Connie Cockrell

Biography

A 20-year Air Force career, time as a manager at a computer operations company, wife, mother, sister and volunteer, provides a rich background for Connie Cockrell’s story-telling.
Cockrell grew up in upstate NY, just outside of Gloversville, NY before she joined the military at age 18. Having lived in Europe, Great Britain, and several places around the United States, she now lives in Payson, AZ with her husband: hiking, gardening, and playing bunko. She writes about whatever comes into her head so her books could be in any genre. She's published fourteen books so far, has been included in five different anthologies and been published on EveryDayStories.com. Connie's always on the lookout for a good story idea. Beware, you may be the next one.
She can be found at www.conniesrandomthoughts.com or on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ConniesRandomThoughts or on Twitter at: @ConnieCockrell

Smashwords Interview

Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
The first story I actually remember is Gone With The Wind. The sucker was huge! If any classmates read, they certainly didn't read books that were 3 inches thick. I first read it in the 6th grade. I was twelve. I read it every year after that until I was a junior in High School. I think if I read it now, I'd find I'd missed a lot of the inuendo and cultural clues I know about now.

That leads me to SciFi. I was 13 when my best friend brought me a whole box of SciFi books she got on a paper drive. Muahha, Pam. Thank you so much for making me a huge SciFi fan.
How do you approach cover design?
I want my cover to reflect the contents of my book. So far, I design my own covers and with many kudos to my husband, have been able to use his pictures to make my covers. The rest, I have to admit, is a bit of discover and experiment.
Read more of this interview.

Series

Brown Rain
First Encounter
Price: Free!
The Downtrodden
Price: $0.99 USD.
Kindred Spirits
Price: $2.99 USD.
Tested
Price: $2.99 USD.
Jean Hays
Jean Hays has moved to beautiful Greyson, Arizona looking for peace and quiet after a career in the Air Force and an unexpected divorce, but the bodies just seem to find her. As she makes a new life for herself, she uses her new friends and an inquisitive nature to track down the killers. However, Greyson Chief of Police, Nick White, thinks she's brash, impulsive and a danger to herself and others. He repeatedly tells her to leave the police work to the professionals which put them repeatedly at odds. Can they get along well enough to solve the murders?
Zoe Ohale
Zoe Ohale, orphan, sometime thief, has a chance to get off the streets of Baia Mare but the way out is by joining the Universal Law Enforcement, not her favorite option, but it may be her best.
Troubled Streets
Price: $4.99 USD.

