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Shawn Patrick Cooke

Goodreads Author

Born

in Marietta, GA, The United States

Website

https://www.facebook.com/shawnpatrickcooke

Genre

Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Member Since

March 2008

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/shawnpcooke

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Shawn Patrick Cooke fills his time by solving Rubik's cubes, ballroom dancing, learning languages, and generally getting distracted by the next shiny new hobby. His fiction reflects that variety of interests, stretching from historical fiction to his own invented worlds. While in our universe, Shawn lives in Richmond, Virginia, with his wife, his daughters, his cat, and his books. ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Shawn Patrick Cooke I do something else. It sounds like a trite answer, and maybe not all that helpful, but if I'm sitting at the computer staring at a blank screen, and …moreI do something else. It sounds like a trite answer, and maybe not all that helpful, but if I'm sitting at the computer staring at a blank screen, and nothing's coming, I get up, I mix up a Rubik's cube or read a book or do something that engages my mind. I have no obligation to bang my head against the keyboard until something comes out.

Of course, that's fine if it happens once. What happens if you get into that rut where you're just not writing at all? That's when I try to find something else to write, not a story, but just a journal or a blog post or a book review, or even an email to someone. These things remind me that I can write, that all it takes is doing it, and that can help me over the hump.(less)

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What’s the best thing about being a writer?

Shawn Patrick Cooke I love language -- it's what I studied in school, and a topic I continue to enjoy learning about. Language is one of the core elements to what makes u…moreI love language -- it's what I studied in school, and a topic I continue to enjoy learning about. Language is one of the core elements to what makes us human, and to be a writer is to share your own tiny scrap of humanity with others.(less)

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Combine Editions
Shawn Patrick Cooke’s books

Average rating: 4.14 · 36 ratings · 9 reviews · 4 distinct works

	Illuminated 3.88 avg rating — 24 ratings — published 2015	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
	A Magnet to a Flame 4.57 avg rating — 7 ratings — 3 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
	The Masks We Wore: The Anthology by Patrick Tuttle (Editor), Shawn Patrick Cooke (Goodreads Author), David Gowey (Goodreads Author) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — 2 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
	Crossing Borders: a Lulu Anthology by Templeton Moss (Contributor), David V Mammina (Contributor), Matthew Brady (Contributor) 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — 2 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

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

5 posts
Shawn Patrick Cooke's Blog

git gud

This phrase is one I've encountered in the world of video game speedrunning. When a streamer is bemoaning the difficulty of a section, or demanding to find out the "trick" to beating it, chat often responds with a quick and peremptory "git gud".

These are harsh words, but there is hidden wisdom in them.

These two simple (nay, simplified) words have such deep pragmatic implication. They speak to the Read more of this blog post »

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Published on March 22, 2019 05:27

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Shannon is Currently Reading

Shannon Cooke is currently reading

The Code of the Woosters (Jeeves, #7)

by P.G. Wodehouse

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Nov 12, 2018 10:37AM

Shannon Cooke is currently reading

Cierto Azul

by Fernando Contreras Castro

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Jan 01, 2023 04:11AM

Shannon Cooke is currently reading

Moving Pictures (Discworld, #10)

by Terry Pratchett

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Dec 29, 2022 05:08PM

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Shannon’s Recent Updates

Shannon Cooke voted for When the Tides Held the Moon as Readers' Favorite Debut Novel in the Final Round of the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards. Cast Your Vote
Nov 27, 2025 04:43PM · like
Shannon Cooke voted for Nobody in Particular as Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fiction in the Final Round of the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards. Cast Your Vote
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Shannon Cooke rated a book it was amazing Starless by Jacqueline Carey (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
Aug 07, 2024 06:22AM · like
Shannon Cooke rated a book it was amazing Frogkisser! by Garth Nix (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
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Shannon Cooke rated a book really liked it Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis (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
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Shannon Cooke rated a book it was amazing Angel Mage: An Award-Winning YA Fantasy of Angelic Magic and Dangerous Quests by Garth Nix (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
May 17, 2024 02:56PM · like
Shannon Cooke is now following Heather Fawcett Author of Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries (Emily W...
Jan 26, 2024 10:52AM · like