UCCS alumnus publishes first book in ‘Mobster’ trilogy

    Pikes Perk was alight with the sounds of conversation and brewing coffee while the smells of homemade pastries wafted through the air.

     Megan McAndrew Cox, author of the new Young Adult “Teen Mobster” trilogy, UCCS alumnus and former reporter for The Scribe, sat at a table surrounded by friends, family and fans for a book signing.

     With a mother who discouraged cable, Cox developed a love for reading at a young age. Entranced by authors like Michael Crichton and Lauren Oliver, she found herself brewing a story of her own.

     The first book of her trilogy, “Accidental Mobster,” a story about a teenage boy who becomes part of a mob family, was not published when originally sent out to publishers in 2007.

     Cox braved the publishing world again in 2011, and one week after her daughter’s first birthday, Bluewood Publishing offered Cox a contract for her “Teen Mobster” series.

     “I was very excited,” she said. Cox added that she is a strong believer in the value of higher education and the opportunities it provides for students.

     She is thankful for the contribution that UCCS and The Scribe made to her success, instilling her with a level of confidence that she says she could not have attained without her degree.

     “At UCCS, I had two or three professors there that told me if you put your mind to it, you can find the opportunity. You can go and do things and go places,” Cox said.

      She recalled fond memories of her time at The Scribe as a reporter, saying that although the editor was always hard on her and fellow reporters, the experience helped prepare her for the real world.

     “The work ethic that you learn at school is what gets you to the next level.”

     But even with a strong work ethic, getting inspired can become a frustrating obstacle for any writer.

     Cox, a mother of two, an author, blogger and marathon runner, keeps herself inspired by envisioning a good scene toward the middle or the end of her story that she wants to get to or by setting a word count for herself, especially when beginning new projects.

     “Some days you’re inspired, and some days you’re just doing work. But it’s always fun.”

     Concerning her trilogy, Cox said that she has always loved the Young Adult genre.

     “The characters [in Young Adult] are people you can understand because we have all been there,” she said.

     Many people can still look back to the books that left an impression on them as teenagers. High school is a time when teenagers experience revelations about who they are in relation to the world around them. Cox hopes to be a part of that experience through her Young Adult series.

     And the publishing process?

     “It’s painful,” Cox said, laughing as she remembers her struggles.

     She stresses the fact that you must believe in yourself if you want to become a writer – even if that means subjecting your work to criticism and possible rejection.

     The outcome – that moment when you are published – makes the experience well worth the fight, she said.

     “Keep your options open. Be willing to write anything and everything because you never know what will open the door,” Cox said.

     The first book of her “Teen Mobster” series is on shelves, and she has already signed a contract for a new series. To contact Cox, for more information or to purchase her books, visit teenmobster.com.