Interview with the author of The Dead War Zombie Series: ROGUE

Hey all I'm about to actually interview myself about the release of my new book The Dead War Zombie Series: ROGUE. It took a little longer than I expected to get this interview with all the scheduling conflicts between myself and I. After a few rounds of phone tag I finally reached me and conducted this interview. Without any further adieu here's the interview. George Cook Thedeadwarseries.com

TDWZS: (The dead war zombie series): Hi Mr. Cook it was nice of you to finally answer your phone and do this interview with us.

George Cook: Whatever let's hurry up I want to watch Doc of the Dead on Netflix.

TDWZS Seriously Mr. Cook welcome to The Dead War Series Blog. Let's get right to it. What made you write The Dead War Zombie Series: ROGUE?

George Cook: The fans had been asking for me to write as there were some unanswered questions from the first trilogy. ROGUE was a story I wanted to tell anyway after I finished the first book. I thought I would include it in the short story collection but after my first attempt at writing it I realized it would be longer than the other stories in the book so I decided to do it as a stand alone. Oddly enough the first attempt at writing ROGUE became the short story "The man in the hat". In the original version Sgt. Richards was sent out to find the cause of the other Scouts disappearances.

TDWZS: So is ROGUE a short story?

George Cook: I guess by today's standards it is. At over 7,500 words I guess you could call it a novlette also.

TDWZS: What's the plot of ROGUE?

George Cook: Without giving anything away I can say that it's a prequel to The Dead War Zombie Series Book One: Survive the Night. When I say prequel I mean as in it takes place right before the events in Book One. Sgt. Richards has just gotten the letter he is supposed to deliver and he runs into an unexpected enemy. That confrontation help explain something that happens in "The Dead War Zombie Series Book Two: ABOMINATION" and definitely explains the ending of The Dead War Zombie Series Book Three: WAR.

TDWZS: One of the benefits of knowing the author is that we got to read the book for free. The first things I noticed was that ROGUE was the darkest story in the series. Was that intentional?

George Cook: I set out to write a darker story although even I was surprised that it was even bleaker than Book One. I wanted to take the series back to it's roots. Book One was definitely the darker and scariest. Book Two was more action oriented and Book Three ended on somewhat of a hopeful note.

The first draft was so dark that I added the diner scene just to add a little levity although that ends badly too.

TDWZS: The revelation in the book is a big surprise. How did that come about?

George Cook: It had been planned all along to explain the super soldiers that the Special Forces Scouts were. The only problem was explaining how they existed. The secondary enemy introduced in Book Two wasn't actually supposed to be introduced until the second trilogy but I felt they had to be to help explain the Scout Corp.

TDWZS: Where is ROGUE available?

George Cook: Currently on Amazon for the Kindle.

TDWZS: Is there anything you would like to say to the audience before we depart?

George Cook: I would like to first say thank you to all of those that have supported me and you guys make it worth it. I have already started on the next story in The Dead War Zombie Series. One thing I would like to also add is take the time to leave a review. Those reviews really help us independent authors.

TDWZS: Alrighty then. Thanks for the Mr. Cook. Feel free to stop by when your next project is released.

George Cook: Thanks for giving me the opportunity to appear on my own blog it's been a blast.

Buy The Dead War Zombie Series: ROGUE at Amazon:

Interview with George Cook author of The Dead War Series Book Two: Abomination

Hi this is George Cook, the author of The Dead War Series. I have released book two in the series, Abomination. I occasionally interview authors of zombie books here on Thedeadwarseries.com so it only makes sense that I interview myself about the new book. Check out my interview below.


TDWS: Let's get right top it. There is a big surprise at the very beginning of the book. How or why did you come up with that?

George Cook: First let me thank everyone who purchased The Dead War Series: Book One and made it successful. Without those people there would have been no book two.

The surprise at the beginning of Abomination was not part of the original story arch for The Dead War Series. I had planned out how the story of the first three books would go and I ran into the issues with the motivations for certain character's actions.

If you have read book one you know that some characters seem to be against humanity. I had to come up with a reason, a good reason for their actions. Hence the surprise at the beginning of the book was born.

