Stephen Cook has written and published short stories, essays, academic papers,advertising copy, book reviews, and flash fiction, some of which earned awards.  He has written and edited “Writing for Proficiency,” “Realizing Westward: Cowboy Mythology and American Character,” and “Two Rivers: Lieutenant John Bullis and His Days Commanding the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts,” which was a finalist for historical fiction in the Indie Excellence Awards competition. “Numbers” is his first attempt at crime fiction.