An Interview: Featured Author
Today, I have the pleasure of sharing Creole Bayou with fellow author and writer, Rob Cooke. Rob also writes about Creole culture; therefore, I was very interested in interviewing him. To my delight, he agreed.
What do you feel is the most important thing your readers should know about you?
My birth name is Robert Cook, and I write under the name of Rob Cooke. I write historical fiction, mainly in historical fiction that depicts the South during the Great Depression. I am a native Nebraskan and have lived here most all my life. I have visited Louisiana only once many years ago as a child. My family and I went to Toledo Bend Reservoir (located on the Sabine River) for a fishing and camping trip. My family wasn’t really interested in any of the local cultures.
What intrigues you to write about Creole culture?
I became interested in Creole culture through the music first. The first time heard Buckwheat Zydeco (11/14/47 – 09/24/16) I was hooked. When I ate Shrimp Creole for the first time that solidified my intrigue with Creole culture and inspired me to learn more.
In the 1980s, I used to watch a Cajun cooking show back in the 1980’s. You probably know the one. I’m talking about: Louisiana Cooking hosted by Justin Wilson (04/24/14 – 09/05/01). I watched it all the time and learned some of his recipes.
Creole culture intrigues me. I ordered the documentary Liberty Street Blues (1988, directed by André Gladu). It came with a second DVD entitled Maroon: On the Trail of Creoles in North America (2006). After viewing these two DVDs, I realized there is so much to learn. I am still learning. Being old and naïve on Creole culture, I just figured the people intermixed. Although I knew about Jelly Roll Morton (10/20/1890 – 07/10/1941) and others like him, I was unaware of the free people of color. (As a side note, Jelly Roll might have been a cousin of my fictional family in a future story.) I’m currently reading Red River. Old Creole Days by George Washington Cable is on my future reading list.
Do you find it challenging writing about Creole culture? If yes, what is the most challenging about it?
I think the hardest part about writing about Creole culture is there is so much I do not know. I hope I have accurately depicted the culture and not done any injustices. For the most part, I think my characters represent individuals and not a group.
What is your favorite Creole dish?
My favorite dish is Shrimp Creole. However, Crawfish Pie is a close second.
Who is your writing role model and why?
John Steinbeck (02/27/02 – 12/20/68) is my writing hero. He is the guy that wrote about the poor people and made them heroes. In my works, my characters are not pretty or rich. They drive beat up cars and live in shacks. They are employed as laborers, bootleggers, musicians, and prostitutes.
For you, what is the hardest part about writing?
The hardest part about writing for me is making time. I work about fifty hours per week at my day job. However, it gives me time to research. Also, editing drives me crazy.
If you were to have your novel(s) made into a movie, which actor or actresses would you have to play the leading parts?
I would cast Channing Tatum as Bo. Originally, I had envisioned the singer, Ryan Bingham, as Bo. However, at that time, the character wasn’t Creole. Sara Barnum probably would be played by K.D. Aubert. I just discovered her today. She just has the look. Miriam Landry would be played by Gabrielle Union, just because I have a couple of friends who are related to her. Yet, it is hard for me to see my characters as celebrities. When I was browsing for images of Creole belles, I went to CaneRiver.com. Many of the females featured there could be Sara or Miriam.
Aside from writing, what are some of your other interest?
I love music and roots music, from bluegrass, blues, and Zydeco. I am trying to teach myself both banjo and guitar. I know a few licks. I like history. I watch a lot of movies, mostly documentaries that I use as inspiration and topics for writing. As I previously noted, I only have visited Louisiana once, but I would go to Tiger Stadium on a Saturday or Alex Box Stadium during the spring. I’m from Omaha, so you know who my favorite college baseball team is.
What is your favorite place to hangout in Louisiana?
If I could go on a trip though, it would be on a houseboat trip through the bayous near Lafayette or the Crawfish Festival in Breaux Bridge.
Where can readers find you linked to learn more about you? (website)
Follow me on twitter @bobarnum1. My author page on Facebook is https://www.facebook.com/Rob-Cooke-661803964000938/
Tell the readers briefly about your current writing project(s).
My current project is “The Lost Song of Miriam Landry.” Miriam started as a side character with one scene in Moonshiner’s Legacy. She came back for a second and then tried to take control of Sara’s Swamp Blues. She wanted her own book. Through research, I discovered there was a scandalous murder in 1938 that remains unsolved. The timing was perfect. I always felt Miriam was hiding something big. It is still ways from being completed.

