|
Roby is a New York Times Bestselling Author
 Kimberla Lawson Roby is author of
the critically acclaimed, best-selling novels CASTING THE FIRST STONE,
HERE AND NOW, and her debut title, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, which was
originally self-published through her own company, Lenox Press. She has
completed three national book tours and is currently attending book club
discussions, expos, writers' conferences, colleges, universities and other
literary events throughout the country on request.
Her novels have frequented numerous bestseller lists, including those
listed in Essence Magazine, Emerge Magazine and The Dallas Morning News,
and both BEHIND CLOSED DOORS and CASTING THE FIRST STONE were #1
Blackboard bestsellers for four consecutive months in 1997 and 2000
respectively. In addition, Ms. Roby's first novel was nominated for
Blackboard's 1998 and 1999 Fiction Book of the Year Award, and she
received the 1998 First-Time Author Award from Chicago's Black History
Month Book Fair and Conference.
If You Like
Kimberla's Books
You May Also Like: |
|
|
Ms Roby's first three novels each dealt with very real issues---social
status, gambling addiction, and infidelity in BEHIND CLOSED DOORS; single
motherhood, infertility, and sibling rivalry in HERE AND NOW; and
corruption within the church in CASTING THE FIRST STONE. In IT'S A THIN
LINE, the tradition continues with the story centering on domestic
violence, sexual abuse, and care-giving of a parent.
After receiving bids from seven major New York publishers, Kimberla
Lawson Roby has agreed to sign a "substantial" 2-book deal with
Dutton, a large imprint of the mega publishing house, Penguin Putnam Inc.
Roby, who is author of three Blackboard African-American bestsellers,
including the #1 CASTING THE FIRST STONE, will join company with
bestselling authors such as Tom Clancy, Terry McMillan, Patricia Cornwell,
Eric Jerome Dickey, and Robin Cook who are also published under the
Penguin Putnam umbrella.
Roby began her career in 1996 when she self-published her debut novel,
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, and sold 10,000 copies within the first six months.
A winner of the prestigious Blackboard Fiction Book of the Year Award,
Kimberla Lawson Roby is the author of the bestselling novels Too Much
of a Good Thing, A Taste of Reality, Casting the First Stone,
It's a Thin Line, and Behind Closed Doors. She lives in
Illinois with her husband. Kim may be emailed at
kim@kimroby.com
A Deep Dark Secret
Click to order via
Amazon
Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: William Morrow (October 20, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061443093
On the outside, twelve-year-old Jillian Maxwell is the perfect child.
She’s helpful with chores around the house, gets straight A’s in school,
has plans for college, and stays out of trouble. She seems to have
everything a girl could want: a big, beautiful new home, a mother who
adores her, and an attentive stepfather. But inside, Jillian harbors a
terrible secret.
Terrified to tell, convinced that her friends and loved ones, especially
her mother, won’t understand—and worse, will blame her—Jillian endures
her pain in silence, believing she’s got everything under control. But
as time passes, the bright, hardworking girl transforms into a sullen,
disinterested student with failing grades. But just when it seems she's
on the verge of losing everything, Jillian discovers she has more
strength than she ever imagined . . . and the power to save herself and
her family.
The
Best of Everything
Click to order via
Amazon
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: William Morrow (January 13, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061443069
The world-renowned Reverend Curtis Black's daughter, Alicia, is all
grown up and even more trouble than her father. The apple certainly
doesn't fall far from the tree in this new novel from the New York Times
bestselling author of Sin No More and Love and Lies.
Alicia Black Sullivan swore to never repeat her father's mistakes: she
would never break any promises, she would never be unfaithful. And most
important of all, when she got married, it would be for good.
And she really does love Phillip, the assistant pastor of her father's
church. She just happens to love money—and the things it can buy—as
well. Alicia was born to the good life, she's entitled to the best, and
she'll do anything to get it. Even if it means piling up thousands of
dollars in debt. Even if it means denying to everyone—even herself—that
her love of shopping has gotten way out of control.
Before long, Phillip begins to wonder if marrying the woman of his
dreams was a huge mistake. Alicia has similar thoughts. Deep down,
though, she knows a whopper of an emotional bill is coming due. And all
the regrets in the world won't change the fact that she may be more like
her infamous father than she could have imagined—or feared.
One
in a Million
Click to order via Amazon
Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: William Morrow (June 17, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 006144295X
In the first novella by the New York Times bestselling author of the
Reverend Curtis Black series, a wife and a husband receive a surprise
that will change their lives forever
Kennedi Mason thinks she's the luckiest woman on earth. She loves her
job, she has a wonderful best friend, and she's been married for ten
years to her soul mate. There's nothing she can think of that could make
her life any better.
Then one fateful day Kennedi receives a piece of news that will turn her
world upside down. She's excited about it, and she knows that her
husband, Blake, will be over the moon. He has always dreamed of this one
thing happening, and she can't wait until he comes home so she can tell
him.