TDWS: You mentioned characters. Are they all back in Book Two?

George Cook: Oh yes Sergeant Richards, Jackson, Holloway, Smith, Duncan, Blake, Delice etc are all back. There are also new characters and Sgt Jackson's platoon The Peacemakers are introduced.

Also Sergeant Liu who previously only appeared in the short stories "Zombie Killer" and "Safe Zone" finally shows up in the main story line.

TDWS: How would you compare Book Two to the first book?

George Cook: Book Two is a lot more action oriented with some bigger action sequences than the first book. The horror and suspense element are still there though as the antagonist and protagonist are in a dark hospital full of the living dead. You never know what's around the corner.

I also tried to insert a little humor to keep things from being so dark. That's hard though since the whole world has gone to hell.

TDWS: At the end of Book Two we start to see some technology. What's up with that?

George Cook: LOL. Let's just say that both sides have things that they don't want anyone to know about. That will play in big time in Book Three: War.

TDWS: Sergeant Richards seems even more sure of himself this time out. Are we seeing an evolution of the character?

George Cook: I think what you are seeing with the Sergeant Richards character is a man thrown into extraordinary circumstancesy making the choice to rise to them instead of be crushed by them.
As seen in the short story "Safe Zone" he truly believes that mankind can win the war against the dead and now he has a chance to make sure that happens.

TDWS: The entire cast of The Dead War Series is very multi-cultural. Why so?

George Cook: Because the United States is. I hope it doesn't take a zombie apocalypse to bring us all together but if it does no one will care if the man or woman next to them is black, white, brown, yellow, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, straight or gay. They will only care whether or not you can kick some zombie ass and help ensure their survival.

TDWS: There is another surprise when Sergeant Richards and The Peacemakers finally find the zombie.What comes of that?

George Cook: Nice try, but that wont be divulged until Book Three. All I can say is that the surprise will lead an enemy to reveal themselves more than they wanted to and lead to an all out war at The Rock.

TDWS: So there will be another battle at The Rock?

George Cook: Yes that was planned from the start. I actually made a video back in January 2012 after the first book came out. Watching it now is funny because Book One actually had a different name at the time. Here is some audio from the second battle and this is all the scoop you are going to get.




TDWS: What will you tell us about Book Three: War?

George Cook: There will be much more action, military hardware, and that no character is safe. It will be all out war.

TDWS: When will Book Three: War be released?

George Cook: The week of October 31st of course. LOL.

TDWS: Where can people keep up with you and what's going on?

George Cook: Of course right here on The Dead War Series Blog. They can also follow me on Facebook or Twitter.

TDWS: Thanks for the interview and thanks for your time.

George Cook: For you guys anytime.

A Dead War Series short story: Doctor

Here is the short story included in my new book in The Dead War Series Book Two: Abomination. A story titled Doctor. 

She may be the only person that can save mankind from the zombie apocalypse. The problem is all of mankind wants her dead.TDWS:Abomination is available for $1.25 HERE

The Dead War Series: A Short Story DOCTOR

By George L. Cook III

The lights constantly blinked on and off in the arena. Even deep inside the arena known as The Rock Dr. Ariza could hear the sounds of laser fire and explosions outside.

General Holloway had told her to get use to that noise because the day you no loner hear it may be our last.

Dr. Ariza lay on the bunk in her room unable to sleep as formulas and genetic codes swarmed through her mind.

She couldn’t sleep. No matter how she altered the formula or upped the dosage they couldn’t get the nerve agent she had created to work on a permanent basis.

The nerve agent could actually shut down the limited neurological stimulus the brains of the dead received thus shutting them down. The problem was the effect lasted for no more than three hours.

It had taken two month to get the effects to last that long and she had made the leap from two hours to three in a weeks time. She knew she could make it last longer but what was she missing.

She rolled onto her side and punched at her pillow. She was not going to sleep until she figured it out. She sat up on the bed and made the decision to return to the lab and continue working.

