SC: When did you decide you wanted to write?
KLR:During the summer of 1994 I decided I wanted to write a novel, but I didn't actually begin writing
it until April 1995.
SC:How many novels in all have you written?
KLR: I've written 7, and I'll be finishing the 8th before the end of this month.
SC: How long did it take you to write your first novel?
KLR:It took me 7 months while working full-time. I wrote every evening and weekend until it
was finished.
SC: Of all the novels you have written, do you have a favorite?
KLR: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS because it was my first and CASTING THE FIRST STONE because the character,
Curtis Black, is so popular with my readers.
SC: Where do you get your inspiration for your stories?
KLR: I always write about very real issues, those that can or have affected everyone at one time
or another. Some of my topics are controversial and even taboo, but I am inspired by what I see happening to others
and in some cases what I have experienced personally. In IT'S A THIN LINE, I based the Sydney character on parts of
my own life and I patterned the Delores character after my mother who really did have a benign brain tumor.
SC: What made you decide to write a story like Casting the First Stone? and later the sequel
Too Much of a Good Thing Are the characters based on real people? Did you receive any negative feedback because
of the issues it addresses about black churches?
KLR:I decided to write about corruption within the church because, unfortunately, it is happening
in every city and state. I realize that there are some really wonderful ministers throughout this country, but there
are also so many of them who are consumed with money, power and women and who are also misleading innocent
people. The characters are a compilation of many, many ministers I know of or have heard about from others, but
there situations are not identical to those of any of my characters. Thankfully, I have not received any real negative
feedback regarding these two books and in some cases, pastors' wives have thanked me for writing about this particular
subject matter.
SC: As a matter of a fact, in all your stories, the characters all seem to be someone
we can relate to,
In It's a Thin Line, you wrote about domestic violence, is that an issue you feel needs to
be addressed in the black community?
KLR: Yes, I do feel that domestic violence is not discussed as much as it should be.
Especially, since so many women are experiencing it. I think it is very easy for any of us to overlook what is actually
going on if we are not in that sort of situation ourselves. But what we really need to do is become more aware
and figure out what we can do to help those who are victims.
SC: After writing your first novel, did you self-publish?? If so, how was that
experience?
KLR: Yes, after receiving a good number of rejection letters from literary agents and publishing
houses, I did go forward with self-publishing. I became somewhat discouraged, but it was my mother and husband
who kept me going. My mother told me that I shouldn't give on my book, regardless of what rejection letters I had
received and my husband suggested that I use my business background and start my own publishing company. Self-publishing involved
a lot of time and a lot of hard work, but it was very well worth it. I ended up selling 10,000 copies within the first
six months of publication.
SC: Do you plan to write sequels to any other novels?
KLR: When I first started writing, I always said that I would never write sequels to any of
my work, but after receiving many, many e-mail messages from readers, asking if I would write about Curtis Black again, I
decided I would. Now, after writing TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING, the sequel to CASTING THE FIRST STONE, I plan to write
about Curtis a third and probably final time. Also, readers will see Anise from A TASTE OF REALITY again in
the future.
SC: What feedback have you received from fans?
KLR: Feedback from readers regarding my novels has been wonderful. The very kind words
that I have received have been such a blessing for me and it is because of this that I continue to write one
book after another.
SC: What authors do you admire?
KLR: There are so, so many, but to name a few, Terry McMillan, Connie Briscoe, E. Lynn Harris,
Eric Jerome Dickey, Victoria Christopher Murray, Barbara Delinsky, Danielle Steel, Walter Mosely, etc.
SC: Did one of them inspire you?
KLR: By all means, it was Terry McMillan.
SC: Is writing your only passion?
KLR: Right now, it is my primary passion, but there are also other areas of interest I plan
to pursue in the future.
SC: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
KLR: I would like to stay on course with writing no less than one book per year,
which would mean 5 more over the next 5 years. I'd also like to see my Curtis Black trilogy produced as a
national stage play and as a movie.
SC: What advice would you give aspiring authors?
KLR: Please write at least something every single day. Even if it is only a
page or two in your journal or manuscript, make a habit of doing it daily.
SC: What would you like readers to learn from your stories?
KLR: That they are not alone in dealing with their particular problems and that obstacles can
always be overcome. And that even when we are not able to overcome them completely, we can find a way to live with or
deal with them and then go on with our lives. If we have faith and begin making the right choices, we can still find
happiness at the end of every tunnel.
SC: When is your next novel coming out? What is it about?
KLR: My next novel, THE BEST-KEPT SECRET, will be released February 1, 2005 and all I
can say is that readers will see two sets of main characters from two of my previous novels.
SC: Where can people purchase your books? Do you have a website?
KLR: All of my books are available at bookstores nationwide and through any on-line book retailer.
My web site address is www.kimroby.com.