But when she sees Blake that evening, he has a special announcement of
his own. It shocks Kennedi into silence and wipes the admission she was
planning to make right out of her mind. In an instant, her life and her
marriage have changed, but not at all in the way that she had expected.
A poignant and satisfying story of hope, Kimberla Lawson Roby's One in a
Million beautifully shows us the difference between what we think we
want and what we actually need to be truly happy.
Sin No More
Click to order via Amazon
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: William Morrow (January 22, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0060892501
ISBN-13: 978-0060892500
Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1 inches
A man who once thrived on wickedness and counted on forgiveness,
Curtis Black has changed his ways. Back in the heart of his congregation
and his family, he will no longer stray from the beaten path. Or so he's
promised his long-suffering wife, Charlotte.
But the sins of the past have strange ways of coming to light. First,
Curtis's former mistress shows up with their newborn baby daughter—named
Curtina—and insists that Curtis be a part of their lives. Charlotte has
forbidden her husband to have anything to do with them, but the trouble
is, Curtis's newfound conscience is leading him to have uncomfortable
thoughts of responsibility.
Also, the interim pastor who took over while Curtis was on a book
tour is threatening blackmail. He's gotten too used to life at the
pulpit and will do everything in his power to stay there.
Meanwhile, Charlotte has her own previous transgressions to deal
with. The man who claims to be her son's biological father has turned up
and wants to make amends for the past thirteen years. If Charlotte gives
in to his increasing requests, she may lose the only child she has left.
However, Curtis and Charlotte have been through too much together to
give up now. They must work harder than ever—as a mother and a father,
as husband and wife—to save their family, their marriage, and their
souls.
Changing Faces
Click to order via
Amazon
ISBN: 0060780770
Format: Hardcover, 288pp
Pub. Date: January 2006
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Meet Whitney, Taylor, and Charisse, three women who have been best friends since
high school.
Whitney is a plus-size woman who just can't turn down a box of Krispy Kremes or
find a man who will stay put.
Taylor is in a long-term relationship with a boyfriend who's allergic to
commitment.
Charisse is married, with two adorable children, but somehow doesn't have what
she really wants -- or needs.
Then suddenly, Charisse spins out of control. Her husband threatens to go public
with a secret Charisse had hoped to keep hidden, especially from her interfering
mother. Desperate, she decides that only a very risky scheme will save her.
One constant for these women has been the support they've offered one another.
But this time, how far can friendship go?
In this witty, rollicking, deeply poignant story, Kimberla Lawson Roby
demonstrates the storytelling magic that has won her legions of adoring fans and
made her novels bestsellers.
The
Best-Kept Secret
Click to order via
Amazon
ISBN: 0060734434
Format: Hardcover, 272pp
Pub. Date: February 1, 2005
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Following the phenomenally popular Casting the First Stone and
Too Much of a Good Thing comes a mesmerizing tale featuring rascally
preacher Curtis Black
Too good to be true ...
It was love to hate at first sight when Kimberla Lawson Roby's readers met
the Reverend Curtis Black, surely one of the cleverest ministers ever to set
foot in a church. Now Curtis is starting over. He has a new job as founder and
minister of Deliverance Outreach, a new wife (again), and a newfound will to
follow the straight and narrow path of righteousness.
True love versus passion ...
Or so he thinks. While his spirit may be willing, the wayward preacher has a
particular weakness when it comes to female flesh. Curtis has never made a
promise he could keep, and before long, he's tempted to be up to his old tricks.
The difference now is his third wife, Charlotte, mother of his seven-year-old
son, Matthew, and a woman unlike any he's ever encountered. For the first time
in his life, Curtis just might have met his match. Charlotte has her own hidden
desires and is every bit Curtis's equal.
Secrets always have a way of surfacing ...
Struggling to make their marriage work, Curtis and Charlotte may have finally
found the strength to stay together. But just when it looks like life for the
Black family is getting back to normal, an explosive surprise ending will leave
readers stunned.
Shhhh ... Don't tell.
Too
Much of a Good Thing
Click to order via Amazon
ISBN: 0060568496
Format: Hardcover, 288pp
Pub. Date: January 2004
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
A riveting tale about a philandering preacher that readers will
love to hate. Curtis Black might be a man of the cloth, but with his good
looks, seductive charm, and charismatic personality, he's beloved by his female
parishioners — and almost every other woman he's ever met.
The trouble is, Curtis is married. He tries to resist
temptation, but not for long. His appetite for women quickly gets the best of
him. Overwhelmed by his sizzling love affairs and busy trying to convince the
deacon board of the need for an ATM machine in the back of the church, Curtis
has his hands full. Meanwhile Mariah, his second wife, is discovering that
beneath the loving facade of their marriage a storm of lies and betrayal is
about to burst.
In addition, Curtis' already shaky relationship with his teenage
daughter, Alicia, has reached the breaking point. Alicia searches for solace in
the arms of a stranger, and before long she finds herself in a dangerous
situation.
