02/24/2026 BLACK HISTORY MONTH: An interview with S.A. Cosby
- Candace Nola
- 50 minutes ago
- 6 min read
As we do every year in the month of February, Uncomfortably Dark takes time out to honor Black authors and Black history from every era, past and present. If you already read widely and diversely or want to get started; please add these authors to your Must - Read lists and to those TBR piles!
As the month winds down, we do have a few more posts we want to share. Some of our invited authors were heavily swamped with deadlines and were not able to take part in our celebration this month, but as they get time to send their interviews back, we will continue to highlight and share our diverse authors, because we need to celebrate all voices, every day of the year, not just for 28 days of it.
Today's post is an older interview that I was fortunate enough to have with S.A. Cosby. In one of those weird twists of fate, I met S.A. Cosby at my first Authorcon and he quickly took on role of mentor and friend and as surreal as that often feels, I am eternally grateful for his advice and his support. Not only is he a brilliant author, but he is the epitome of hard work, and genuine kindness. If you are not reading his work yet, please pick up one of his novels today!
Today, we honor S.A. Cosby!
What made you want to become a writer? Was it something you always wanted to do, or did you make a conscious decision one day that you were going to be an author?
SA: I've always been a storyteller but the thing that really got me started was my mom telling me to write my own stories when I started complaining about the plot holes in the bedtime stories she was reading me lol (why don't the 3 Little Pigs just build all their houses out of bricks?).
When did you begin writing professionally?
SA: I sent my first short story out when I was 22. I didn't make my first sale until I was 33. So never give up if this is what you really want to do.
Are you an avid reader? If so, what do you like to read the most? And what do you consider a favorite but widely underappreciated book?
SA: Yes, I read voraciously. I don't have as much time as I used to, but I still read 2-3 books a week. I read mainly crime and horror fiction, but I'll read anything honestly. One book that I think more people should read is THE RIB FROM WHICH I MAKE THE WORLD by Ed Kurtz. It's an underrated classic of horror.
Is there one book or author more than any other that inspired you to become a writer?
SA: There are two. Walter Mosely and Stephen King.
How many hours a day do you write?
SA: Typically, no more than 3 hours. I don't believe in chaining myself to my desk, lol.
What would you say is the most difficult part of your creative process and how do you deal with it?
SA: I think it's probably plotting. I do my best to anticipate plot holes, to make any twist surprising but fair, to make sure the story has a reasonable rhythm. For me, what works is writing a detailed synopsis that I can refer to as I write the book.
How do you deal with bad book reviews and/or social media trolls?
SA: I don't worry about bad reviews. Everything isn't for everybody. People are free to have whatever opinion they want about your work. As far as trolls go, I've learned not to give them the attention they seek. I mean I try not to, lol, sometimes that's easier said than done. Some trolls think I'm some overnight success or I'm some black token plucked from obscurity by the Powers That Be, but I've worked hard my whole life. Nothing was just handed to me.
What do you feel are common traps for aspiring authors, and how can they be avoided?
SA: One of the most common is pastiche or impersonation of a writer who influenced you. You absolutely should learn from other writers, but you have to develop your own unique style.
What does it mean to you to be a Black author, to be a role model for young authors of color, that are aspiring authors?
SA: It means everything. I think whatever success I or other black authors may find means nothing if we don't use that success to uplift new and aspiring writers of color, LGBTQ writers, or any writers from a community that has been marginalized. We all win, or nobody wins.
What challenges, if any, have you faced as a Black author?
SA: my 1st book was rejected 63 times. I was told more than once that I was talented, but people wouldn't relate to my Black rural characters…yet my whole life I've been asked to relate to white characters from all kinds of backgrounds. As a Black writer, that can be the toughest thing to overcome. The idea that everyone else's stories are universal but ours aren't. As my books have found an audience, I've had some racists attack my work and me personally, but sadly I'm used to that. Being a Black person in America means developing a strong sense of self from the time you're old enough to walk.
Whom do you most admire in Black history/culture and why, living or dead?
SA: aww, that's a long list. I'll give you five people.
Chester Himes - Paul Robeson - Barack Obama - Shirley Chilsom - Toni Morrison
What other authors of color do you believe deserve more recognition in the field?
SA: Nikki Dolson, Kelly Garrett, Yasmine Angoe, Aaron Phillips Clark, Milton Davis, Glenn Parris, and Vaughn Jackson.
What advice would you give to other Black/Brown authors/ artists in the industry?
SA: Know your worth and never settle for anything less than that.
What do you aspire to leave behind as your legacy, and what message would you want to tell the world as a black cultural/creative leader?
SA: That our stories matter, our hopes and dreams endure. Personally, I hope people will recognize I did my best to tell the truth about the people and places that I love. I have a tattoo that says, "Writers tell lies to find the truth," and I firmly believe that.
Please suggest two or three authors of color that everyone should be reading.
SA: Jennifer Hillier, N.K. Jemisin and Ed Aymar.
What else would you like my readers to know about you? Feel free to include anything that I might have missed or talk about any future projects.
SA: I'm a pretty good chess player, lol.
BIO:
S.A. Cosby is the New York Times national best-selling award-winning author from Southeastern Virginia. His books include MY DARKEST PRAYER, Blacktop Wasteland, Amazon's Number One Mystery and Thriller of the Year and Number 3 Best Book of 2020 overall, a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice, Winner of the LA Times Book Award for Mystery or Thrillers and a Goodreads Choice Awards Semifinalist and the winner of the ITW award for hard cover book of the year, the Macavity for best novel of the year, the Anthony, The Barry, a honorable mention from the ALA Black Caucus and was a finalists for the CWA Golden Dagger.
He is also author of the best-selling RAZORBLADE TEARS which also won the Anthony, The Barry, The Macivity and The ITW award and The Dashiell Hammett award. His book ALL THE SINNERS BLEED was nominated for The Lefty, The Edgar, and The LA Times Book award and The ALA book award
His short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines, and his story "Slant-Six" was selected as a Distinguished Story in Best American Mystery Stories for 2016. His short story "The Grass Beneath My Feet" won the Anthony Award for Best Short Story in 2019.his short story NOT MY CROSS TO BEAR won the Anthony in 2022.
His writing has been called "gritty and heartbreaking" and "dark, thrilling and tragic" and "raw, emotional and profound "
You can follow him on Twitter @blacklionking73
Check out his work here:
