Son of the South: An Interview with S.A. Cosby

I have mixed emotions about social media overall, but let it be known that one of its best uses is listening to experts and avid readers talk about books. When I saw Roxane Gay mention S.A. Cosby on Twitter and call Razorblade Tears an “explosive thrill ride,” I knew I had found my next read. Last week marked the release of Cosby’s highly anticipated novel, All the Sinners Bleed, and it is the perfect example of what he does best: a gritty mystery set in the South with wonderfully complex characters. I had the opportunity to ask Cosby about his latest novel and his craft, so read on to learn more!

—Chelsea Stringfield, Parnassus bookseller

S.A. Cosby

Chelsea Stringfield: First, thank you so much for answering some questions for us! Many of our booksellers are huge fans of yours. And congratulations on your upcoming book, All the Sinners Bleed. I was very intrigued to see that this main character, Titus, is the first Black sheriff elected in his home county. What made you want to write about a character in law enforcement?

S.A. Cosby: In the wake of the murder of George Floyd I wanted to really examine policing in America and how a good man or woman can find themselves overwhelmed by the weight of their responsibility. Eventually the book incorporated mediations on religion, race and loss.

CS: Like your previous books, All the Sinners Bleed tackles topics such as race and class, but also focuses heavily on religion. What prompted you to examine religion so closely in this book? What do you want your reader to contemplate about religion after reading All the Sinners Bleed?

SAC: So I was raised in a pentecostal church. I’ve had a complicated relationship with organized religion for quite a while. I think it’s the hypocrisy that exists alongside the sanctification. I wanted to examine how religion can be a cudgel and a comfort in small town life. I think the thing that I want people to consider is this: you don’t necessarily have to go to church to find spirituality. Walking along the bank of a river can be spiritual.

CS: I find the pacing of your novels to be perfect. I always think I know what is going to happen, and then I find I have no idea! I was especially intrigued with how you revealed Titus’s backstory. How do you plot your novels? How do you decide what plot points to reveal when?

SAC: Thank you! I generally plot out my novels ahead of time. This isn’t really an outline but more like a synopsis for myself. As far as plot points, it all depends on the rhythm of the story, and that is determined by the intensity I’m trying to articulate to the reader.

CS: Another similarity in all of your published novels is the setting, the rural South. It’s almost a character in itself. Why is that setting important to you? What do you want your readers to know about the South after reading your work?

SAC: I was born in rural Virginia. I’m a son of the South, but there are many folks who think the South is the sole provenance of neo-Confederate apologists, and nothing could be further from the truth. The South is a panoply of cultures, histories and people. And that is what makes it beautiful. But it can also be a place haunted by the spilled blood that soaks the soul. But to paraphrase James Baldwin, because I love The South I reserve the right to critique her honestly.

CS: You’ve mentioned in some previous interviews that Elmore Leonard and Dennis Lehane are inspirations for your writing. What other authors or books inspire you? What contemporary authors are you excited to read?

SAC: How long ya got? Haha, I take inspiration from so many great writers, both contemporary and from the past. Walter Mosley, Chester Himes, Ernest J Gaines, Jordan Harper, Jennifer Hillier, Jesmyn Ward and many others. A good writer is always learning and I have leaned so much from all of them.

CS: Finally, we like to wrap up interviews with this question: what is your favorite thing about independent bookstores?

SAC: How they are not bound by trends. Independent stores will get you out your comfort zone.

Pick up a copy of All the Sinners Bleed from Parnassus today!