Eventually, the women in Curtis' life find that with a little
careful planning — sneaky and otherwise — they can help Curtis reap the
punishment that he so richly deserves. In this captivating and dramatic sequel
to Casting the First Stone, Kimberla Lawson Roby sets sparks flying with her
trademark wit and insight.
It's
a Thin Line
Click to order via
Amazon
Format: Hardcover, 304pp.
ISBN: 1575666294
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Pub. Date: May 2001
Read
an AALBC.com Review
From the
Publisher
When Kimberla Lawson Roby burst onto the literary scene, her fresh, wise, and
witty voice grabbed the attention of readers and critics everywhere. Now, with
three Blackboard bestsellers to her credit, including the #1 Casting the First
Stone, she is back with her most absorbing work yet It's a Thin Line.
Sydney, Gina, and Rick are siblings who have
always shared a special bond, and yet their lives are as different as can be.
Responsible eldest sister Sydney has everything she's ever wanted-a sexy
husband, an adorable daughter, and fulfilling work. But, little by little, the
demands of her writing career have mounted, leaving her little time or energy
for family life. Meanwhile proud middle sister Gina is struggling to raise her
eight-year-old twins-and protect them from the increasing fury of their volatile
father. Impulsive brother Rick, the baby of the family, is living the high
life-dodging commitment with his longtime girlfriend and wondering if the grass
is greener somewhere else.
When their beloved mother Delores suffers a
debilitating stroke, all three suddenly find the tenuous threads of their
individual lives at a breaking point. A dark childhood secret threatens Sydney's
secure world; Gina is swept into a maelstrom of domestic violence; and Rick
comes to a dramatic crossroads in his relationship with his girlfriend.
Worst of all, the burden of caring for a parent
is tearing the siblings apart, shattering their faith in one another. Now, as
Sydney, Gina, and Rick struggle to overcome daunting obstacles and rebuild their
lives, they will discover something they've never let themselves believe: that
their most stable-and most cherished-relationships have always been with each
other.
Once again, Kimberla Lawson Roby has woven a
compelling saga that could come only from a genuine storyteller. Alternating
between moments of poignancy and humor; filled with complex and recognizable
characters, It's a Thin Line is sure to delight her faithful readers, and win
countless new fans.
Casting
the First Stone
Publisher: Kensington Publishing
Corporation
Date Published: December 1999
Book Description
Tanya Black had deeply believed in her husband's call to preach. And when he
asked her to marry him she'd felt blessed to be part of such a future. Sitting
in the second row of his Chicago church only a few years later, she is unable to
bear listening to his sermons or understand what happened to their shared dream.
Blackboard best-selling author Kimberla Lawson
Roby takes on one of the most controversial issues in America: corruption and
temptation within church leadership. An electrifying read, CASTING THE FIRST
STONE goes behind the scenes of a fictional Chicago church and its struggle to
keep faith and commitment alive in the face of ambition.
This is the third novel of this author whose
previous books have won her dedicated fans and a connection to readers
coast-to-coast. Her works bring to life Black women whose lives are complex with
jobs, children, spouses and lovers - in short the kind of lives her readers
themselves live. Giving voice to the women who share their concerns with her has
always been Roby's aim in each novel she has written.
CASTING THE FIRST STONE listens in on the heart
of a woman torn between loving who her husband was and hating who he has become.
Roby weaves a fast-paced story about faith's challenges in a world made up of
material desires and other physical temptations. Taken right from the headlines,
Roby's cautionary tale looks at the other side of church politics and the
emotional toll it takes.
Here
and Now
Click to order via
Amazon
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Date Published: February 1999
Format: Trade Cloth
Brilliant and vibrant, Marcella Jones had the whole world in her hands, until she gave
her heart to the wrong man. Tyrone was handsome and charismatic, but he left her
destitute, raising two small children alone - and yearning for the kind of life her
dead-end job will never provide. Marcella's elder sister Racquel, lives in a fine home,
has a fulfilling career and the love of Kevin, her handsome, successful, supportive
husband. Yet her desperate longing for a child is driving her into a deep depression and
away from Kevin. In the tradition of Waiting to Exhale and Big Girls Don't Cry, Here and
Now is the poignant story of two strong, intelligent women facing tragedy, surviving loss
and terrible sorrow, and ultimately learning that only with each other's help can they
heal the hurt and celebrate the joy in their lives.
Behind
Closed Doors
Click to order via
Amazon
Publisher: Black Classic Press
Date Published: October 1997
Format: Trade Paper
Best friends since childhood, Regina Moore and Karen Jackson have everything two
"just-turned-30" women could possibly want--beautiful homes in an upper-echelon
Chicago suburb, loving husbands, and financial security. But are their lives really as
wonderful as they seem?
Related Links
Kimberla Lawson Roby Website
http://www.kimroby.com/
|