Here's the final cover design by the always amazing, Peter Fussey!

   At 5:00 this morning, 05/23/2013, I finished the final draft and edit on my new novel, Wasting Away. What a trip it has been. The very first footsteps on this journey occurred in 2011 and I've been playing with the concept ever since.
   As much as I love horror, and in particular, Zombies, I don't often read a lot in the genre. There are a few authors that I simply can't pass up - Iain McKinnon, Tony Monchinski, David Moody, and Max Brooks to name a few. Mostly, I read fiction. I'm a fanatic for Hemingway, Murakami, Steinbeck, and a handful of others. So when I started out writing Wasting Away, I wanted to go into more detail with the characters. I wanted to follow in the footsteps of my literary heroes. I believe that it's the people (average, everyday human beings) that make a story interesting. I wanted to get to know these characters, find out what made them tick and throw them into a zombie infested wasteland.
   Little did I know that I would become so attached to them. In fact, I'm sort of going through separation anxiety because the novel is finished. I really loved those characters and it's sad to see the book finished. But, in the same breath, I'm happy that I get to share it with fellow readers. All in all, it's bittersweet.
   That being said, this is the most detailed, in depth story I've ever undertaken. There were so many times when I had to take a step back (just so I could breath) that I lost count. It was one hell of a ride and I'm very excited to see its release.
   Most of all, I want to thank all the people who have shared my books with their friends, posted reviews and ratings, and kept in touch with me during the process. I absolutely love the feedback and can't get enough. It has become a type of drug that helps me to push forward with my work.
   Having a day job, I don't always get the time to write when I'd like to -so it helps when I  do get to come home and see people interested in my progress. I smile to myself and switch my computer over to my latest project and start working at my part time job, the job I love. Every morning, I get up a couple of hours before I have to go to work so I can pound out the next chapter or tweak a paragraph here or there. And it's all because of you. You make it worthwhile. You make it exciting.

   So thank you all for the support. And always keep reading.

                                                                                                     Horrifyingly yours, Richard M. Cochran

   As I sit here, finishing up the final 30% of my next novel, 'Wasting Away' or 'Garden of Waste' - what the hell ever it's going to be called, I started thinking about why I do it. Why do I sit at a desk for hours on end, creating scene after scene; honing out the best writing that I have to offer, and making sure I don't sound like a complete asshole?

   There is so much work involved. Between knocking out an outline to the various stages of drafting the novel, it can take months, even years before a book will see the light of day.

   Most writers believe that after they finish the book, it will just sell, it will hit the market and they can sit back and reap the rewards. If only that were true.

   When that first book has been edited, formatted, proof read, and a proper cover has been selected, then it's off to do the real work. Now the writer gets to toil away at his/her part time job - marketing. Let's be honest, what's a novel without an audience?

   There is Social Media exposure, inundating your friends and family with posts amounting to, "Look what I did!" Let's face it, that shit gets old really quick. The harsh reality is that no one really cares that you finished your 'Masterpiece'. So how do you go about getting readers? You don't.

  That's right, I said it. Now you're fucked.

  Unless you have a boatload of loyal followers already, you're pretty much screwed. You start checking different groups on Facebook and spread the word there. But unless you started the group or happen to be lucky enough to be included in the 'special club', you're not going to make much of an impression.

  What has worked for me is doing giveaways. Almost every fan I have has been directly related to putting my stuff out for free. Now there will be those who tell you that those were potential sales (if they were interested enough in your book to pick it up for free, they might have actually bought it), but the problem is, would they have seen it in the first place? Doubtful.

   I give my novellas and short stories away freely. I'll put them up for a few days, taking advantage of a coming weekend or holiday, and hope for the best. With full length Novels, I am very moderate with giveaways. Usually, I only put them out for free right before I'm ready to release the next novel. It helps with exposure.

