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Bill’s Year In Books

Bill’s 2020 Year in Books

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Bill’s Bookshelves

read (124)
currently-reading (28)
to-read (420)
foreign-locales (15)

Bill’s Friends (296)

Monica Wilcox

182 books | 2,368 friends

Kasa Cotugno

3,841 books | 589 friends

Melanie

1,490 books | 3,663 friends

John Jaramillo

303 books | 526 friends

Jennifer Brown

91 books | 313 friends

Brian Palmer

392 books | 1,056 friends

Patricia

657 books | 363 friends

Guy Portman

440 books | 555 friends

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Bill Cokas

Goodreads Author

Born

in Washington, D.C., The United States

Website

http://www.margawriterville.com

Twitter

WPCokas

Genre

Mystery & Thrillers, Humor, Suspense

Influences

Carl Hiaasen, Sinclair Lewis, Stephen King, James Lee Burke, John Kenn ...more

Member Since

March 2012

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/bcokas

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I write suspenseful tales about "real" people (that means slightly weird and definitely flawed) with an offbeat, humorous slant in a travel-inspired setting.

Some of my earliest and fondest memories involve travel--more specifically, escaping into books, whether devouring the latest Beverly Cleary or biking to the library to spend a few hours with Stephen King. A childhood subscription to the Weekly Reader's Book Club yielded stacks and stacks of timeless, memorable titles that he has since shared with my own children.

Inspired by author/artists such as Jack Kent, Wende and Harry Devlin and Margaret and H.A. Rey, my own storywriting efforts took the form of cartoons and comic strips throughout most of my youth--there was writing involved, bu I write suspenseful tales about "real" people (that means slightly weird and definitely flawed) with an offbeat, humorous slant in a travel-inspired setting.

Some of my earliest and fondest memories involve travel--more specifically, escaping into books, whether devouring the latest Beverly Cleary or biking to the library to spend a few hours with Stephen King. A childhood subscription to the Weekly Reader's Book Club yielded stacks and stacks of timeless, memorable titles that he has since shared with my own children.

Inspired by author/artists such as Jack Kent, Wende and Harry Devlin and Margaret and H.A. Rey, my own storywriting efforts took the form of cartoons and comic strips throughout most of my youth--there was writing involved, but usually in the form of dialogue balloons. As a freshman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I was dismayed to find no courses in comic art. There were, however, a series of courses in creative writing--taught by some of the South's most esteemed names, from Bland Simpson to Daphne Athas. For a few semesters, I thought my future was secure.

But with graduation inevitable, I knew neither short stories nor my regularly published comic strip were likely to provide a comfortable living. Enter advertising, journalism's delinquent stepchild. Here I found a way to spin words and pictures (and frequently humor) into persuasive messages tailor-made for short attention spans. The big city beckoned, and I accepted, spending a decade in Chicago typing out (yes, on a typewriter) copy for McDonald's, Heinz, Nintendo, Samsonite and Kellogg's.

After North Carolina lured me back, I continued my advertising writing for smaller clients, started a family and began teaching copywriting for his alma mater. While "back on campus," I developed an idea that didn't fit into a comic strip, a TV commercial or even the confines of a short story. Since it wouldn't go away, I turned it into a novel. Another one followed. And pretty soon, the ideas were piling up faster than they could be turned into books.

I hope this pattern will continue. ...more

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Combine Editions
Bill Cokas’s books

Average rating: 3.53 · 121 ratings · 66 reviews · 3 distinct works

	Battle Axe 3.56 avg rating — 57 ratings — published 2012 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ring of Fire 3.63 avg rating — 46 ratings — published 2012 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	True Wit: Stories by Humor Writers from Around the Globe by John Martin (Goodreads Author), Mark Cain (Goodreads Author), Lance Carney (Goodreads Author) 3.17 avg rating — 18 ratings — published 2019	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

30 posts
Bill Cokas's Blog

Blarney Rubble: Cover reveal!

Cover reveal! I had hoped to release it today, in honor of St. Patrick's Day, but the cover will have to do (courtesy of Mike Sottong). With a little "luck," the book will be available very soon. If you'd like an Advance Reader Copy to review, let me know and I'll add you to the list!

Blarney Rubble: Humorous Suspense from Bill Cokas

Can he keep quiet enough to hear destiny calling?

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Published on March 17, 2016 13:29

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Bill is Currently Reading

Bill Cokas is currently reading

Behind Closed Doors (DI Beatrice Stubbs #1)

by J.J. Marsh (Goodreads Author)

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Jan 28, 2021 10:04PM

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Left For Dead (Morecambe Bay Trilogy, #1)

by Paul J. Teague (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Jan 03, 2021 09:58PM

Bill Cokas is currently reading

Your First Screenplay: A Roadmap for How to Write a Screenplay (Even When You Are Short on Time or Filled with Fear and Haven’t Had Much Luck with Screenplay Writing Before) (I Am a Screenwriter)

by H.R. D'Costa

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Jan 02, 2021 09:51PM

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Bill’s Recent Updates

Bill Cokas entered a giveaway Dancing to an Irish Reel by Claire Fullerton (Goodreads Author) 2 copies available, ends on March 20, 2021 Enter to win »
Mar 04, 2021 06:15AM · like · see giveaway · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Dancing to an Irish Reel by Claire Fullerton. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Dancing to an Irish Reel by Claire Fullerton <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Bill Cokas entered a giveaway Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (Goodreads Author) 40 copies available, ends on March 13, 2021 Enter to win »
Feb 28, 2021 09:37AM · like · see giveaway · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Bill Cokas wants to read The Liar's Dictionary by Eley Williams	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Bill Cokas wants to read We Run the Tides by Vendela Vida	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 24, 2021 01:25PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of We Run the Tides by Vendela Vida. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — We Run the Tides by Vendela Vida <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Bill Cokas is currently reading Behind Closed Doors (DI Beatrice Stubbs #1) by J.J. Marsh (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 28, 2021 10:04PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Behind Closed Doors by J.J. Marsh. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Behind Closed Doors by J.J. Marsh <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Bill Cokas wants to read Big Girl, Small Town by Michelle Gallen (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 23, 2021 02:29PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Big Girl, Small Town by Michelle Gallen. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Big Girl, Small Town by Michelle Gallen <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Bill Cokas is currently reading Left For Dead (Morecambe Bay Trilogy, #1) by Paul J. Teague (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 03, 2021 09:58PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Left For Dead by Paul J. Teague. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Left For Dead by Paul J. Teague <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Bill Cokas is currently reading Your First Screenplay: A Roadmap for How to Write a Screenplay (Even When You Are Short on Time or Filled with Fear and Haven’t Had Much Luck with Screenplay Writing Before) (I Am a Screenwriter) by H.R. D'Costa	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 02, 2021 09:51PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Your First Screenplay by H.R. D'Costa. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Your First Screenplay by H.R. D'Costa <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Bill Cokas is currently reading Story Structure for the Win: How to Write Faster, How to Write Better—Whether You’re a Plotter or a Pantser by H.R. D'Costa	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 02, 2021 09:51PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Story Structure for the Win by H.R. D'Costa. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Story Structure for the Win by H.R. D'Costa <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Bill Cokas is currently reading Mad Moon by Alissa C. Miles (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 31, 2020 10:25PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Mad Moon by Alissa C. Miles. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Mad Moon by Alissa C. Miles <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">