Latest Work by New York Times Bestselling Author is Essence Book Club
Recommended Read
Powerful and Stirring Read by Kimberla Lawson Roby to Release in September
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Shandra Hill Smith, 770-241-7707,
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
ATLANTA (August 12, 2009) — The newest work by New York Times bestselling author Kimberla Lawson Roby is the November 2009 Essence Book Club Recommended Read for Essence magazine.
Roby’s second novella, A DEEP DARK SECRET (William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; Sept. 29, 2009; $19.99; ISBN 9780061443091), will serve as the national magazine’s 23rd selection, the final for 2009. A DEEP DARK SECRET goes on sale on September 29, 2009.
In A DEEP DARK SECRET, Roby, who generally writes about true-to-life matters, examines the consequences of an all-too-prevalent societal and family issue: child molestation. Roby, adored by legions of readers for her 11 previous novels — including the extremely popular Rev. Curtis Black series and her first novella, ONE IN A MILLION — considers her upcoming powerful and emotionally stirring release to be the most important up to this point in her writing career.
“I believe A DEEP DARK SECRET is my most important work to date,” explains Roby, “because while I’ve always written about very real-life social issues, I truly think this particular story will help even more people on a number of different levels — specifically the 39 million adults in this country who have survived childhood sexual abuse. Also, because it is not always easy to simply look at a child and tell what might be happening to them, I believe the story will bring much awareness to parents.”
A DEEP DARK SECRET tells the story of 12-year-old Jillian Maxwell. On the outside, Jillian is the perfect child. She’s helpful with chores around the house, gets straight As 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, an adoring little sister, a mother who cares about her, and an attentive stepfather.
But inside, Jillian harbors a terrible secret. Too frightened 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 that things will get better. But the weight of her secret takes its toll. As her grades start to drop and she thrusts herself deeper into her own world of isolation, Jillian’s thoughts turn suicidal.
Will Jillian find the strength within to tell? Will her loved ones uncover the truth before it’s too late?
In some ways, A DEEP DARK SECRET hits home with Roby, who knows from personal experience the magnitude of having an adult touch a child inappropriately.
It’s another reason the Essence news has special meaning for the Illinois resident.
“Because I have always loved Essence magazine and have been a faithful subscriber for more years than I can remember,” says Roby, “having my latest novella selected as the magazine’s November recommended read is truly a great honor and a wonderful blessing for me.”
The Essence Book Club Recommended Read spotlights “fiction that will inspire, engage, empower and entertain our readers,” says Patrik Henry Bass, senior editor, Essence magazine.
“We know that readers will enjoy Kimberla Lawson Roby’s A DEEP DARK SECRET,” adds Bass, who was promoted from books editor. “It’s a compelling story. She’s taking on a topical story. She’s a New York Times bestselling author in her own right, but we wanted to make sure our readers didn’t miss this. We felt this was something special and they’ll get a lot of meaning out of it.”
Roby’s novels have frequented bestseller lists, including The New York Times, and lists for Essence, Upscale magazine, Amazon.com, Wal-Mart and many others. Roby’s CASTING THE FIRST STONE was a book club selection by radio personality DeDe McGuire, who co-hosts the nationally syndicated “Afternoons with Doug and DeDe” with Doug Banks.
Kimberla Lawson Roby is the author of the acclaimed works The Best of Everything, Sin No More, One in a Million (novella), Love and Lies, Changing Faces, The Best-Kept Secret, Too Much of a Good Thing, A Taste of Reality, Behind Closed Doors, Here and Now, Casting the First Stone, and It’s a Thin Line. She lives with her husband in Illinois.
More info: www.kimroby.com