Student pens children’s Christmas story


Senior English major Steve Cochran II published a Christmas-themed children’s novel earlier this month, the first volume of his planned South Pole Adventures series. The story follows the little girl in whose living room the title character of Robot Santa breaks down on December 25 after accidentally setting the Christmas tree and presents on fire. With help from a teenaged elf and Rudolph himself, our heroine must journey from Chicago to the South Pole to save the holiday.

featured image

Inspiration: Steve Cochran II wrote “Robot Santa” for his seven-year-old daughter Fiona and newborn baby Natalie.

Why set a story in the holiday season? Is Christmas your favorite time of the year?
Christmas is my favorite time of year, and it’s also my seven-year-old stepdaughter Fiona’s. I set it during Christmastime because I was looking to write a story that she would enjoy.

Robots at Christmas? What led you to connect high-tech with the warm-and-fuzzy we usually equate with the holiday?
I asked myself, “What are my seven-year-old’s favorite things?” She loves robots and she loves Santa. It started from there.

So, is your story about the true meaning of Christmas?
It is and it isn’t. There is that underlying theme. The true meaning of this book and the series to follow is to celebrate diversity and have fun adventures that kids and the young at heart can enjoy.

Is this a story that could become a perennial favorite? One of those that everyone wants to reread every year?
Robot Santa tells me that it had better be, or you’ll get a stocking full of broken cogs.

Christmastime evokes so many emotions. What do you hope readers feel when they get to the end of your story?
I sincerely hope that readers will feel empathy, suspense, excitement, wonder and happiness, and in that order.

Do you have a favorite Christmas story—besides your own, of course?
I do, and it’s a Santa story as well. I’ve been in love with the Grinch ever since I was a wee lad. I read Dr. Seuss to my stepdaughter and plan on reading it with my baby girl Natalie Kate, who was born in November.

Should we be looking for another book from you any time soon?
You bet your sprockets you should. Robot Santa has shut down temporally to crunch numbers, run algorithms and formulate a new book. It will feature a supporting character from the first book, a character of color, as the protagonist.

And what did you ask Santa for this year? Think you’ll get it?
I asked Santa for a healthy baby girl and a happy stepdaughter, and I got both. The book was meant to be given to my stepdaughter on Christmas day with the rest of her presents, but I gave it to her a few days ago instead. At first she was a little disappointed because she thought she was getting a real robotic Santa Claus for Christmas. But she took the book to school and hasn’t stopped talking about it. So, I have everything I want.

Comments are closed.