Kimberla Lawson Roby

Kimberla Lawson Roby (born May 3, 1965, in Rockford, Illinois) is an American author and speaker. She is best known for her "Reverend Curtis Black" series,[1] and for her depiction of real-life social issues in a fictional format. It was only after the urging of readers that her sixth novel and second title in the series was written. This title, Too Much of a Good Thing, became her first New York Times bestselling novel.[2][3][4]

Education

In 1982, Roby graduated a year early as a junior from Auburn Senior High School’s Academy Program in Rockford, Illinois.

In 1987, she received an Associate Degree in Business from Rock Valley College in Rockford, Illinois.

In 1993, she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, WI.

Career

Born Kimberla Marie Lawson to Lucius "L.B." Lawson and Arletha Tennin Stapleton, Roby held various jobs in Rockford, both in the corporate world and in city and state government, including as a financial analyst for the City of Rockford.[5] At the age of 30, she decided to write her first novel, Behind Closed Doors, which took her seven months to complete. She then attempted to find a literary agent and publisher.

In June 1996, with money her husband borrowed from his 401K account and a small loan from their credit union, she founded her company, Lenox Press and published Behind Closed Doors.[6] It was sold first at independent African-American bookstores nationwide and ultimately at major chain bookstores. Within her first two months of official sales, a literary agent agreed to represent her, and her second book was sold to Kensington Publishing in New York. Her first was then picked up by Black Classic Press in Baltimore, MD.[7]

In 1998, Roby signed with a new literary agent, Elaine Koster of the Elaine Koster Literary Agency,[8] who represented Roby until Elaine's death in August 2010. Roby has also published books with HarperCollins Publishers (William Morrow and Avon Imprints), and she is currently published with Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group.[9]

Roby's last book in her "Reverend Curtis Black" series, entitled Better Late Than Never, was published in July 2018.[10]

Roby resides in Illinois with her husband, Will M. Roby, Jr. whom she married in September 1990.

Bibliography
  • The Woman God Created You to Be: Finding Success Through Faith---Spiritually, Personally, and Professionally (2020)
  • Better Late than Never (2018)
  • Sin of a Woman (2017)
  • Copycat (2017)
  • A Sinful Calling (2016)
  • Best Friends Forever (2016)
  • The Ultimate Betrayal (2015)
  • A Christmas Prayer (2014)
  • The Prodigal Son (2014)
  • A House Divided (2013)
  • The Perfect Marriage (2013)
  • The Reverend's Wife (2012)
  • Secret Obsession (2011)
  • Love, Honor and Betray (2011)
  • Be Careful What You Pray For (2010)
  • A Deep Dark Secret (2009)
  • The Best of Everything (2009)
  • One In A Million (2008)
  • Sin No More (2008)
  • Love & Lies (2007)
  • Changing Faces (2006)
  • The Best-Kept Secret (2005)
  • Too Much Of A Good Thing (2004)
  • A Taste Of Reality (2003)
  • It's A Thin Line (2001)
  • Casting The First Stone (2000)
  • Here and Now (1999)
  • Behind Closed Doors (1997)

Awards and accomplishments

In February 2013, Roby received the 2013 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Work – Fiction for her novel The Reverend's Wife.[11][12][13] She was nominated again in 2014 for her novel The Prodigal Son.[14] She is the 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013 recipient of the Author of the Year – Female award presented by the African-American Literary Award Show in New York,[15] the recipient of the 1998 First-Time Author Award from Chicago's Black History Month Book Fair and Conference, and her fifth novel, A Taste Of Reality, was a 2004 finalist for the Atlanta Choice Awards sponsored by the Atlanta Daily World.[16]

In 2001, Roby was inducted into the Rock Valley College (Rockford, IL) Alumni Hall of Fame.[17][16]

References
  1. "Author Kimberla Lawson Roby at the library Jan. 25". Gainesville.com.
  2. "Best Sellers". The New York Times. May 20, 2012.
  3. "Hardcover Fiction". The New York Times. January 30, 2011.
  4. "Kimberla Lawson Roby returns with 'The Reverend's Wife!". EURweb.
  5. O'Sullivan, Christa (September 7, 2018), "Urban Fiction Spotlight: Kimberla Lawson Roby", Greenburgh Public Library.
  6. "Kimberla Lawson Roby: Teacher's bet". The Writer. August 11, 2014.
  7. Wade, Melissa (January 11, 2011), "New York Times Bestselling Author Kimberla Lawson Roby Returns With New Book: Love, Honor And Betray; And A Visit To Raleigh", The Light.
  8. Associated Press (August 13, 2010). "Literary agent Elaine Koster dies; rescued Stephen King's 'Carrie' from obscurity". Washington Post. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  9. Pride, Felicia (December 14, 2009), "African-American Books in Today's Marketplace", Publishers Weekly.
  10. Splond, Chandra Sparks (August 23, 2018), "Kimberla Lawson Roby Releases Final Book in Popular Series", Birmingham Times.
  11. Getty Images. "Author Kimberla Lawson Roby, winner of Outstanding Literary Work - Fiction". www.gettyimages.com.
  12. "The 44th NAACP Image Award complete winners list". Los Angeles Times. February 1, 2013.
  13. Journal Standard. "Kimberla Roby wins NAACP literary award". www.journalstandard.com.
  14. NAACP Image Awards. "NAACP Image Awards Nominees 2015". www.naacpimageawards.com. Archived from the original on March 19, 2017.
  15. Literary Award Show. "AALAS Past Winners". www.literaryawardshow.com.
  16. "Kimberla Lawson Roby", African American Literature Book Club.
  17. "Their View: High school students and parents should think Rock Valley College". RRstar.com.
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