Figuratively speaking y’all, though I wouldn’t mind if it did. I’m talking about Roux in My Gumbo author Kim Robinson. Kim is making the rounds of the blogosphere promoting her book. Kim asks the following questions.
Now that I am speaking at churches about my past and how I survived it I know that I am doing what I was put here for and there is only one person who can judge me, but I have gotten some mixed comments from a lot of people and I would like to ask some of your opinions.
Scenario – You meet an author at a literary convention and you sit and dine with her, laugh and talk and you find her to be a really personable individual. You purchase her book, not really knowing that it is her life story. You take it to your room and start reading it find out that she was a Madam, call girl, drug dealer and addict for over a decade. Now she is helping others and telling her story all over the country and she has written about it, not holding anything back.
How has this knowledge changed your opinion of that person?
I’d be interested in a discussion of Kim’s scenario, but also what readers think of authors when they meet them. What turns you on? What turns you off? Whatever?
Let’s hear from you. Then if you haven’t already, please visit Kim at www.kimrobinson.com. You’ll find her Roux most enjoyable.
thank you so much for having me Dee
and please send me a post so that I can get you on my blog
Will the knowledge I’ve recently acquired change my opinion of the person (author)? NO WAY! I think I’d be really impressed and fascinated with the author’s story, especially after I’ve met her. I think that everyone has an interesting life story and when they are able to make something positive and inspiring out of their circumstances that is a story that we all need hear and read….
Paz (who likes the title)
Well; it would probably make me like this person even more and it would definitely bring me to admire her courage and her strength.
By the way; The Roux In The Gumbo was one of my best reads this year. Hey Kim!!!!!
About twenty years ago; on the Amtrak traveling to Baltimore, I met the illustrious Gwendolyn Brooks. She invited me to sit down and we talked until I got to B-More. I was soooo impressed. I had read most of her work because my high school English techer had introduced me to her books when I had just started writing poetry….so it was like meeting my literary hero.
How did it influence me as a writer? Well; she asked me to send her some of my poems which she critiqued and sent back to me…..and she sent one to Black World Magazine. (I know I am dating myself,lol) And my poem was published in Black World; one of the first Black literary magazine at the time.
Idrissa
Thank you so much for your comments Idrissa and Paz. Thank you again Deidre
Dee, I’ve had the pleasure of truly getting to know Kim from interacting at several literary conferences over the last 3-4 years. I’ve even spent time with her and her wonderful husband and family in Texas, and can honestly tell the world that this chick can COOK! That gumbo is off da chain and does its own dance!
But getting back to the subject at hand, when I first met Kim, I was mesmerized and embraced by her wit and outgoing personality. I didn’t know any of her past until much later in the game when she confided in me deeply…and the depths of the ensuing conversations has grown to elicit a friendship that I will cherish.
Her past did not sway me to look at her any different than what was originally divulged for me not to be biased…as a matter of fact, I respected her more, because she didn’t sugarcoat it nor did she apologize. She simply asked me to listen. I love her more for it and would vouch for and support any endeavor that she embarks on. I reviewed her book, ate her food, languished in her home, embraced her kids, and would love to get more of that wit, wisdom, and words that make her what she is — and destined to become!
I feel that meeting an author for the first time, one should at least be congenial enough to pay homage to what it took to get to where they have emanated to…this should be done in a manner where respect is recorded just being able to converse to get to know them without pre-judging. Facts should be evaluated over time, and not be subjected to spur of the moment, or reactionary verve. Kim, you know I got your back, Hon! Colin knew from the beginning how real I was because you saw it first.