Jude Cook

Jude Cook is a British writer and former musician. His first novel Byron Easy was followed by Jacob's Advice. In 2025, he founded the UK-based independent small press Conduit Books.
He was a guitarist and singer for the band Flamingoes between 1993-2008.

Early life and education

Jude Cook was born in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. He studied English literature at University College London.

Musical career

In 1993, Cook founded the indie rock band Flamingoes with his twin brother, James Cook. They made two albums, Plastic Jewels and Street Noise Invades the House. The band was dissolved in 2008.

Literary career

Cook's first novel Byron Easy was published by William Heinemann in February 2013. The Daily Mail described it as 'Razor sharp... An exuberant debut'. Six years later, he published Jacob's Advice.
Cook has written for The Guardian, the Times Literary Supplement, The Spectator and Literary Review among others. His radio plays Thousand Cranes and The Rival were broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4.
He is also an editor for The Literary Consultancy and holds a PhD in The Contemporary Novel from the University of Kent. He currently teaches Creative Writing at the University of Westminster.
In 2025, he was a judge for the Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize. In the same year, he announced
that he was founding an independent press named Conduit Books, which would initially publish male authors.