What children see helps shape their world with every thought, habit, and excitement. Something as simple as seeing a family member read and fall into a world of imagination can be just the formula needed in stirring up the next best selling author. From the little girl racing to book fairs and libraries, to the adult sitting at a desk penning a novel, Naimah Robinson is an example of child sees, child reads.
MY URBAN BOOKS: Tell us about your reading ventures as a child.
NAIMAH ELISE ROBINSON: As a child, I loved joining book clubs at my school. I raced other kids in my class to sign out books at the library often. Back in the day, it was something to see your name on the card signing books out along with others. That was so exciting to me. I'd take so many books home daily that I would get into trouble for ripping my backpack carrying them. I got enough books to last one week and loved getting lost in the world they took me to, whether it was a Judy Blume book, the Babysitters Club series, or books that went on to become movie adaptations like My Girl. I learned to develop my own descriptive way of writing through books like these that made readers feel present and a part of the story. Once my reading aptitude and comprehension were pretty good, I moved on to autobiographies on prominent African Americans and tried reading non fiction more in late elementary school/early middle school.
MY URBAN BOOKS: Are there any other writers in your family? If so, how has their writing journey affected yours?
NAIMAH ELISE ROBINSON: I don't have any writers in my family that I am aware of. My family's reading is what affected my writing. Once I was old enough to understand the content, I picked up my grandmother's Terry McMillan books, along with Bebe Campbell Moore, Mary Monroe, Eric Jerome Dickey, E. Lynn Harris, and the list goes on. It made me want to write our stories from our views and imagination, too.
MY URBAN BOOKS: Who are you outside of writing?
NAIMAH ELISE ROBINSON: I am a very fun loving, goal oriented, and constantly evolving Black woman. I have a deep relationship and trust with great family and friends, and I do a lot to protect that. I'm a foodie and oftentimes, my travel coincides with that. I believe in pouring into others, especially other Black women who have faced obstacles as I have. I am well traveled, and I have a ton of personal and professional experience, from the hood to corporate America, which only add depth to my upcoming stories.
MY URBAN BOOKS: Tells us some of your strengths concerning writing a series. Do you feel those strengths are just as strong if/when writing a standalone.
NAIMAH ELISE ROBINSON: My strength in a series is the ability to continue developing my characters, no matter how it takes. I love the characters that I create. Whether good or bad, they have a perspective and a story. Sometimes, it takes a little longer to tell it all, and I like being able to develop the series so that a reader gets the full view. If I'm able to do that in one standalone, I will, and that's outstanding. But I like to make sure that the full complexity of the character can be ascertained.
MY URBAN BOOKS: How do you select your character's names?
NAIMAH ELISE ROBINSON: I select names at random. I've always loved stories that have uncommon names, so I try and think of those that I haven't seen in stories or that add a certain flair, and I use those.
MY URBAN BOOKS: Which of your characters inspire you and why?
NAIMAH ELISE ROBINSON: From my published work, I'd say my character Atali, is inspirational in the way she attacks adversity and pushes for successes. I have some great characters in the vault, however, so you all will have to stay tuned for inspiration from those.
MY URBAN BOOKS: Are you apart of any writing groups or have a writing accountability partner. If not, what are your thoughts on these activities?
NAIMAH ELISE ROBINSON: I'm still relatively new to the writing community. I've written a lot, but I only recently started publishing 2 years ago. I don't have an accountability partner. I think that's a great thing to have. It would have to be someone I trusted 100% that I could pour into just as he or she would be able to do with me.
MY URBAN BOOKS: Do you feel writing is a lonely career? Why or why not?
NAIMAH ELISE ROBINSON: I think that it can be lonely, especially when trying to create a certain anonymity as an author. However, with the rise of social media and authors' ability to coexist in these forums, I see an increase in many authors sharing challenges and triumphs together, improving on that loneliness.
MY URBAN BOOKS: Please give aspiring authors one piece of advice.
NAIMAH ELISE ROBINSON: Keep writing. Presenting your hard work to the world can come with so many challenges that make stepping back from honing your craft seem like a good option. Continuing to write, publish, and share is only going to make you better. There are so many stories and so much creativity inside you that have to be shared with the world. *this is what I tell myself to keep going*
MY URBAN BOOKS: Please tell readers where they can find your work.
NAIMAH ELISE ROBINSON: You can follow me at Naimah Elise Robinson on Amazon & Goodreads.
I'm also on social media.
FB: YaGirlNimiElise
Twitter:IamNimiElise
IG:IamNimiElise79
