Ask the Author: Alan Cook
Answered Questions (10)
Alan Cook
My illustrator is Janelle Carbajal. She illustrated our children's book, "Dancing with Bulls" and has done many of my book covers. She has a degree in fine arts from the University of Southern California and has had her paintings shown at many events. On Instagram her handle is yeahnelle. I love her work.
Alan Cook
The Halloween pumpkin had green eyes, just like my girlfriend's, that followed me around the room. This seemed really strange until I took the top off and found her head inside.
Alan Cook
I would go to Ray Bradbury's fictional world in Fahrenheit 451 and fight the book burners.
Alan Cook
This is an interesting question, because I used what could be called a personal mystery in one of my Carol Golden novels: "Hit that Blot." For much of my life I have suffered from undiagnosed medical conditions. What my wife and I discovered (without any help from a doctor) after much trial and error was, first, that I am lactose intolerant, an inherited characteristic (meaning that I can't tolerate dairy products), and much later, that I can't digest gluten.
Alan Cook
My favorite fictional couple is not from a book but from the poem, "Lochinvar," by Sir Walter Scott. Lochinvar shows up at Ellen's wedding to another and steals her (with her consent) right in front of the groom and the bride's father. My narrative poem, "The Saga of Bill the Hermit" is based on it.
Alan Cook
If you're a serious writer you treat it like any other job. Have a writing schedule and stick to it. I'd love to be inspired every day, but in lieu of that I find that sitting in front of the computer and actually writing gets the job done. Inspiration, although coveted, is optional.
Alan Cook
I don't tell people what I'm working on, because who knows how it's going to end up. Usually, I don't even tell my wife more than a couple of sentences.
Alan Cook
If you want to be a writer you must write. I've talked to many people who said someday... Someday never comes. If writing is a high enough priority for you you'll find time for it. Otherwise, you'll go through life telling other people about someday.
Alan Cook
For me, the best thing about being a writer is being my own boss. I worked for others for many years. Working for myself is better. My time is your own to write what I wish. Of course, if I'm not productive I have nobody to blame but myself!
Alan Cook
I believe writer's block is fear--fear that you aren't writing your best, and fear that others won't like what you wrote. Let's take them one at a time. Writer's block is most common during the writing of the first draft of a book. Remember that the first draft is not the final draft. Writing is revising, and it is during the revision process that a book gets put in readable form. As far as readers not liking what you wrote, you can't please everybody. Strive to please yourself first, and others will like your work. Don't worry about the ones who don't.
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