WHEN DID YOU FIRST KNOW YOU WANTED TO BE A WRITER AND WHY?
A calling from God. He told me to write my first novel Protostar and I stepped out on faith that what I was hearing was actually God and not some voice of my own imagination. Now, with The Sect coming back out and re-boot of Protostar becoming a huge success, I love it.
AS A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU ASPIRE TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
I really wanted to be an astronaut. I thought the idea of space travel was fascinating. Now, as I’ve gotten older and more cynical, the thought of traveling into space at those ridiculous speeds has become less attractive.
HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE?
I wanted to give people – young people in particular – the gift of learning to love people outside of circumstances. The two main protagonists of Protostar are caught up in this Star-Crossed love where it feels as though the galaxy itself is trying to tear them apart. The question or choice to love in spite of that becomes heavier as their relationship blossoms through the series and they must stand by their decisions. The ideal of accountability becomes more crucial-- something that is missing in our world today. With ‘What Will You Choose…Love or Duty?’ being the tag line.
TELL US SOMETHING OUR READERS MIGHT FIND INTERESTING ABOUT YOU:
I consider myself a Born-Again Christian and I value the importance of a spiritual connection with God rather than joining with religious practices. Also, my Uncle Is the legendary comedian Bill Cosby.
WHICH AUTHOR HAS MOST GREATLY INFLUENCED YOUR WRITING STYLE?
I love Casandra Claire and Suzanne Collins. I write from both a close third person (Protostar) and first person (My Life In Story and The Sect) and I definitely look to their skill of balancing the voices of the characters throughout their stories.
WHAT BOOK HAS HAD THE GREATEST IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE?
The Bible. The greatest stories have come from it and the inspiration for creating is birthed from it.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT?
Finally getting my book (Protostar) transcribed into a screenplay. Now, everything else about getting it to the big screen is that much easier.
WHAT OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED?
The Sect: The Windgate – coming soon
CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE PROCESS OF BECOMING PUBLISHED AND ANY TIPS YOU MIGHT OFFER FOR OTHER ASPIRING AUTHORS?
I tell aspiring authors all the time that they must create a story that they love first. Then, the passion for the story will flow and people who read it will fall in love with it.
CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK?
Social media has been critical for my success and getting the word out. It is still an uphill challenge for me. Even the most popular authors still don’t get the traction they should just because they don’t have the reach or exposure.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS?Please come over to my website and learn about me @ www.braxtoncosby.com. There, you will find out about me and all the projects I am working on. You’ll also find links to my book websites.
DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?
The School of Ministry: The Windgate, a CLC Book Award recipient (Faith-Based YA), is being rebooted as well. The new title is The Sect: The Windgate. I trimmed it down a little bit and made it a much faster and engaging read.
Also, next year I will publish my first Hero novel in association with two other authors under Cosby Media Productions. You can also look for the Sci-fi book based on the upcoming movie, Matt Mercury with Bill Hughes (formerly the creative designer behind the Star Wars series).
The Sect will be out on eBook in December and the novella Evans’Heart will also be available. They will be available everywhere that eBooks can be sold.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR OTHER ASPIRING AUTHORS?
Yes. Find a vision, write it down. Pray on it, believe in it, and make it real. Don’t use excuses about why you never got started. Pick up the pen, keyboard, whatever and get it done. Make a story that you love first, and then shop it around.
CAN YOU OFFER ANY TIPS ON GETTING PUBLISHED?
Don’t be afraid to pay for a professional editing service of your work. It will pay huge dividends in the end if done properly. As a writer, you just can’t catch every mistake. You need someone to look at it and tell you what parts stink and need to be taken out. Stripping that manuscript down and putting out the best product is essential.
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews
International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval
http://www.clcawards.org
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