KIMBERLA LAWSON ROBY

Interview by Angela Anderson

Author of the Month: The Journey of The One Who Believes… Kimberla Lawson Roby

“Believe in God, believe in yourself, believe in whatever it is you are trying to accomplish…believe in that order.” Kimberla Lawson Roby

Kimberla Lawson Roby is a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, podcast host, and founder of Successful Women of Faith-The Sisterhood. With a career spanning over 20 years, she is the author of 29 books, including her nonfiction title, The Woman God Created You to Be, and her latest release, Sister Friends Forever. With fan favorites of the Curtis Black series and her other stand-alone titles, she has sold more than 3 million copies of her books, all while providing a message of redemption, forgiveness, and sharing the realities of everyday life.

Kimberla is the recipient of numerous awards, including an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction and a Blackboard Fiction Book of the Year Award for Casting the First Stone. In August of 2020, she was named by USA Today as one of the 100 black novelists you should read. She was also inducted into the Rock Valley College Alumni Hall of Fame in Rockford, IL. In addition to her gift of writing amazing stories, this speaker and podcast host has a sincere passion and desire to help women be their best selves, live their best lives, and be all God has called them to be. Over the years, Kimberla has spoken to thousands of women at workshops, conferences, church events, libraries, and bookstores, sharing her personal journey with a message straight from her heart.

Find out more about Kimberla Lawson Roby as she shares her journey with The Heat Seekers Magazine and shares information about her new release, Sister Friends Forever.

Angela Anderson: When did you know you wanted to become an author?

Kimberla Lawson Roby: Even as a small child, I loved writing and knew it felt very natural to me. But it wasn’t until I was thirty years old that I finally decided to sit down and write my first novel, Behind Closed Doors.

AA: What do you enjoy about writing and creating stories?

KLR: I love creating stories that center on real-life issues because my hope is that readers will be able to relate to my characters and the issues they might be experiencing. I also enjoy writing about redemption and forgiveness.

AA: How would you describe your writing style? Do you have a writing tagline to describe your stories?

KLR: I would describe my writing style as conversational and to the point. Then, in terms of a tagline, I’ve never really thought much about what category my work should be included in. But I will say that with almost everything I have written, my faith and belief in God tend to ring through.

AA: What was one surprising thing you learned about yourself during your writing journey?

KLR: The most surprising thing I learned was that after publishing twenty-seven novels, writing my first nonfiction book, The Woman God Created You to Be: Finding Success Through Faith—Spiritually, Personally, and Professionally, became my most enjoyable writing experience ever.

AA: What is a fun or interesting fact about you that most readers don’t know?

KLR: The fact that I still watch at least one episode of The Golden Girls just about every single day!

AA: Are there any writing must-haves or quirky writing habits when you are in your flow?

KLR: When I am writing, I need to have total silence. No music or any other noises or distractions. I also rarely stop writing for the day in the middle of a chapter, as I always like to begin my next writing day with starting a new one.

AA: You have been an author for over 20 years and have penned 29 books. If you had to give one piece of advice to new authors, what would it be?

KLR: I would tell all new authors to learn every single thing they can about the business of publishing. As a new writer, you should certainly learn everything you can about writing in general, but as a new, published author, learning how to market and promote your book is tremendously important to your overall writing and publishing career.

AA: This is an exciting time for you! Your novel with Grand Central Publishing, Sister Friends Forever, was released on August 9, 2022. Share with us the inspiration behind this story.

KLR: My inspiration behind writing Sister Friends Forever stems from the love I have for my two best friends, Kelli and Lori, who have been my sister friends forever for fifty-one years and thirty-six years, respectively. I also have two dear cousins who are my sisters for life, Patricia and Janell, as well as my dear daughter-in-love, Latasha.

AA: If you could describe “Sister Friends Forever” in three words, what would they be?

KLM: Loving, loyal, and supportive.

AA: What can we find you doing when you are not writing?

KLM: I love spending time at home with my husband, Will, which is my happy place. I also love watching my favorite TV shows (drama series).

AA: What is next for Kimberla Lawson Roby?

KLM: I’m now starting to think more about my next book, and I’m also excited about all the plans I have for my new community for women, Successful Women of Faith – The Sisterhood.

AA: How can we stay connected with you?

KLR: You can stay connected with me by visiting my website, www.kimroby.com. You can also find me on various social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

www.facebook.com/kimberlalawsonroby www.instagram.com/kimberlalawsonroby www.twitter.com/KimberlaLR www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlalawsonroby/

The Heat Seekers Magazine: Kimberla Lawson Roby’s latest release, Sister Friends Forever, can be found where books are sold, including on Amazon, major bookstores, and select indie bookstores like Riches In Reading. It is available in audio, ebook, and hardcover.

Riches In Reading: www.richesinreading.com