Local author releases first book in series

CHILLICOTHE – Two years before he retired from his job at the Herr’s plant, Michael Cook knew he was going to write a book. Not just any book, a western themed novel.

“I grew up watching westerns, it was what was on T.V. and in the movies,” Cook said.

It is where Cook’s passion lies. Since he retired in February 2014, Cook has nearly completed a series of books. The first of which is already in print.

“The second one could print any day now,” Cook said.

When Cook finished his rough draft of the first book in the Sean O’Rourke Series last year, he showed it to some close friends and family who encouraged him to get the book published.

On December 21, 2014, the dream of publishing a western novel came true. So far, the book has received over 100 downloads on Smashword, but official book sales are still unknown.

Cook says his biggest struggle in writing the novels has been learning to use technology. He had started writing the first book by hand, until his son gave him an old laptop. Cook said it took a while to learn how to use it and save his progress. Cook called the experience “disheartening.”

“One day I lost two whole chapters I had written. Luckily they were still right there, fresh, in my head since I just wrote them that day.”

Despite taking time to adapt to the technology, Cook was able to write the second book in the series within two months.

“My friends told me the second book is better than the first anyway,” Cook said.

And he is already about halfway done with the third. For now, that’s where the series will end. But Cook said he’s open to the possibility of writing more books, within the series or otherwise.

“I’ll keep writing, probably about two books a year,” Cook said. Seeing as is approaching three books in almost two years, that seems a likely goal for the author.

The novel is available through Book World on Water Street, Amazon (including Kindle e-book), and most online book publishing sites.

Mike Cook will he holding a book signing at Book World on Water Street, Saturday, May 23 beginning at 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.