Tom Cooke

114, Male

San Antonio, Texas

United States

Profile Information:

Hometown:
San Antonio, Texas
About Me:
I'm new to fiction, but an old hand at TV copy, technical writing and a touch of newspaper journalism, magazine writing and publishing wanders through my background. Recently retired to write fiction full time. It is truly a relief to put pen to paper on a subject that is not mind numbingly boring.
I Am A:
Writer
Website:
http://www.freewebs.com/thomasdouglascooke/index.htm
Books And Authors I Like:
I like just about anything except mushy romances. I'm a little shaky about some of the vampire fantasy stuff out there too.
Movies And TV Shows I Like:
I love movies. Even the Geeky old musicals from the 30's. I even own a couple of old Tom Mix oaters from the 20's. I also collect old radio shows so I guess my taste in entertainment is a bit nuts. I liked all of the noir stuff that came out right after the war. WW2 that is. I liked all the Lonesome Dove mini-series. I like the Harry Potter flicks. I was a little disappointed in the Tolkien trilogy.

Comment Wall:

  • Brian Kavanagh

    Hello Tom. Welcome. It is great having the time to write just what you want, isn't it? Best wishes,
    Brian
  • Tom Cooke

    Absolutely. I even put the work down and take a brain break when I want to. And no one has asked me to climb a phone pole or examine some new wonder widget. It is a luxury.
  • L.J. Sellers

    Hi Tom
    Welcome to CrimeSpace
    I'm in the same mode, writing fiction first now, editing/writing the nonfiction drivel for money part time. I love it.
  • Tom Cooke

    I got started as a technical writer in the army. When I returned to civilian life I got involved in the cable/satellite industry. I wound up writing service manuals, specification codes etc.
    At first I thought it was because of my background, then I discovered that I was the only one who owned a typewriter and dictionary.

    Thanks for the friend request. Since I'm new to this, I'll probably hit the button wrong, but I think I added you.
  • carole gill

    Hi Tom!
    Glad to see you, good luck with the writing--I've turned to it full time too!
  • Tom Cooke

    Thank you for the welcome. I must add, your page really knocked me out. It took me right back to being a youngster, waiting for my Dad to get home from the war. I think it was the music. Neat puppies too. Mine is a junkyard dog that likes to eat the mailman.
    Thank you again.
  • JackBludis

    Who's number 29? What team? What era. Looks like 50s or early 60s.
  • Tom Cooke

    It was 1958. I moved to guard the next year so my number was different. The team was The Robstown High school "Cottonpickers" and it was my number. I wore the jersey to work one day and Pete Martinez a good friend and fellow co-worker was playing with his new poloroid and snapped the shot just as we were getting ready to shoot the weather. Robstown is about twenty miles west of Corpus Christi, Texas. I had a great deal with my employer. They let me play ball if I would work weekends. I usually worked from the six o'clock news until sign off, which back then was around midnight. The station was KZTV, Channel 10, Corpus Christi, Texas
  • carole gill

    Hey Tom! Didn't notice your comment until today! Thanks for that. I love my page too it gets me in the mood to write! It really does. The puppies were great but a lot of work. They're all gone now to good homes (most in the family) so we keep up with them. And guess what, the Mama dog loves to have a go at the mailman! She's even run across the street to nip him. So glad she didn't break the skin, though and he was so nice about it. What is that with dogs?!!! all the best to you.
  • carole gill

    Hey Tom, please put some music up so I can swipe stuff from you. I never found out how to put it on my page! it's all stuff that I've mooched off other people!
  • Tom Cooke

    Carole, I promise I will as soon as I figure out how. You've got all the good ones anyway. Maybe I can find STRING OF PEARLS somewhere. The only thing I've got on my myspace site is Ian and Sylvia's version of EARLY MORNING RAIN.
  • L.J. Sellers

    I sympathize. I have a stack of books in the TBR pile too. But the proposals come first. Best wishes.
  • Scott Loring Sanders

