Nine To Noon Crime writer S.A. Cosby on his 'Southern Noir' books
Mar 11, 2026
S.A. Cosby, an American crime novelist celebrated for Southern Noir (author of Blacktop Wasteland and Razorblade Tears), shares stories from his rural Virginia roots and how early lives and odd jobs birthed his characters. He talks about persistence through rejections, finding an authentic voice shaped by Southern dualities, and the pull of adaptations for screen.
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Childhood Challenge Sparked A Writing Life
- S.A. Cosby began writing at seven after his mother challenged his plot questions.
- He wrote a story about backyard spacefaring gnomes and chased the look on his mother's face ever since.
Teacher's Early Endorsement Changed His Path
- An 11th grade teacher, Jeffrey Bone, intercepted a funny story and told S.A. Cosby he should pursue writing.
- Bone later gave Cosby books outside the syllabus and attended his Blacktop Wasteland signing decades later to say I knew you would do it.
Odd Jobs Became A Character Repository
- Cosby worked many jobs—construction, mascot, bouncer, hardware manager—and saved character details from each.
- He hitchhiked to New Mexico and lived in a failed commune, adding unique experiences to his storytelling well.