Dr. Mitchell would not be happy as he thought that she was working too hard. That was easy for him to say since the entire planet didn’t blame him for the zombie apocalypse. Although they both had a hand in the creation of the Berserker Virus Ariza had done most of the work and the media had made sure the entire world knew it.

Ariza stood up and grabbed her lab cot which lay across her bed. She slipped it on and ran her hands quickly through her hair on a useless attempt at grooming. She knew it was a waste of time. No one here liked her much less cared how she looked and the dead didn’t care about looks just feeding their hunger.

“Hunger?’, Ariza asked stopping in mid motion.

Her face lit up as she ran out the door and down the corridor.

“Whoa” said a familiar voice.

She had been running so fast and so focused on getting to the lab that she didn’t even see Sergeant Reed.

She stopped in front of him. “ Yes Sergeant Reed.”

Reed looked around the area. “ Are you running from something?”

Ariza smiled. “ No I’m running to the lab. I think I just came up with an idea to stop the grays.”

Reed looked Ariza up and down. “ Well slow down. When I see people running I expect the dead to be behind them.”

Reed brushed by Ariza knocking her up against the wall.

Ariza stayed there until he left the corridor. She had gotten used to that treatment while at The Rock. They hated her and she knew the only reason they didn’t kill her is because General Holloway had forbidden it.

She wasn’t naive. The general hated her too but he and his higher ups believed that she could undo what she had done. Although Holloway would never come out and say it he believed in her.

Ariza walked on until she reached the lab. She did the retina scan, typed in her code, and entered the room.

She looked at the mess of paper work on her desk and at the computer on her desk. She sat down to look over her notes. The sound of the zombies moaning strapped to tables at the far end of the room no longer bothered her. She no longer even looked over at them to acknowledge their presence.

She looked began shuffling papers looking for the notes she had taken just two hours ago. Some papers hit the floor. She reached to get them and then by accident glanced over at the gurneys where the dead lay. There were two laying there.

There should have been three.

Ariza sprung to her feet and threw herself up against the wall as she looked at the blood covered third gurney which just hours ago held one of the dead.

The gurney crashed to the floor as the dead creature rose from underneath it. It’s black orbs focused solely on Ariza. Blood and black bile poured from it’s mouth as it lumbered toward Ariza.

Ariza screamed and then threw a book at the dead woman. The book bounced of her head causing her to stumble back but causing no harm.

Ariza ran for the door and tripped over a cluster of wires on the floor. The creature lunged at her.

The door exploded off it’s hinges and Reed stormed in . Reed fired his rifle catching the gray full in the chest and knocking it back against the far wall. Reed continued fired until the dead woman’s brains were splattered all over the wall.

General Holloway and now Captain Levine came running down the hall followed by four other soldiers.

Reed pulled Ariza out of the lab and into the corridor.

“ One of those things got loose!” Reed shouted.

Levine and the four soldiers entered he lab pistols raised. Once Levine was sure the others were strapped in he walked over to the now empty gurney. He reached down and looked at the straps. They had been partially cut.

Levine walked out of the room and directly to Holloway. “ Someone wants Ariza dead.”

Ariza looked up still in a panicked state. “Only two people have access to that lab. Ariza and myself.”

Holloway frowned, “ Actually that’s not true. Myself , Levine and three army scientist have access also.

Ariza made a confused look. “ But why?”

Holloway glared at her. “ Do you think that we were going to just trust what you bastards were doing and not check up on you?”

Reed walked toward Holloway and Levine. “ How the hell do we investigate this then?”

Holloway placed his hand on Reed’s shoulder. “ We don’t. You do.”

Reed looked back at Ariza. “ We can’t leave her alone.”

Holloway looked down at Ariza. “ No we can’t. You watch her for now. I will have a Scout come in to protect her.”

“A Scout?” Levine said.

“Yes a Scout.” began Holloway, “ They follow orders and out of the six suspects we have none of us are beating a Scout.”

Levine nodded. “ Sergeant Liu is still in the area I will get word to him to return.”

Holloway helped Ariza to her feet and held her hand. “ Stay with Reed for now and then when Liu gets here he goes everywhere you go.”