    Thanks, Tom. I appreciate it. I don't want to tick anyone off. --Scott
  • carole gill

    that's nice tom. the character is interesting. The writing, I think, is vivid. I certainly like the idea of the Indian culture. particulary the dreams/visions. Yes, that character has depth and is interestingenough to be in a novel. you go for it,Tom! are you rewriting the whole thing?I wrote a first draft out recently that I "improved" upon--that is, my second draft is the same story--but presented differently. I hope you are going to edit this--is that what I understood you to say?
  • Tom Cooke

    Hi Carole,
    The preface is entirely gone now. I incorporated a bit of it in the first chapter and the important parts that actually pertain to the story are now included in the body of the book. A lot of it I just scrapped. I tried to develop the character through what he did during the story rather than just dump it all in the front of the book. I think it worked out much better, but even as a scrapped piece of work I thought it was interesting enough to introduce the character to some of the folks who might be interested.
    Tom
  • Brian L Porter

    Tom,

    I like the character you've introduced us to above. He's believable, human, and fallible, all good qualities in a lead character. I'd like to see more about him.

    Best regards

    Brian
  • K.R. Lewis

    Tom: I received an email on my website saying I'd received a message from you? But I'll be damned if I can find it anywhere on "My Page"?
  • K.R. Lewis

    Thanks Tom, I found it. (Could they have made the thing any smaller, ya think?)
  • Jack Getze

    When you sell your novel, you will be asked 1,000 times "So what's your book about?" I can't tell you how important it is to have an interesting answer. Working on the short, two or three-sentence hook will help you prepare. It's hard. It's not fair, because our books are about many things, but when a would-be buyer, or a radio host asks you that question, your answer can mean the difference between success or failure that day. I f****** hate it!
  • Angie

    Miss Snark's blog is a fab resource for writers still looking to snag an agent. And yes, she's both damn funny & damn smart.

    Coyote Radio does contemporary radio theater, mostly comedy. All of the mystery stuff is on the funny side - Kyla Jackson, Temp Spy & Little Janey: Pet Detective are two of my faves. We're local, but there's some stuff on the web at www.coyoteradio.org (I think...I haven't checked the website in ages...the hubster does that).

    Best o' luck with the synopsis evilosity!
  • Alison Bruce

    Hi Tom

    thanks for the message. We had great fun making it and now I've just been hired to write a zombie movie so maybe I can get to be a screaming extra in that too! Good luck with writing full time, don't let the quiet days get to you! Take care,

    Alison xx
  • carole gill

    you're always welcome on my page! carole's place! and remember, there's never a cover charge!
    btw Tom! I love that Maltese broadcast! i've added Dragnet and that to my collection. so love the 1940's wish I could slip into a '40s noir novel. Be Spade's gal friday--you know?! I would love it!
  • Daniel Hatadi

    You're welcome, Tom. Glad you like the place.
  • Brian L Porter

    Hi Tom, Sent you a pm, but just wanted to say hi as well.

    Hope things are going great for you. Look forward to hearing from you when it's daylight your side of the pond.

    Best regards

    Brian
  • L.J. Sellers

    Get that bike and ride! Life is short. It should also be sweet.
    Lj
  • Brian L Porter

    Hi Tom,

    Yep, still Kicking, though I've been laid low with my depression lately. thanks for the blog comment. I can't wait for 'Glastonbury' to come out. I think it's one of my best.

    Best regards and hope you're well also.

    Brian
  • carole gill

    cool! feel good, and I'm glad you're back!
    xxx
  • Brian L Porter

    Great to hear from you Tom. Glad you liked the interview. How are you my friend? It's always so good to hear from you. Hope you have a great day.
    Best regards

    Brian
  • L.J. Sellers

    So good to hear! Congratulations. Enjoy the ride.
  • EDWARD C MORGAN

    I did publish aransas pass and ingleside, but have recently transferred to tennessee.
  • J. F. Juzwik

    Hi, Tom, Thanks for the add. I've seen your book on Mythica's site. I've got submissions in there too. Joyce
  • J. F. Juzwik

