Interview with Author, Braxton Cosby

Every now and again, you get to meet someone who has the same passion and dreams about becoming a great author. To become the type of author that inspires people to do great things in the arts as well as in life. This is what I have seen with Dr. Braxton Cosby. Yes, the nephew of icon, Dr. Bill Cosby. Following under his huge footsteps is no small undertaking, but Braxton is making his path and it is being recognized globally. I had the greatest opportunity to interview Braxton and I know that what you will read will inspire you as much as it has for me.

Braxton, please tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Braxton Cosby and I am the author of multiple titles, and am also the CEO of Cosby Media Productions. We publish other authors and their works and our passion is to provide works that are family-friendly and that speak messages to people all around the world; especially young folks so that they can be inspired.

What inspired you to write your book?
Well, I actually was ‘called’ to write one day in church. Basically, I offered myself to be used by God and ask Him what He wanted me to do. I clearly heard a voice tell me to write a book. Since that time, I began the process of investigating what it meant to be a writer and what challenges I could expect. Once I got that understanding, I pressed forward – learned a ton in the process, and am still learning – and have not looked back since. The books I’ve written are works that I am very proud of and I don’t regret a single page.

What is your latest project that you are working on?
I’m currently in the beginnings of re-launching Protostar: Book 1 of The Star-Crossed Saga (a young adult, sci-fi-romance series) in preparation for the unveiling of the sequel Supernova in June. I and very excited because it is a new facelift for Protostar with cover and interior (some storytelling changes that make the story much more streamlined) and it is being published by my company and the close nit association to Tate Publishing allows me to have full access to retail stores and national media. 

How did you come up with the title?
Each book in the series has a double meaning. Protostar is the birth of a star and it is also the first stage of the evolution of the main character Sydney in her star-child growth, giving her access to powers equivalent to the stars themselves. Supernova is the greatest cataclysmic event in the universe – a time of great destruction and it is also the next stage in a star-child’s evolution. Both titles have huge indications as to what the reader can expect in each book.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Yes, two. The importance of accountability – making a choice and staying with it – and the limitless power of pure love. 

Can you share a little of your current work with us?
Absolutely, here is the prologue of Protostar that sets the tone for the book. I hope you like it.

PROLOGUE
Seventeen Years Ago . . . 

Sarah stood atop the mountainside, looking out into the sky. The expanse of rich darkness and scattered stars reminded her of home. She desired to return there someday, but knew that she couldn’t. Things had been set in motion. There was no way to turn back now, even if she tried.
Still, something within her body felt wrong.
Is this the right place, right time? she thought.
Maybe the details got skewed, blended together, lost amongst all the immaculate planning. Even they were known to be wrong sometimes. She hoped against all hope that they weren’t. But stars never lie. She gazed into the sky. Their configuration—constellation after constellation, linked like a chain, with the Star of David perched in the center—was picture perfect. This had to be it. All she had to do now . . . was wait.
And wait she did.
Hours passed as the moon slid by. Just as her mind began to fill with doubt, it finally happened. The ground underneath her shifted, rocking her from side to side, up and down, as the stars burned brightly. She braced herself, running down from the mountain the best she could. Her old bony legs wobbled, struggling to keep her upright as she negotiated the uneven layers of rock and grass.
A loud crashing noise like the banging of cymbals lit her ears on fire as the sky parted, sending a tiny bright shard screaming across the black canvas, growing larger as it drew nearer.
Her eyes snapped to the road—the projected point of impact. But one detail had been missed.
Unaccounted for.
Someone else was there.
A vehicle sped down the dusty road, on a straight collision course with the object, which continued to grow larger and larger as time ticked on.
Sarah waved her hands as wildly, screaming, “Hey, you have to stop!”
But her screams went unnoticed. She gasped as the object crashed to the earth, tearing the car into pieces. She squinted, filtering the heat from the explosion as she moved in closer to examine the wreckage.
A gaping hole where the roof used to be greeted her, revealing the charred remains of another passenger. Sarah scanned the rest of the vehicle for survivors, finding only the shell of the driver white-knuckled to the steering wheel.
Her heart dropped.
The muffled sound of a baby crying tickled her ears, urging her to examine the object in the passenger seat more closely. It resembled a meteor, covered in craters and black ash that sent her into a coughing panic. A small crack in the outer shell provided just enough space for her to look inside.
She grabbed the door handle with both hands—wrinkled fingers trembling as she ripped the car door free—tossing it by the wayside. With a sigh of relief, she peeled back the shell. Black smoke stung her eyes while her hands burned from the heat. But Sarah ignored them both, pressing forward with her mission. Nothing would stop her now. With wet eyes, she smiled, finally finding what she had so desperately been looking for—a baby girl.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
The struggle of providing the right amount of detail where and when appropriate and then trimming it down as not to slow the pacing of the story.

What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing it to life?
Actually, I am a huge science fanatic and I became fascinated with the stars. The power, the mystery and the legacy of stars is phenomenal. Once I came up with the story arc, I realized how amazing the tale could be because of the vast amounts of research out there supporting the enigmatic assumptions we make. The unpredictability and lore of the universe was mind-blowing. All I wanted to do was build my own world and create characters that people could relate to, love and hate. 

Do you have any advice for other writers?
Never stop writing and never stop editing. I swear you could make a zillion revisions to a work, but that only shows how much you want to get it right. The drive to put together the perfect story continues to encourage me. And the more I read, the better the ideas I glean from other writers concerning style and story elements. 

Where can readers purchase your book/books?

Protostar will be available on ebook 6/16/2015 and both that and Supernova will be available on ebook/paperback on 6/30/2015.

Links for the book can be found on Amazon on my author page or at Cosby Media Productions:

PROTOSTAR (http://cosbymediaproductions.com/protostar-book-1-of-the-star-crossed-saga/

SUPERNOVA (http://cosbymediaproductions.com/supernova-book-2-of-the-star-crossed-saga/)

Readers can follow me at:
www.braxtoncosby.com

@BraxtonACosby

www.facebook.com/DrBraxtonCosby