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Gene Hackman recently spoke at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh. I recorded, and the result is our July video of the month. Enjoy!
Tuesday July 1, 2008
Uh, where did June go? June was the busiest month that I've had in years. Fun. But just maddeningly busy.
You can tell a lot about a person by the photos saved on their digital camera. This afternoon, I downloaded a few of my favorite from the past few months.
Recently, I did a major bookstore tour that had me flying from Raleigh to Phoenix to Sacramento to Palm Springs to Detroit. Interestingly, none of the photos on the camera from this trip are of bookstores or of the events that I did. Instead, we have...
The Phoenix City Lights as seen from Piestewa Peak. In all the time that I lived in Arizona, I never hiked the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. So, on this trip, I made it a point to do so.
While in Palm Springs, I had a few hours to kill one afternoon, and so I took the gondola up to 8,000 feet. It was about 30 degrees cooler than on the desert valley floor...
On Mother's Day, Susan, Sam and I drove down to Moore County to have lunch with my mom and dad. On the way back, we drove through Carthage, and I saw this Chevy for sale on the side of the road. I've got an opening scene of a Crime Fiction screenplay that I've been writing that features a truck exactly like this...
Here's one of Sam writing...
Here's one of Sam laughing...
Here's one of Sam and Susan laughing...
And here's one that begs to have a "You Give It a Caption" contest. That's my dad...
And here is a photo from just this past week. Sam's first real haircut...
Thursday May 29, 2008
Hey folks,
I'm writing this blog at the kitchen table on a beautiful Thursday afternoon. Skies are blue outside, the weather perfect, and the air has the crisp coolness that comes the day after a spring rain.
Anywho, I'll be leaving tomorrow for my first mini-bookstore tour. I'll be speaking in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Sacramento, and Palm Springs in the next week. I'm very excited by this; I've never had to travel from city to city to city like this, and I just feel lucky to have the opportunity. (And I hope I don't miss any of my flights:)
My AudioBook for The Colorado Sequence has started serializing online at Podiobooks.com. You can download episodes on your computer for free. If you're up on RSS feeds and such, you can sign up for a free subscription that will let you know every time a new episode is published online. It's pretty cool; I've been working with an actor-friend who is doing the narration, and so far we've had close to 2,000 downloads in the past three weeks.
The book gets ranked at Podiobooks according to how many subscriptions it has, and so if you sign up to "subscribe" to the book (the subscriptions are free, btw [did I mention that already?]), it helps me out.
The TV show continues to develop and grow. Last week, we had an author in-studio named Garth Stein. Mr. Stein's book The Art of Racing in the Rain is published with Harper-Collins, and it hit #22 on the New York Times Bestseller List the week following publication. I loved doing the interview, and I highly recommend his tear-jerker of a novel. (Note: I wouldn't read the end of the book without having a box of tissues nearby; it's a heartbreaker)
Stacey
Wednesday May 14, 2008 Okay, I want one.
Friday April 18, 2008 The weather in Raleigh has turned beautiful. The high yesterday was 77 and today's forecast is for sunny skies and a high near 81 degrees.
I've been writing a long, long time...more than a third of my life, and it's an interesting fact that every spring, my creative energy increases. I don't know what it is about the spring time, but I absolutely love writing on days when I can open the windows of the house, feel the breeze coming in, and drink coffee in an almost euphoric state of hot and cool at once. Totally alive.
Winters are very difficult for me to write through. Spring is easy.
I had another creative writing project come my way yesterday.
On my plate right now I have the following: 1) editing novel titled The Criminalist's Wife (manuscript completed); 2) querying agents for completed novel The Loneliest (200 queries so far in 2008); 3) writing novel The Eternalist (currently about 25,000 words into it); 4) producing TV show The Artist's Craft (author-interview program); 5) teaching one writing course at NC State University (final exam on April 28); 6) producing audio book of my novel The Colorado Sequence with actor Owen Daly; 7) organizing the 700-member strong Raleigh Write to Publish Group, which includes scheduling monthly events at Quail Ridge Books and producing video footage for Raleigh Television Network; 8) organizing Wilmington Write to Publish Group, which includes scheduling monthly events at Pomegranate Books in Wilmington; 9) working as contractor for Lulu and Borders Books on a AARP initiative at ten Borders stores nationally; 10) co-authoring textbook with Susan and colleague Roy Stamper; 11) beginning work as contractor for Bedford/St. Martin's Press (job to commence in the fall); 12) meeting every two weeks with critique group to workshop one another's work.
I'm staying busy.
Which brings me to a very new reality, and that is, having to figure out what is the best use of my time. For many years (practically my entire 20s), I couldn't move anything forward creatively. It seemed like every attempt to move forward creatively was met with rejection or someone trying to shame me into silence.
