# From Combat Cockpits to Co-Authors: The Story Behind " Night of The Bear" - EPISODE 172

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/hodgepod-with-rob-fredette-5728819/from-combat-cockpits-to-co-authors-the-story-behind-night-of-the-bear-episode-172.md
Podcast: [HODGEPOD with Rob Fredette](https://stenobird.com/podcast/hodgepod-with-rob-fredette-5728819)
Published: 2026-08-30T23:08:07+00:00
Episode link: https://rfredett.podbean.com/e/night-of-the-bear-inside-a-co-authors-cold-war-thriller/
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/xges4sk7f86imva6/COCKRELL_AND_HESS_2ND_TRY6kc3k-ze6iud-Optimized.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/hodgepod-with-rob-fredette-5728819/episodes/from-combat-cockpits-to-co-authors-the-story-behind-night-of-the-bear-episode-172
Duration seconds: 3430

## Resource

Hosts Rob Fredette interviews co-authors Alan Cockrell and Richard Hess about their military careers, the writing process behind their novel" Night of the Bear" , and the real-world aviation and geopolitical experiences that inspired their realistic Cold War–style thriller. They discuss combat flying, ferrying jets worldwide, co-author collaboration, character development, and upcoming projects including the sequel "Red Tide "and personal memoirs.

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## Transcript

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