Welcome to the Business Journal Archives
Search for articles below, or continue to the all new BusinessJournalDaily.com now.
Search
Cochran Returns to Area for 'Signature Affair' Book Tour
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Les Cochran, president of Youngstown State University from 1992 through 2000, will return to campus Nov. 16, wearing his signature red fedora as he greets football fans partying in the tailgate lots. The visit kicks off a week-long book tour during which Cochran will promote his first novel, Signature Affair: Love, Lies and Liaisons.
The book is a wide departure from Cochran's years of academic writing. It tells the story of a married university president who simultaneously is having affairs with five women.
A website promoting the novel enables readers to view the first chapter and enter Cochran's "Share an Affair Contest," with their stories providing fodder for his planned second and third books.
In the news release announcing his book tour, Cochran is described as bringing "a new sense of enthusiasm to campus and was responsible for establishing the University Scholars program, now named after him, which brought hundreds of honor students to YSU."
He insists his book is not his memoir, according to the news release. "The main character, Steve Schilling, and I do share several common traits," he said in a statement, which described him as grinning in offering the comment.
“I’ve written several academic books and countless articles but writing fiction was more difficult than expected -- it’s exacting and precise," Cochran said. "I had to break old habits. My editor kept saying ‘you’re overwriting, telling too much; let the characters carry the story, show - - don’t tell.’
“I was surprised, too, by the amount of research required to write fiction. While I’m writing about fictional situations, I still have to be accurate. For example, if my characters are dining at the elegant Commander’s Palace in New Orleans, they can’t be eating hamburgers. I have to Goggle the dinner menu there and have them order the house specialties -- pecan crusted gulf fish or Louisiana blue crab. The same is true when I’m writing about substantial issues. My main character has a sex addiction. It has to be factual. I researched addictive behavior and found that all addicts have common behaviors. It doesn’t matter whether they have issues with drinking, gambling, smoking, or sex, the challenges are the same. That was an eye opener.”
Here is how Cochran's news release describes his book:
"Signature Affair exposes the underbelly of academic life on a Midwestern college campus -- the politics, sex and backroom machinations. Steve Schilling, a sex-driven university president, takes the university to new heights. Everything is coming up roses. He’s loved and respected by all.
"Behind this image is a troubled man unaware of his personal issues. He maintains five affairs, loving each woman equally, treating her as if she’s the only one, exceeding her expectations in every way. Steve’s wife discovers his philandering ways. A young reporter is compelled to discover the truth. His world collapses and Steve struggles to save his career."
Cochran's book is the first of a trilogy, according to the news release. It will be followed by Costly Affair next year and then by Presidential Affair.
The book is available in the Youngstown area at True North convenience stores, Barnes and Noble in Boardman, the Butler Institute for American Art and the YSU Bookstore, as well as from the author himself. Signature Affair is also available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNobel.com in hardcover, paperback, and e-book formats.
Book signings will take place Nov. 17 at the Butler Institute of Amercan Art, Nov. 19 at Barnes & Noble in Boardman, Nov. 21 at the YSU Bookstore and during a "book launch party" at the V2 Wine Bar downtown.
SOURCE: Les Cochran
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
CLICK HERE to subscribe to our free daily email headlines and to our twice-monthly print edition.