I'm writing this blog as a way of putting all this together. Because I've really had to stop a few times the past couple of months and ask myself if what I was doing at a given moment was the best use of my time.
I don't use a data-planner, BlackBerry, or Palm-Pilot. I've tried a few times and it didn't work very well. I like to limit my schedule and work by the things I can remember. In other words, if I've got so many projects that I can't keep track of them in my head, then that's the barometer I use to cut back on projects.
This is probably not the best way to go about it, but for now, it's what I've got.
Stacey
P.S. Here's the latest interview from The Artist's Craft:
Monday April 7, 2008 Hey folks,
It's a Monday morning in early April, and I thought I would get in here and update the StaceyCochran.com blog. Things are extremely busy these days. Susan has just returned from a seven-day conference trip to New Orleans, and it's a relief to have her back helping with Sam.
I think the house would fall apart (not to mention my mental health), if Susan were gone much longer. :)
At any rate, I did do the biggest panel discussion of my life a couple weeks ago at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh. We featured New York Times bestselling authors Jeffery Deaver, Margaret Maron, and John Hart. The feedback from the audience was very positive. I moderated the discussion, and Will Neary and Marnie Cooper-Priest directed the filming of the event. I'm currently editing the video and should have an online version within a couple of weeks.
That same weekend, The Artist's Craft crew filmed another in-studio interview. This one was with small press publisher Jack Fryar and one of his authors Suzanne Adair. (see video below). Later that weekend, I interviewed Jack and Suzanne at a bookstore down in Wilmington for the Wilmington Write to Publish Group.
The past week or so, I've been chipping away at the new novel, currently titled The Eternalist. Also, I've been editing the audiobook version of The Colorado Sequence, which will feature actor Owen Daly as reader. I should have this online version of the audiobook available within a month or so at Podiobooks.com. I'm really excited about this audiobook version, and it's a thrill to work with an actor like Owen Daly to bring this to reality.
My writing critique group has been reading The Eternalist, and they swear that this is the best novel of mine that they've read. It's a very Southern novel.... something I haven't done before. It's a ghost story, a family story, and a story about the differences between social classes in the South.
I'm just having fun with it. Hopefully, I'll have a first draft done by Christmas.
I'm continuing to push the television show forward and have recently had several high-profile publicists at major publishers contact me regarding authors they represent. So far, I've scheduled two New York Times bestsellers for in-studio interviews. The profile of our authors continues to grow, as the recognition of our program spreads.
I would like nothing more than to have a nationally broadcast Literary Arts program within the next few years. It seems like a void that is not being met for a national audience, and I'd like to work to change that. My belief is that there is a national audience who would watch Literary Arts programming, if the concept and package of the show is done the right way.
For now, it's just a local program, available primarily in Raleigh and for a North Carolina audience. Although, with our streaming interviews via the Internet, you could argue that we're developing a national (and international) audience. Some of the comments and feedback on our interviews at YouTube come from all over the country.
Stacey
Saturday March 8, 2008 Hey folks,
I've got a new interview from The Artist's Craft for the website. This one was with New York Times bestselling author Mary Kay Andrews, and was an absolute delight!
I hope you enjoy it.
Stacey
Tuesday February 26, 2008 I have a new interview, which we filmed for The Artist's Craft last Friday with author Zelda Lockhart. Zelda is the author of the Simon & Schuster published novel Fifth Born. She lives in Hillsborough, North Carolina, and this interview focuses on the road that led to her becoming a published author.
I had a lot of fun!
Stacey
Monday February 11, 2008 I had an excellent panel discussion on Saturday over in Pittsboro at McIntyre's Books with authors J.D. Rhoades and Alexandra Sokoloff. The turn-out was remarkable (we had to use an overflow room to seat people), and I sold out of DVDs.
This Saturday, I've got a big panel discussion coming up at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, and a television interview on Friday.
Stacey
Sunday February 3, 2008 I'm sitting here with Susan watching Tom Petty on the Halftime show of the Super Bowl, and I thought it'd be wise to get in here and update the blog. January was busy, and I'm gearing up toward a very busy February and March.
Last week, I had a friend of mine in town from Arizona. Matt Peterson has recently published his first novel. We did an interview at the TV studio for The Artist's Craft...
Coming up in February, I have a panel discussion next Saturday at McIntyre's in Pittsboro with authors J.D. Rhoades and Alexandra Sokoloff.
The following Friday (February 15), I have another interview scheduled at the TV studio, and then on Saturday the 16th, I have a panel discussion scheduled at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh.
That panel will include authors Diane Chamberlain, Luleen Anderson, and Adam Shepard. I'll be moderating, and The Artist's Craft film crew is planning to film this discussion to air on RTN.
Classes at NC State are going well, and Susan and I spent this afternoon working on our taxes. Lots of receipts...
Well, Tom Petty is done, and the second half is getting ready to start. Keep it real, people.