   I've put up a few ads, but usually only break even at the end of the month. I see it as gaining a few more future readers. What I'm actually doing is planning for the future. Since I don't see any end in sight for my addiction to writing, maybe those limited sales through ads will erupt in future sales. Who the fuck knows? Any author will tell you, the writing game is like shooting in the dark, fuck knows what you'll wind up hitting.

   

   So why do I do it?

  

  Because I love to write. It's an exaggerated hobby at this point. Hell, I even love formatting, as sick as it sounds. When I finish a book and hit <save> on my laptop, it is one of the most rewarding feelings I've ever had. In those first few minutes before I upload the digital file, I'm staring at the screen, screaming in my head, "It's done! It's finally fucking done ..." 

   In short, what I'm trying to get at is that writing is a stupid way to try to make a living. The only reason anyone would do it is because they're insane or maybe they just can't see themselves doing anything else. For me, it's not a calling, it's an issue of getting the nightmares out of my head and onto the page. It's an issue of passion. It's because I love piecing the puzzle together. So don't get into writing because you want to be a bestseller and think you'll make a fortune. Write because it's what you love to do.

                                             Richard M. Cochran

                                                040212

No Rooms without Walls is finally finished. It is up on Amazon now and will be available in print on 12/17/12. As always, let me know what you think in review, a share, or a private message.

So I took a step back from writing No Rooms without Walls. 

I thought it was done, but ideas keep popping up and my dreams at night are full of new concepts. First off, the word count wasn't to my liking. I really don't want to put out anything under novel length unless I'm going to be offering it for free and I have too much time invested in NRwW at this point to do that. I'm back to the drawing board and am very excited with the new developments.

I'm just playing it by ear at this point so I'm not sure as to a release date as of yet. Hopefully, you will enjoy reading it as much as I've enjoyed banging my head against the wall writing it.

As usual, I'm working on three different pieces at the same time.

No Rooms without Walls is at 30k words and rising.

Garden of Waste - a first person account of the apocalypse - is at 36k words.

Die in Rot - the second book in the Waiting to Die universe - is in the very beginning stages at around 7k words.

I also wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has left reviews for Waiting to Die. I'm humbled by the responses that I've had. All the positive words are like fuel, making me write more and more often. It has truly awe inspiring. Thank you so much!

THE NEXT BIG THING!

What is the working title of your next book?

No Rooms without Walls.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

It came from a fear of growing old which came to me in the same way most of my stories seem to develop: in a far too vivid dream. I coupled the dream with events in my life and molded the story out of run-on sentences and contradiction.

What genre does your book fall under?

Apocalyptic Horror and Dark Fiction.

What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

I think Robert Duvall would be great in the lead, but hell if I know who would work for the other parts.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

A breaking heart has no room which can hold it.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I’ll be going the self-publishing route for fear of the unknown.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?

About three months, give or take. There were a few long breaks when I was finishing my previous novel, Waiting to Die.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

First, I would have to say that I won’t do any of the following authors justice, but No Rooms without Walls could be best described as a mash up of Cormic McCarthy’s The Road, Ernest Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea, and one of my earlier pieces, Silently Inside. Again, I am nothing like the writers. I do my best and have my own voice and that is enough.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

My fear of the unknown, my grandfather, and death all played a part in the making of the book. I always found it amazing how my grandfather overcame the great depression, the loss of three out of four of his children, the death of my grandmother, and most of his siblings. He is a strong man and I can only aspire to emulate him in this small way. I created the main character after my grandfather and used a hell of a lot of artistic license to finalize the work. I put myself in his shoes, added a bit of poetry and the book was done.

What else about the book might pique the reader's interest?

Many of the scenes were pulled from actual events I’ve been through, questions I have asked myself, and meditations that I have underwent. No Rooms without Walls falls together like a puzzle, each portion conspiring to exemplify the next. It was a labor of love and sorrow and sudden change. It was a labor that I will not soon forget.

The following authors will be following next Wednesday:

Stephen A. North

Matthew Darst

Paul S. Huggins

Jonathan Moon

Kevin Milliken