Beyond The Cover With…
“I hope readers will take this story and say, “I’ll run toward love, always. Even if it hurts. Even if it might end.” Every summer has a story—you might as well make it memorable.”
Meet The Author
Every author has a story that begins long before the first page of their novel. This month, we are thrilled to introduce M.M. Cochran.
M. M. Cochran is an award-winning investigative journalist and bestselling author of her debut novel Between the Ocean and the Stars, a young adult mystery romance. She also authored The Button Collector, a psychological thriller. While she likes the idea of her biography saying something like “she enjoys the outdoors and being in nature,” Cochran can realistically be found fitting author stereotypes such as curling up in her blanket, reading a book, and drinking a cup of coffee.
Cochran lives with her husband in Franklin, TN, as a full-time newspaper journalist
Today you will get a glimpse into her writing journey, the inspiration behind her book, and the stories that continue to shape her as an author.
Every Author Starts Somewhere
Every writers path is unique, filled with moments that lead them to the page. Here’s how M.M. Cochran found her voice.
“My writing journey began as a very young girl, when I used to staple my dad's legal-sized paper together to make "books." That joy grew into a passion that I discovered as an avidly-reading 10-year-old, when I decided I was going to become an author when I grew up. At 14, I self-published a little story that doesn't see the light of day, and then went on to write larger YA projects. Finally, at age 23, my first novel came out through a small traditional publisher, (BETWEEN THE OCEAN AND THE STARS) and is now a bestselling novel!
Was it a hard journey? Yes. There were a lot of tears, long nights over my laptop, and moments when I was one rejection away from giving up. But as I preach to all creatives, dreams DO come true if you chase them hard enough.”
Behind The Book
Every book has a story behind the story. I asked M.M. Cochran to share what inspired her book and what she hopes readers will carry with them long after turning the final page.
Tell me about your book?
“My YA mystery romance novel, BETWEEN THE OCEAN AND THE STARS, follows 18-year-old Sam Carter, who just moved to Ophelia Island and falls for the mysterious diner girl, Georgia, who's in a relationship with her dangerous boyfriend.... When a hurricane sweeps Sam into a police investigation and Georgia is nowhere to be found, Sam gives himself one option: love, even if love might end in tragedy. The book was a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards and is a #1 Amazon bestseller.”
What inspired you to write it?
“I wish I could tell you! I honestly cannot remember what made me want to write this book other than this: the emotions that I experienced one teenage summer just came flooding out into a love story that intertwined tragedy, romance, love and loss into one YA novel.”
What do you hope readers take away from your story?
“I hope readers will take this story and say, "I'll run toward love, always. Even if it hurts. Even if it might end." Every summer has a story—you might as well make it memorable.”
Life As An Indie Author
Writing the book is only part of the journey. We also talked about the realities of independent publishing, finding a creative rhythm, and the advice she would give to aspiring authors.
“My writing process varies for each book, but oftentimes, I draft a very loose outline and let the story write itself. Like most authors, I always have a strong beginning and ending...but the middle? That's the most difficult for me. You'll most likely find me getting at least 1k words down in a writing session, which I usually have in the morning or on a Saturday at the library! I typically draft a book anywhere between 3 months to 10 months.”
“As an author who published with a small independent trad pub, I've learned this: sure, the publisher can distribute worldwide. It is up to the AUTHOR to make people want to buy your books worldwide. The marketing is all on the author, my friend!”
“Yes! I have loads of advice! If you're hoping to publish your first book, consider self-publishing. Your first book won't make or break you. It's going to give you a foundation to stand on and build upon. Your first book is a learning experience, not the one that's going to launch you onto a bestseller list (but of COURSE that is possible! Just unlikely. I mean, you could always be the next Allen Levi, author of Theo of Golden...) If your goal is to trad publish, then let experienced writers read your draft, hire editors, and pitch to agents when your book feels right. Also, the advice I always tell people is to write what you know, and READ YOUR GENRE!
On The Bookshelf
We couldn’t end end our conversation without talking about books. Here’s what’s currently on M.M. Cochran’s bookshelf — and the one story she’d love to experience all over again.
“I read about 4-6 books a month, but right now, I'm reading Every Summer After by Carley Fortune. Check back next week! I'll be reading The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel, and I'm slowly making my way through The Diary of a Young Girl in between! My go-to genres are YA, Historical, Literary, and love stories (not romance...there is a difference.)”
“I wish more than anything that I could experience The Book Thief for the first time again... That was the book that made me want to take writing seriously and ultimately made a novelist out of me.”
Stay Connected
Ready to read more? Here’s where you can discover M.M. Cochran’s books and keep up with her latest releases.
“Readers can find my books through any major book retailer! They can also order signed copies from me directly through my website (mmcochran.com). To follow along with my writing and publishing journey (and stay informed of new books), I LOVE connecting with readers through my Instagram and TikTok platforms @m.m.cochran_writer and @m.m.cochran, respectively. Also, sign up for my newsletter in the Linktree provided in my social media bio link!”
A huge thank you to M.M Cochran for taking the time to talk with me. I hope this conversation gave you a glimpse behind the pages and inspired you to discover her work. Be sure to follow her journey and, if you haven’t already, add her book(s) to your TBR.
Until next time, keep turning the page 🤍