Stacey
Sunday January 13, 2008 Well, this is my first post of 2008, and I'm happy to bring you another interview from The Artist's Craft filmed for Time/Warner cable on Friday. Our guest in the studio was Jock Brandis, who has worked in the film industry with David Cronenberg, David Lynch, John Travolta, Alan Alda, Stephen King, and a host of other folks.
In recent years, Jock has turned his attention toward humanitarian causes. He is the inventor of the Malian Peanut Sheller, which has enabled folks in Third World countries to increase the efficiency of peanut shelling for their villages from 2 pounds an hour to 125 pounds an hour.
He also founded Fully Belly Project, a non-profit organization designed to develop similar techonologies for impoverished countries around the world.
The interview was directed by Michael Graziano and Marnie Cooper-Priest, and we had Will Neary helping out on the TelePrompter. It's on YouTube in 3 parts.
Stacey
Monday December 31, 2007 It has been a whirl-wind year, but somehow I've made it through.This year, I saw my writing career dramatically move forward. Prior to 2007, I had done a total of about four author events. This year alone, I've done more than 50 bookstore, library, and other assorted speaking engagements.
Additionally, I managed to bring together an amazing crew of folks to start a television show, and we completed our first full season back in early December. We're now three episodes into season two, and will film our fourth episode this Friday.
I've watched the growth of my son from newborn to now-cruising 13-month-old.
For 2008, I have regular monthly author events in Wilmington and Raleigh, and I'm close to securing a monthly gig in Charlotte as well. I would like to expand to Washington DC and Atlanta for bi-monthly events, and would like to continue to hone the TV show, bringing in other regular correspondents.
Of course, my goal is to find a publisher and literary agent for my novels. I would like to also find a broader distribution for the TV show and to begin pitching to major national networks.
Stacey
Saturday December 15, 2007 I've got a new interview from The Artist's Craft. On Thursday, I interviewed three members of the Raleigh Area Women Writers group, Anne Woodman, Lynn Mercer and Trina Allen.
Monday December 10, 2007 Well, we're into the heart of the Christmas season, and Susan is in the kitchen making Christmas cookies! While she's finishing up, I decided to take a minute to write a blog to let you folks know how things're going.
My English class at NC State had its final exam today, and I've started grading this evening. This Thursday, I've got a big interview at the TV studio with the Raleigh Area Women Writers, and then on Friday I have another interview with a writer named Angela Williams.
On Saturday, I'm scheduled to address local filmmakers at the Producers' Workshop for the Raleigh Television Network, and I'm working to finish up a last-minute revision of my novel Roman Phoenix, in order to submit it to a contest for unpublished authors by the end of the month.
On December 20th, I'm televising an Open Mic Night Contest I'm organizing at a local public library, and on Sunday December 30th, I'll be driving down to Wilmington to moderate a "How to Publish a Book" panel discussion with authors Brooks Preik and Luleen Anderson at Pomegranate Books.
Here's a video I made yesterday of Sam eating fish sticks.
Thursday November 29, 2007 Well, I'm in the midst of a very busy weekend. This evening I moderated a panel discussion at the Cameron Village Public Library with authors Sarah Shaber and Alice Osborn. Tomorrow morning, I'll be interviewing author Luleen Anderson at the TV studio, and in the evening, Susan and I are throwing a birthday party for our son Sam, who will be one year old.
Saturday, I'll be moderating a panel discussion with authors J.D. Rhoades and Alexandra Sokoloff at the Borders Bookstore on Six Forks Road in Raleigh. And then on Sunday, I'll be driving down to Wilmington to interview an author Richard Satterlie at Pomegranate Books for the Wilmington Write to Publish Group.
Classes will be finishing up for the semester at NC State next week, and my class's final exam will be on Monday December 10.
I shot this footage of Sam and Susan on Monday, following the Thanksgiving weekend. In the film, we're discussing what to do with leftover turkey. This is slice-of-life stuff, folks. Enjoy...
Also, I finished up my first short film documentary. This is from the Cape Fear Crime Festival, which I attended a month ago down in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Friday November 16, 2007
I've got a new interview from today's shoot of "The Artist's Craft" on the Raleigh Television Network. Directed by Michael Graziano and Marnie Cooper-Priest, our interview was with author Danny Bernstein.
Danny's book is Hiking the Carolina Mountains, published by Milestone Press, and we discussed how she wrote the book, how she sold it to Milestone, and how she has sold articles to newspapers and magazines.
If you're interested in non-fiction writing or in hiking, I think you'll get a kick out'a this one.
Stacey
Tuesday October 30, 2007 We've got a new author interview this week for StaceyCochran.com from our TV show "The Artist's Craft." Directed by Michael Graziano and Marnie Cooper-Priest this episode features authors Tim Dillinger, Christine Moughamian, and Christy Judah discussing the subject of "How to Write a Book: From Idea to Finished Manuscript."
