Kimberla Lawson Roby is someone who was raised to have strong faith in God and high confidence in myself. My grandmother raised my mom that way and my mom did the same with me. She spent years telling me that I could do anything.

I was inspired because I know firsthand what it is like to be passed over for a promotion, simply because you are black. Racial discrimination is very humiliating and unfortunately, still very much alive today.

I thought about the fact that even if you do all the right things to be successful, meaning going to college and grad school, graduating with honors, and being a high performer on the job, sometimes you don't receive your "taste of reality", regarding equality, until you are passed over for a promotion unfairly.

The first draft took about two months and then of course there was the revision/editing process after that.

I wanted to examine and portray what it would be like, dealing with two extremely emotional issues simultaneously and then show what any woman might do to overcome them.

I wanted to create an African-American woman who was strong, independent and intelligent. I wanted to create someone who thousands of African-American women aspire to be.

I created David because I'm always amazed at how some African-Americans don't want to be African-American and truly wish they were white. In terms of Frank, I've met a few men like him over the years, so it was very easy to create him as well.

When writing every book, I use my imagination and play the "what-if" game. But in reality, there are a great number of women who are being sexually harassed on a daily basis. The sad part is that some of them are too afraid to say or do anything about it because they don't want to lose their jobs.

I began writing my first novel in April 1995, so I've been writing now for just over 7 1/2 years.

I've written five, which are: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, HERE AND NOW, CASTING THE FIRST STONE, IT'S A THIN LINE, and A TASTE OF REALITY.

During the fall and winter months, I enjoy writing on my desktop computer in my home office, but in the spring and summer, I love taking my laptop out to our attached screened gazebo. Either way, I am most comfortable writing when the environment is peaceful and distraction-free.

Yes, I am working on a sequel to CASTING THE FIRST STONE.

Throughout our lives, there will be many obstacles and disappointments, but if we believe in God, in ourselves, and work diligently to be the best that we can be, we will always find strength to overcome anything. I recently heard T.D. Jakes say that every setback in life is a set-up for a comeback, and I'm hoping A TASTE OF REALITY will encourage readers to view discrimination in the workplace in the same regard.