Books

Gold Dreams
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 26,600. Language: English. Published: August 30, 2019 . Categories: Fiction » Western, Fiction » Adventure » Action
Zeke Stanford has struck gold, but others are waiting to take it from him even though all he wants is to prove to Mary Young and her parents that he’s ready to marry and can support her.
Slave Elf
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 55,350. Language: English. Published: February 28, 2019 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Epic, Fiction » Adventure » Action
Sixty years a slave, Delia finds out that she's the embodiment of an elven prophecy and a princess! Her evil great-uncle is out to kill her and her father to take over the kingdom. She must learn her powers and destroy her uncle before he kills her father, and her.
Gulliver Station: Box Set
Series: Gulliver Station. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 215,870. Language: English. Published: August 27, 2018 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » General, Fiction » Science fiction » Adventure
Gulliver station is a chance for a fresh start. Most colonists are eager to start a new life on the new Gulliver Station, one without corruption and violence, but some want to carve out their own crime empire. It takes generations. Who will win?
Tested
Series: Brown Rain. Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 36,160. Language: American English. Published: January 29, 2018 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Apocalyptic, Fiction » Young adult or teen » Science Fiction
With winter over, Alyssa and Kyra move on to Harrisburg. They soon find the community they are seeking: A conclave of scientists using their knowledge to assist in their survival. They find much to learn and contribute, and perhaps even finding new love. However, shadows lurk even here. They quickly find that the community is not all that it seems.
Mystery at the Book Festival
Series: Jean Hays. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 57,410. Language: American English. Published: June 1, 2017 . Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth
(5.00 from 1 review)
Locked in a race against time, Jean must solve this newest murder to prove her own innocence to those with more power than sense. With the help of her close allies, Jean might just be able to untangle this web in time to clear her name and save Nick’s job. But the truth, as ever, has no intention of being found…
Mystery in the Woods
Series: Jean Hays. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 65,510. Language: English. Published: December 25, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Women Sleuths, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy
After solving a murder at the county fair, an ex-AF project manager and her best friend discover the 12 year old mummified corpse of a man while on a hike and must uncover the murderer before he destroys the town.
Troubled Streets
Series: Zoe Ohale. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 78,880. Language: English. Published: October 12, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Adventure, Fiction » Young adult or teen » Science Fiction
Zoe Ohale has had a hard life on the streets of Baia Mare, and it’s about to get a whole lot harder.
Kindred Spirits
Series: Brown Rain. Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 41,170. Language: English. Published: March 10, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Utopias & dystopias, Fiction » Adventure » Action
(4.00 from 1 review)
Alyssa and Kyra are on the move again, and winter is almost upon them. Finding another community is crucial for gaining shelter and their prayers soon seem to be answered when they come across the Ogonqwa tribe in Ohio. But not everybody is delighted with the strangers' arrival. Will Alyssa and Kyra be allowed to overwinter within the saftey of these walls? Or will they be put out in the cold?
Mystery at the Fair
Series: Jean Hays. Price: Free! Words: 54,810. Language: English. Published: July 29, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Adventure » Action
(4.00 from 2 reviews)
Between managing the annual Greyson fair and pursuing the shadowy trail of destruction left by a murderer, Jean Hays has her hands full dealing with drunken brawls and nasty falls, suspicious ex-wives and keen-sharp knives. And that’s not to mention the stubborn Police Chief himself. Will Jean find the truth before the killer decides enough is enough?
Lost Rainbows
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 17,510. Language: English. Published: January 25, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General, Fiction » Young adult or teen » Fantasy
Shamus O'Malley must recover the Leprechaun Kingdom's lost rainbows and gold, stolen by the evil wizard, David Bannon, before the rainbows are lost forever and the wizard conquers the Leprechaun Kingdom.
The Downtrodden
Series: Brown Rain. Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 22,380. Language: English. Published: November 21, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Utopias & dystopias, Fiction » Adventure » Action
Wary after escaping from the Children of God, Alyssa and Kyra stop to help another survivor community but it's up to Kyra to save them all from a mad man's plans before they're trapped.
First Encounter
Series: Brown Rain, Book 1. Price: Free! Words: 24,020. Language: English. Published: September 2, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Utopias & dystopias, Fiction » Young adult or teen » Science Fiction
Alyssa and Kyra find their first survivor community but after a cool welcome, they learn the community's secret and both women are threatened with imprisonment and slavery.
Gulliver Station: Revolution
Series: Gulliver Station, Book 4. Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 54,700. Language: English. Published: August 2, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » General, Fiction » Themes & motifs » Family sagas
While Lemuel Calahan, the leader of Gulliver Station’s Underground, fights to restore a safe and peaceful society the two crime families on the station are engaged in a fight to the death. Can he change the corrupt station government?
Gulliver Station: Hard Choices
Series: Gulliver Station, Book 3. Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 54,230. Language: American English. Published: May 18, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Adventure, Fiction » Themes & motifs » Political
In the title novel, Jolene Harris enjoys her first leave by herself since she joined the Space Forces but while she waits for her new ship, the freighter, The Adirondack, things go horribly wrong. Will she live to reach her new ship?
Gulliver Station: The Challenge
Series: Gulliver Station, Book 2. Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 59,260. Language: English. Published: March 22, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » General, Fiction » Themes & motifs » Family sagas
Expand her grandfather’s crime syndicate or alienate Gulliver Station residents against The Family – James McMahon thinks Erin Gillespie is weak, not moving fast enough, can Erin hold on?
Gulliver Station: A New Start
Series: Gulliver Station, Book 1. Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 52,300. Language: English. Published: January 31, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Utopias & dystopias, Fiction » Thriller & suspense » General
Fergus Boylan wants the new Gulliver Space Station to be a model of fair and peaceful life but Conway Gillespie wants to become the new crime lord.
Christmas Tales
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 7,450. Language: English. Published: November 17, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Holiday » Christmas, Fiction » Holiday » Family
A mix of western, modern and scifi, this collection brings together short stories that explore human kindness and charity.
Halloween Tales: A Collection of Stories
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 6,380. Language: English. Published: September 30, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Anthologies » Short stories - single author, Fiction » Horror » General
A collection of five stories, from the American Old West, right up through a dystopian future, all of them a little creepy, a little horrific, and sometimes a little funny.
Recall
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 52,190. Language: English. Published: May 27, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Action & suspense, Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Psychological thriller
In a Pharmaceutical company where quickly bringing new drugs to market is critical, how can Dr. Elaine Sparks engineer the recall of a fatally flawed drug whose champion has the CEO’s ear?
A Trio of Animal Tales
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 3,800. Language: English. Published: February 19, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories, Fiction » Fantasy » General
In the annual great circle hunt, young Kobi has discovered a unicorn. Killing the unicorn will ensure his fortune and make him famous in the Seven Tribes. But the animal talks and she promises him good luck for his entire life if he lets her go. Now he must choose instant fame and fortune or good luck in the future. Unicorn for All is the first of a trio of stories.

Connie Cockrell's tag cloud

action    action western    adventrue    adventure    age 14 and up    amatuer female sleuth    animals    anthology    apocalyptic    arizona    book festival    christmas    county fair    cozy    crime    crime families    crime family    crime family series    distopian future    drama and science fiction    dystopian    dystopian apocalyptic    ecological destruction    ecological disaster    elf    fairy tales    families    family    fantasy    female    fiction    fiction american    fiction science fiction short stories    fiction scifi    flash    foxes    friendship    future    gambler    ghosts    gold    healing    holiday    hope    horror    humor    irish    kingdom    leprechans    loss    love    magic    military    military sci fi    mining    modern    murder    mutations    mystery    natural remedies    novels    orphans    poison    politics    post apocalyptic    power    princess    project manager    psychological thriller    rainbows    relationships    revolution    romance    sci fi    science fiction    scifi    short reads    short stories    slave    slueth    small town    social unrest    southwest    southwest mystery    space    space colonies    space station    stories about christmas    streets    suspense    troubled    unicorns    war    western    wizards    women    women adventure    women as heros    women heroines    womens adventure    womens fiction    young adult   

Smashwords book reviews by Connie Cockrell

  • Shimmer: A Faerie's Tragic Tale on Oct. 02, 2016

    What a wonderful tale of love and loss. The imagery was just as sparkly as you'd expect for a tale about elves. A short but delightful read.
  • Sub-Textual Evidence for the Existence of Alien Life and the Extrapolation of Internet Protocols on Nov. 28, 2016

    What a hoot! I love the humor and of course, the kitten. A fun, short read, perfect for your break or lunch time. A nice introduction to the author and her other works.
  • Fairy Tale Fusion on Dec. 26, 2016

    Oh my gosh! What a wonderful way to twist fairytales. It was a completely new take on "fractured fairy tales" and I loved every one of them. Set up as news from Fairyland, it's a great collection of both light-hearted and dark stories. Looking forward to reading more of A. F. Stewart. This was a great starter.