Art imitates life for former provost

Les Cochran, former provost of Southeast Missouri State University, was never a reader -- much less a writer -- of fiction. In 1970, he wrote a book with the title "Innovative Programs in Industrial Education." He's written several book chapters and professional articles on topics ranging from academic planning and teaching effectiveness to collective bargaining.

Cochran now is promoting his second novel, "Costly Affair," in what he calls his "loves, lies and liaisons trilogy." He will sign copies of the book from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Cup 'n' Cork, 11 S. Spanish St. in Cape Girardeau.

"Costly Affair" conveys the dual life of a successful university president who turns around a financially troubled university in North Carolina. Politically astute Steve Schilling, the main character, outfoxes scheming faculty members, raises millions of dollars and gains broad respect. Steve's long-standing issues with intimate relationships make it impossible for him to distinguish between sex and love, according to the author.

Cochran was Southeast provost from 1980 to 1992. His wife Lin was active in the community, and the couple renovated the old Free Will Baptist Church at Broadway and Spanish Street, which they converted into their home. They now live in San Carlos Park, Florida.

Cochran used his experiences as Southeast provost -- in the building of the Show Me Center, which opened in 1987, and reforming the general education program -- to inspire some of the episodes in "Costly Affair," he said in an interview with the Southeast Missourian.

Les Cochran

"With the Show Me Center, there were some issues in the community. Some wanted it built on campus. Some said build by the freeway. It created some tension in the community; it was very vocal," he said.

Cochran went on to be the president of Ohio's Youngstown State University, where his experiences again contributed other story lines in his writing.

"As I retired, my wife, Lin, asked me what I was going to do. I had two or three scenarios, little stories, that I picked up at conferences," Cochran said of his inspiration to begin writing fiction in 2008.

"I wrote five or six hours a day for six months. I didn't have an outline. The story kept evolving. I just kept cranking it out. I contacted a professional editor who offered to give me some feedback -- for a fee, of course," he said.

"So, I waited. Then I opened the email. It said, 'You write pretty well, but sociology papers don't sell.' She gave me five pages of comments -- I overwrite. I don't convey a concept. I take two pages to write what should be in one paragraph. Then she said, 'At the end, I like your story, and if you'll bear with me for several years, I'll help you get it done,'" he said, adding, "It took me six months to perfect the first chapter, and five years to finish the book and have it published."

While his fictional characters are broadly drawn from his memory and imagination, one character has as its soul in former Southeast Missouri State University basketball coach Ron Shumate, who coached Cochran's son.

"Coach Shumate was quite a character. He was really two people -- powerful, the man in charge of the basketball, sending in the plays, in his domain. Sometimes, when we had a loss, for example, he might say things he shouldn't say. I'd talk to him about it. So rather than [being] dynamic, he'd lower his head like a woe-is-me kind of person, humble. Anyone who read it would say, 'That's Ron Shumate.'"

Cochran said his wife "reviews, edits and critiques as we go along, especially the personal relationships."

"This experience has changed our whole lives. I had no idea what it took to write fiction. Lin is blogging and twittering to help market the book. We had no idea how difficult it is to publish, promote and sell it. The writing is really the easiest part," Cochran said.

The first book of the trilogy is "Signature Affair." The third and final book, "Presidential Affair," will be released in 2015.

"I drew upon my experience. For instance, I'd run for county school board, unsuccessfully, with the thought about how we might reform public education. That gave me the idea for my third book, 'Presidential Affair.' The president calls upon a local educator to lead the nation in improving the educational system."

More information about the book is available at lescochran.com or by calling 239-777-7646. The book may be purchased at amazon.com or lescochran.com. Cost is $29 for hardback, $16 for paperback and $5.99 for Kindle or Nook.