My Writing

Explore the beauty of storytelling

An old typewriter surrounded by nature, symbolizing creativity.

A cozy cabin in the woods, representing the author's inspiration.

A collection of books by Walter Cook, highlighting his works.

Essays

Reflections on modern absurdities.

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When the Sky Fell on the Mountains

Inspired by the real devastation of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, this novel honors the resilience of mountain communities while exploring the darkness that can flourish when power goes unchecked.

A Hurricane Unleashes Decades of Deadly Secrets in the Heart of Appalachia
When Hurricane Helene drives journalist Mary Whitaker back to the North Carolina mountains she fled eight years ago, she expects to weather the storm in her late mother's cabin—not to uncover a web of corruption, murder, and family secrets that will shatter everything she thought she knew.
Reunited with Cal Morgan, the carpenter she once loved and abandoned based on lies, Mary discovers her mother's hidden journals revealing devastating truths including Cal's brother Jude and his "accidental" drowning eight years ago was murder.
As floodwaters rise and the community fights for survival, Mary and Cal follow a trail of evidence linking a corrupt sheriff, a ruthless developer, and three suspicious deaths spanning two decades. But their investigation puts them directly in the crosshairs of a killer who's already silenced everyone who got too close to the truth.
Perfect for readers who crave:

Small-town corruption thrillers with shocking family revelations
Second-chance romance tested by deadly conspiracies
Natural disaster suspense where the storm outside mirrors the chaos within
Investigative journalism uncovers sins buried for generations
Appalachian noir steeped in mountain atmosphere and moral complexity

In the tradition of Where the Crawdads Sing meets Sharp Objects, this atmospheric thriller weaves together forbidden love, environmental crime, and the devastating cost of silence. As Hurricane Helene tears through Western North Carolina, Mary and Cal must decide: expose the truth and risk everything, or become the conspiracy's next victims.
Some secrets are buried for protection. Others are buried because they kill.
A gripping standalone thriller about the lies families tell, the courage it takes to expose them, and the love that survives when everything falls apart.

Sanctuary

A Southern Mystery of Justice, Redemption, and Mountain Resilience
When a smooth-talking developer turns up dead in Franklin, North Carolina, the Cherokee herbalist who publicly cursed him becomes the obvious suspect. But Mary Baade—ex-marijuana smuggler turned dog bakery owner—knows the real story is far more dangerous than small-town gossip suggests.
A conspiracy that runs deeper than mountain roots.
Behind Hollis Blackwood's eco-resort proposal lies a pharmaceutical empire's scheme to control Appalachian water rights while hiding environmental crimes worth billions. As corporate corruption infiltrates Franklin's trusted institutions—from the pulpit to the police station—Mary must resurrect skills from her criminal past to expose a network of money laundering, drug trafficking, and systematic exploitation targeting vulnerable mountain communities.
When institutions fail, desperate mothers take desperate measures.
Alongside Walter Allen, a FinCEN investigator hiding in plain sight, Mary uncovers a darker truth: Blackwood was murdered to protect a fourteen-year-old girl from escalating sexual abuse. Now an innocent Cherokee activist sits in jail while the real killer faces an impossible choice between her freedom and another woman's life.
A tale of moral complexity in the modern South.
Sanctuary weaves Cherokee environmental wisdom with hard-boiled crime fiction, exploring the price of justice when legal systems enable the powerful and fail the vulnerable. Set against the backdrop of Appalachian resistance to corporate exploitation, this literary thriller examines how communities survive betrayal—and what redemption looks like when it requires using criminal skills for righteous purposes.
Perfect for readers who love:

Strong female protagonists with complicated pasts
Southern noir with social conscience
Environmental justice thrillers
Indigenous rights and cultural preservation
Found family and community resistance
Morally complex mysteries where the "right" choice isn't always legal

From wrongful prosecution to federal conspiracy, from traditional healing to modern corruption, Sanctuary delivers a gripping exploration of how far people will go to protect what they love—and whether past sins can be redeemed through service to justice.
The mountains remember everything. Some secrets run too deep to stay buried.

The Ruff Patch

When a Rescue Dog Becomes a Revolutionary: A Heartwarming Political Comedy About Democracy, Determination, and Dogs Who Refuse to Roll Over
What happens when an eleven-year-old activist, a collection of traumatized rescue dogs, and a small Ohio town collide with corporate greed and municipal corruption? Democracy gets messy—and hilarious.
The Ruff Patch is a feel-good political satire that combines the charm of Marley & Me with the grassroots energy of Parks and Recreation, delivering a story about courage, community organizing, and the unlikely heroes who save democracy one paw print at a time.
When developer Slade Creller sets his sights on bulldozing The Ruff Patch Dog Rescue to make room for luxury apartments and overpriced salad bars, he expects an easy victory. What he gets instead is Franklin—a 115-pound Rottweiler with better political instincts than most elected officials—and young Mikey Cook, who discovers that fighting city hall requires more than just righteous indignation. It takes viral videos, guerrilla journalism, a lemon-colored beagle with star power, and one very strategic sit-in.
Perfect for readers who love:

Underdog stories with actual underdogs
Political satire that's both funny and surprisingly insightful
Small-town activism against corporate gentrification
Found family narratives featuring both humans and animals
Heartwarming tales about healing trauma through community
Stories that prove ordinary people (and pets) can create extraordinary change

Featuring a cast of unforgettable characters—from Cooper, a PTSD-afflicted former police dog finding his purpose again, to Marla, the rescue operator who's seen too much to back down now—this novel celebrates the power of persistence, the importance of kindness, and the revolutionary idea that democracy works best when everyone has a voice, regardless of species.
Part political comedy, part love letter to rescue animals, entirely unforgettable—The Ruff Patch is a tail-wagging reminder that courage comes in all sizes, and sometimes the best way to fight corruption is to simply sit down and refuse to move.