Ariza nodded. “ Thank you General.”

Holloway let go of her hand. “ If you really want to thank me find a damn cure or a permanent way to stop these things.”

Ariza nodded. “Yes sir.”

Levine and Holloway started down the corridor as the other three soldiers began to clean up the lab.

“You want to go back to your room”  Reed asked.

“No.” replied Ariza looking back into the lab, “I’ve got work to do.”

THE END

Coming October 31st: The Dead War Series Book Three: War!

Please check out these other books by George Cook

The Dead War Series Book One: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006YEKJXO 

The Dead War Series:

: The Short Stories: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0080S7PGQ 

Alone With the Dead: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008IELZ9U   

Contact George Cook at georgelcookiii@gmail.com 

Follow The Dead War Series on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/thedeadwar 

Follow The Dead War Series on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dead-War-Series/256567084409823 

Excerpt: The Dead War Series Book 1

Hi this is George Cook author of The Dead War Series Book 1. I am thrilled to share with you a short excerpt from the book. Hope you like it and I hope it encourages you to purchase the book. Have fun reading.

The other door slowly slid upward. The sounds of the moaning became louder as the door stopped.

Richards   raised his pistol as the dead lumbered out of the tunnel and into the pit. They moaned loudly and their arms were outstretched toward the soldier.

Richards remembered the rules of “The Test”. You were allowed to take three of the dead out with your pistol but two kills had to be by hand to prove that you could defend yourself without a pistol.



There was no hesitation. Richards   fired. The blue bead of light slammed into the head of the first of the dead out of the tunnel.

The blast blew out the back of the lumbering ghouls head. Richards  quickly aimed his pistol at the second and fired. The blast caught the second of the dead in the side of the head sending it tumbling to the ground.

The remaining three were only about ten yards away now.

Richards  went down and one knee and aimed again.

Sergeant Patesh leaned forward. What the fuck was his student doing.

From across the pit Chen shot Patesh a confused look.

Richards  exhaled and fired again. Another of the dead fell to the ground. What was left of it’s head was a bloody mass.

The dead were only five yards away now. Richards  holstered his pistol and unsheathed his knife.

As one of the dead reached down at him. He lurched up ward ramming the knife through the chin of the dead woman.  The tip of the knife came out through the top of the dead woman’s head and she collapsed to the ground. Black fluid poured from her mouth.

Richards  spun away as the last of the dead reached at him. The fat dead man reached again. The soldier caught him by the arm and spun it into the wall. The dead man’s head hit the wall with a thud.

Richards  ran up behind the dead man and began to contiguously ram his head into the wall. Blood and black fluid flew into the air as the dead man’s head was smashed open. Soon the dead man’s brains spilled out and it slumped to the ground.. Now it was truly dead.

There was no danger of contamination from the blood as the virus or whatever it was that caused the dead to walk could only be spread by the bite of one of the infected dead.

Richards  looked at those above him who begun to clap their hands and cheer.

The door Richards  had walked out of opened back up. He stepped through the door where he was greeted by several men in black uniforms and black berets.

One of the men stepped forward holding a black beret in his hand. The beret had a flaming skull in it’s center front and the word Scout underneath.

Corporal  Richards took the beret and looked at it as Patesh entered the room.

Richards saluted.

Patesh saluted back and then handed Richards his Sergeant stripes, “Good job out there.”

Sergeant Richards smiled, “Thank you Sergeant.”

All Scouts automatically earned the rank of sergeant upon completion of their training which concluded with “The Test”

Patesh nodded and stepped back as the other scouts got in formation behind him.

“Raise your right hand.”, ordered Patesh.


Richards raised his hand.

Then the twenty men in the room began to recite the Scout’s Creed.

I will fight alone

But I fight for the many

I will never give up

I will soldier on

I will finish my mission

I will not fail

I am a SCOUT!

“You may now put on your beret, Scout”, said Patesh.

Richards put the beret and stood at attention.

Patesh smiled, “Welcome to the Scout Corp.”

Buy the Dead War Series Book 1 here: The Dead War Series