Kimberla Lawson Roby is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 25 novels. She is also the 2013 NAACP Image Award Winner for Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction and has sold more than 2.8 Million copies of her books.
Kimberla has been featured in numerous magazine, newspaper publications such as Chicago Tribune, New York Times, Essence, Ebony, Upscale, Writer’s Digest and The Writer to name a few. She is the author of the popular Reverend Curtis Black Series, and in 1996 after receiving numerous rejection letters from both literary agents and publishers, she founded her own company Lenox Press. It was then, that she self-published her debut novel, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. Kimberla resides in Illinois with her husband, Will.
BPM: Do you view writing as a kind of spiritual practice?
I believe writing does wonders for the soul. It can also be very therapeutic, and when you end up writing something that truly helps someone, you know your process has indeed been spiritual.
BPM: How has writing impacted your life?
Writing has allowed me to meet some of the best people I know and to experience the kind of wonderful journey I didn’t know existed. Writing has certainly been a great blessing to me on so many levels.
BPM: How do you find or make time to write? Are you a plotter or a pantster?
Writing a book requires lots of discipline, so what I do is carve out at least six weeks just for writing my first draft. But before that, I also write a two- to three- page synopsis, and then I outline the first half of the entire book. From there, the story evolves spontaneously, and while much of the plotting does change (when I’m writing the actual chapters), my outline always gives me a solid start.
BPM: Tell us about your most recent work. Available on Nook and Kindle?
SIN OF A WOMAN is about two women, Pastor Raven Black (Reverend Curtis Black’s ex daughter-in-law) and Minister Porsha Harrington, neither of whom have been called by God for pulpit ministry. Worse, Porsha is also Dillon Black’s former mistress, and she is the primary reason that Raven and Dillon’s marriage ended. So, needless to say, an ex-wife and an ex-mistress can only remain “friends” for so long.
BPM: Give us some insight into your main characters. What makes each one so special?
Raven is motivated by money, power and worldly possessions and will do just about anything to get what she wants. But in contrast, Porsha is feeling guilty about the way she and Raven have deceived their congregation and isn’t sure how long she can continue on such a sinful path.
BPM: Do you try to deliver to readers what they want or let the characters guide your writing?
I tend to do a little of both. I do write straight from my heart, and I always write scenes based on what I believe (i.e., that we should all treat people the way we want to be treated, and that we all reap what we sow, etc.). But I’m also very conscious of what my readers might or might not want to see my characters do.
BPM: Have you written any other books that are not published?
No, all my books have been published or are scheduled to be published.
BPM: What projects are you working on at the present?
My June 2018 novel, which will be my 27th book and the 15th title in my Reverend Curtis Black Series.
BPM: How can readers discover more about you and your work? Share all of your social media links.
Website: www.kimroby.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/KimberlaLRoby
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kimberlalawsonroby
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kimberlalawsonroby
SIN OF A WOMAN:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1455569690/kimlawroby-20
Sin of a Woman Review:
“Fans of Roby’s bestselling Reverend Curtis Black series will rejoice at this new tale of women wrestling with temptation.” — Kirkus Reviews