Additionally, I'm experimenting with a new hosting platform, Google video. The plus is that through Google video the whole 30-minute interview can be embedded in one TV screen. Let me know which one you prefer (or if you can even see the Google TV screen below).
Sunday October 21, 2007 We have a new interview for StaceyCochran.com from this week's episode of "The Artist's Craft." Directed by Michael Graziano and Marnie Cooper-Priest, this interview with newspaper columnist Barry Saunders will air on Raleigh Television Network and Time/Warner cable later this fall.
Its online version is available through YouTube in three high-resolution parts. Enjoy...
Sunday October 14, 2007 This weekend, I travelled over to the Charlotte and led a workshop on Saturday for the Charlotte Write to Publish Group. Drove back today (Sunday) and met with my critique group this evening to workshop a group member's story. This evening, I've been putting together the online version of last week's interview for The Artist's Craft.
I think you'll enjoy this; it's with the theater troupe "Redrum: A Murder Mystery."
Monday October 8, 2007 This weekend I participated as a writer in my first street fair, and I sold about 20 DVDs and books. The Cape Fear Authors Guild invited me to come down to Wilmington, North Carolina for Riverfest. The Guild set up a tent on Water Street...
Guild members include Christy Judah, Richard Triebe, Edith Edwards, and Ken Campbell. I met all of the authors through the Wilmington Write to Publish Group, which meets the last Sunday of every month at Pomegranate Books in Wilmington. Here's a photo of me talking with a customer [photo by Richard Triebe]...
Here is Guild member Edith Edwards, author of The Ghosts of Turtle Nest....
Here are Guild members Richard Triebe and Ken Campbell. Rich's book is titled On a Rising Tide and Ken's novel is The Fifth Category...
Here is a photo with Edith in the foreground signing a copy of her book. In the background, I'm speaking with a customer who has a copy of The Colorado Sequence... [photo by Richard Triebe]
Wednesday October 3, 2007
On the Value of My Blog
The past few months I’ve questioned the self-centered nature of this website. I’ve asked myself why I have photos of myself, the purpose if you will, and if is it driven by vanity. Tonight, I reached a minor breakthrough in that I realized that that was not the major reason for the site, for blogging, or for posting photos. The primary purpose is marketing driven. That is, my primary purpose is to market my books, films, TV shows, DVDs, etc., and to have a place on the web to do so.
But here’s where the breakthrough came in. I realized tonight that all of this is probably driven by an even deeper need, self-actualization. By constantly being confronted with my own thoughts, photos, purposes, and experiences, I’ve come to a better understanding of myself. I can see myself somewhat more objectively, and as such, I can understand what my strengths, weaknesses, and reality is more clearly.
And here’s what’s really cool. Now that I’ve begun to more clearly understand myself, I can move myself into positions that help others. I know who I am and am learning what I can do help the greatest number of people possible.
The blog helps to revise methods. I can look back and see what I’ve done, see what works well, and see what needs adjustment…. whether it’s drawing a crowd of 50 people to an event at a library, or reaching 5,000 people in a single television address.
By objectifying myself in an environment (blog, YouTube, etc.) that can be reviewed and revised, I can move towards self improvement and hopefully even help others.
All of this is to say that I think I’ve found value in my blog that I might not have consciously been aware of before today!
Stacey
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Hey folks,
It's been a great week. We did an event at Cameron Village Public Library Thursday evening that drew about 35 writers. Our panelists were sci-fi fantasy author James Maxey and Baen Publishing contributing editor Gray Rhinehart. The discussion really focused on the nitty-gritty details of how a publisher like Baen works in terms of acquiring manuscripts, setting pub dates, publicizing and marketing its books, and editing manuscripts to be published.
Then, on Friday, we filmed a new interview at the TV studio for The Artist's Craft to air on Raleigh Television Network Channel 10 later this fall. Marnie Cooper-Priest and Michael Graziano were directing, and this interview was with Cynthia Barnett, executive director for the 1500-member strong NC Writers' Network.
Today, I'm driving down to Wilmington, North Carolina to moderate a panel discussion with three other authors titled "How to Write a Book: From Idea to Completed Manuscript" at Pomegranate Bookstore for the Wilmington Write to Publish Group.
Stacey
Friday September 21, 2007 Busy, busy, busy... well we filmed another interview today and then I did an event this evening with the authors at Cameron Village Public Library in Raleigh.
The interview went very well, and I should have it available online within a couple days. I'll post it here when it's done.
Tonight's event was well attended, and I had a lot of fun.
Stacey
Saturday September 15, 2007 I've got a new interview online. This one is with author Christopher Irving. Enjoy...
Thursday September 13, 2007 Isn't this a great picture? It's just amazing to me that I have a son. Man, we are truly blessed...
