While Shawn Cosby has gone on to international success and fame as a New York Times bestselling author, he hasn’t forgotten his roots. And it’s obvious that the people in Mathews haven’t forgotten him either.
Cosby, who writes under the name S.A. Cosby, was named grand marshal of this Saturday’s “Elf on a (Half) Shell” Mathews Christmas Parade. The parade will be held at 1 p.m., running from Thomas Hunter Middle School to Chesapeake Bank.
“I’m incredibly honored,” he said, after being named grand marshal. “I really do love where I come from.”
A 1992 graduate of Mathews High School, Cosby was born and raised in Mathews. The southern Virginia area has served as the setting for his best-selling crime fiction novels, details of which are very familiar to anyone who’s lived in Mathews and surrounding communities. Cosby sheds light on the farmers, watermen, teachers, students and life on the Chesapeake Bay in his books.
“Their stories do mean something to people,” he said.
Even after receiving numerous awards for his novels, being a guest on the Tonight Show and making former President Barack Obama’s Summer Reading List multiple times, Cosby said being chosen as the grand marshal for his hometown Christmas parade means the most to him.
“I never thought I would do anything of note,” he said about being chosen for this hometown honor.
Since the start of his writing career, Cosby has received a great deal of support from his community. “It means everything to me.”
Cosby will even get stopped in Walmart by people who just want to say they are proud of him.
“People at home are fans of my work,” he said.
Being recognized for his work is something Cosby is still getting used to. Cosby said he never really felt recognizable until this past September when his wife encouraged him to tweet at Patton Oswalt that he was there for his comedy show in Arlington since Oswalt had previously publicly stated that he enjoyed Cosby’s books. Oswalt sent a message back, inviting Cosby backstage. While backstage, Oswalt introduced Cosby to his dad as a “great American novelist.”
A friend of Cosby’s, writer Jordan Harper, once told him, “You’re doing something special, acknowledge it.” Cosby has always loved writing, a skill that came naturally to him, but not easily.
Cosby recently returned to Gloucester, where he resides with his wife, Kim Redmond, after traveling for his book tour of his most recent novel, “All the Sinners Bleed.”
After traveling the world and meeting so many people, Cosby enjoys being home surrounded by nature, which drives his creativity.
Also published this year was the young adult science fiction book, “The Rhythm of Time,” written by Cosby and musician and Tonight Show bandleader Amir “Questlove” Thompson. Another exciting project on the horizon is Cosby’s third novel, “Razorblade Tears,” being made into a movie by Paramount Pictures. The film will be directed by Travon Free and Martin Roe.
“I wish my mom and my grandparents were here to see it,” said Cosby of being parade grand marshal.