DT:  Who is Kim Robinson?
KR: I am a wife and mother who lives in a suburb of Dallas Texas. I was born and raised in Compton California, the hard part! I am the first of 35 grandchildren and I believe that my writing will help others know that they can change their lives as I did. I was a madam and call girl for 11 years. I also sold and used drugs. I was molested by a preacher at the age of five and it took me thirty years to realize that the preacher had nothing to do with God. For years I had no relationship with religion. Now I can’t say God enough, and I speak at churches helping people realize that any abuse they have suffered, they survived.

DT: What are your interests? Likes/Dislikes?
KR: Sewing, cooking, writing. I love audio books, movies and waking up every day to life. When I sleep I have dreams that tell me what God needs me to do for him. I dislike envy and cruelty.

DT:  How long have you been writing and what inspired you?
KR:  I was bedridden during the end of my pregnancy and my grandmother came from California to help me out. One day we were watching Oprah talk about her life and she said “Shoot I could write a book, I had a lot of stuff happen to me. Shoot you should write one too.” She started telling old stories, you know the kind you have heard a few times growing up, and since the computer was set right next to the pull-out couch in the den where I spent my days, I said lets do it. I bet everybody in the family would like to read it. When she went back home I bought her a tape recorder so that when she thought of something she could tape it and send it to me.

Every few months I sent her tickets and she would come and stay for awhile. My grandmother suffered a stroke during spinal cancer surgery and went into a coma. I printed out what I had and went to California, I would sit by her bed reading and the family asked me what I was reading and when I told them they said they wanted to read it, my mother made some copies and gave them out. One day while I was reading to my grandmother she said my name, though still in a coma. Everyone said that I had to finish the book. She died a few days later. When I went back home my family members would call me and give me their memories and send tapes which I added to the book. My grandmother’s sister and I would talk over the phone and I sent her a ticket to come but sadly she got sick and died before she could, but I did get everything she wanted in. My mother came and started reading and giving me her memories and here you have it. The title is because everyone who has someone who influenced their lives just as the Roux base or gravy in Gumbo influences every spoonful.

DT: The Roux In The Gumbo is causing a literary stir. What has been your greatest sense of accomplishment with this work?
KR: Sharing history, every time I sign a book I look at the cover and I feel my grandmother's approval. I was pleasantly surprised to be nominated at Cush City as new author of the year and I would really appreciate it if you all would vote for me! Go to http://www.cushcity.com.

DT: What have readers, writers and industry people said about The Roux In The Gumbo?
KR:  They have been very encouraging and most of my reviews likened my work to Roots, Cane River, and Beloved which are wonderful works that show history. There were two hundred years that African Americans could not write. I feel that we have a lot of catching up to do. I think that if the youth of today knew what strong people they come from, they would have more pride in themselves. I want my writing to do that, and when a reader or reviewer tells me that my book made them think of their ancestors I feel my job is done.

DT:  Who are some of your favorite authors? Why?
KR:  I love Maya Angelou, J. California Cooper and Delores Thornton. They all write about history, a topic with which I am obsessed.

DT:  Any upcoming signings, conferences, readings?
KR:  I just came back from Romance Slam Jam and I will be doing the DARA which is the Dallas Area Romance Writers conference. I am on the panel for Brother 2 Brother symposium, and I plan to get to the Indiana Book Festival, June 16 - 17, 2006. In addition, I am the keynote speaker at the Reclaiming your Soul conference in New York in November. Every month (the last weekend) I will be in downtown Plano at Nanny Grannies. I also invite other authors to join me there, we always have a pretty nice turnout.

DT:  What's next for Kim Robinson?
KR:  I just released two virtual cookbooks, Food for the Soul Recipes from around the World and Sweet Satisfaction Desserts and Drinks, which features over 200 authors, reviewers, and business owners and newsletters. G-mama, an upcoming work, is a series about an 86 year old ex prostitute who now has a relationship with God. She sits on her porch and solves crimes that cross her path. She says “The penitentiary ain’t nothing but college for criminals and people should do something to make up for their sins in god’s eyes." So far it is going to be an eight book series.

Next will be my life story Streetlife to Housewife. The title speaks for itself. After that we have “God ain’t spelled Government” which is an Alien/Gorvernment conspiracy.

DT: Kim, we thank you for this enlightening interview and wish you nothing but the best!!