Wyndham’s, Asimov’s, and Arthur C Clarke’s of this world. But, hey, probably the greatest incentive to write has come from TV soaps such as Coronation Street and East Enders, because as soon as they appear on TV, I disappear! Pronto! :-)
As for you, Jamie... me, the new Laymon? You gotta be kidding!!! Dave.
148 Sat January 17 2004 - 16:17:34 Fullname: DAVE Email: Comments: Well Dave, that's some challange Jamie's set you, "the new Laymon" .Why not?
Dave just a couple of questions.
Where do you get your ideas from? What sort of films do you like? Who has been the biggest influence on your writing career?
CHEERS DAVE
149 Sat January 17 2004 - 11:26:17 Fullname: Jamie Scott Email:
scottytotty21@hotmail.com Comments: Tammy, DAVE, I agree with you re Richard Laymon. Some of his books were awsome. I read Midnights Lair not long ago. Just a shame he's no longer with us. Hopefully Dave Cook will take his place! Jamie.
150 Fri January 16 2004 - 23:09:18 Fullname: Dave Cook Email: Comments: DAVE, thanks for the two pointers regarding Stephen Laws and his best work. I’ll be sampling his work this year, and that’s a promise. I do believe it was F. Paul Wilson’s TOMB, followed shortly thereafter by Graham Masterton’s DJINN which first sent me meandering down my own little horror trail way back in 1987. Until then I’d been seriously into reading Sci-Fi. For example, John Wyndham, Frank Herbert, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C Clarke, Robert Heinlein, AE Van Vogt all spring to mind. I loved ‘em all. As for Adventure/Thriller writers, I have a soft spot for John Grisham, Martin Cruz Smith, and some of Clive Cussler’s work.
By the way, I’m pleased we support the same team. All we need now is for the lads to go out there and win something for a change! :-) Dave.