    I just saw your note. Are you submitting to Another Time, Another Place (that anthology)? I'm working on a piece for that too and having a great time with it. Joyce
  • J. F. Juzwik

    This is new to me too, what with the 'future' angle to it. It's fun though. I am wordy however, and having a restriction on the word count, well, I'm just writing and I'll trim it down later. Recently, I just wrote my first flash piece at 984 words. Talk about a challenge for me! But this is terrific and I'm hopeful for mine too. Joyce
  • J. F. Juzwik

    I've looked into Mythica's forum, but haven't joined in yet. Since you recommend it so highly, I'll get in there and see what's going on. While my submissions are pending, I have another crime fiction novel I'm completing that I plan to submit there as well. I've always got something going on. Later, Joyce
  • Brian L Porter

    Hey Tom,

    What d'you mean old? I'm only 150 years young.I easily rememebr when Jack was a lad...hehe

    Best regards

    Brian
  • Michael Phelps

    Good evening Tom,

    Thanks for letting me be your friend on Crimespace.

    I will definitely be getting my copy of "Memoirs of Bear". It sounds like a facinating read. I see you were in several spots in VN. I salute you and thank you for your service, and I'm damn glad you made it home.

    Regards,

    Mike Phelps
  • Ian McFadyen

    Thanks Tom. I'm looking forward to being part of the Crimespace team!
  • Christopher Valen

    You're welcome, Tom. I look forward to further discussions and comments.
  • Susan Whitfield

    Fantastic! Good luck with your endeavors!
  • Brian L Porter

    Hi Tom,

    Thanks for the blog comment. It's great to get these little bits of information and they go to show just how closely we are related though we may think ourselves one particular nationality. My own mother was Anglo-Indian and met my father when he was serving with the British Army in India in the 1930s so I know what it's like to have a mixed heritage.

    Hope your back's feeling better my friend, mine is killing me today. I received the final edits to my Ripper sequel today and have spent the day going through them. There weren't many, and i was amazed ayhow few there were so I've been able to go through the whole thing in a day and approve the final ms. (I must be getting better at this writing lark).

    Best regards

    Brian
  • Preetham Grandhi

    Hi Tom, I want to introduce you to my debut novel "A Circle of souls" which is a murder, mystery, psychological thriller and a tale of justice and hope. Do visit www.acircleofsouls.com to read more about the book. Make sure you sign up to win an autographed copy of the book. You can also read more reviews by clicking on the More Reviews button at the website. Thanks for your time in advance.

    Best regards

    Preetham Grandhi

    Early Endorsements for “A Circle of Souls”

    Linda Fairstein, NYT Bestselling Author: "A fascinating debut - this novel takes the reader to the darkest places in the human soul, from a writer with the authenticity to lead us there. A stunning thriller and an important read."

    Judge Judy Sheindlin, star of the Judge Judy Show: "The seminal work of this fine author kept me glued to my chair until the adventure was over and the mystery solved. A great read!"

    Book Synopsis:

    The sleepy town of Newbury, Connecticut, is shocked when a little girl is found brutally murdered. The town s top detective, perplexed by a complete lack of leads, calls in FBI agent Leia Bines, an expert in cases involving children.

    Meanwhile, Dr. Peter Gram, a psychiatrist at Newbury s hospital, searches desperately for the cause of seven-year-old Naya Hastings devastating nightmares. Afraid that she might hurt herself in the midst of a torturous episode, Naya s parents have turned to the bright young doctor as their only hope.

    The situations confronting Leia and Peter converge when Naya begins drawing chilling images of murder after being bombarded by the disturbing images in her dreams. Amazingly, her sketches are the only clues to the crime that has panicked Newbury residents. Against her better judgment, Leia explores the clues in Naya s crude drawings, only to set off an alarming chain of events.
    In this stunning psychological thriller, innocence gives way to evil, and trust lies forgotten in a web of deceit, fear, and murder.
  • Jon Loomis

    Thanks for the note awhile back, Tom. Sorry to be so slow getting back to you--I almost never check my inbox here, for some reason. All best to you--

    Jon