LiveWorld Transcripts

Time Warner Bookmark presents

Author Kim McLarin
Discusses her debut novel

August 12, 1999

Author Kim McLarin discusses her debut novel, “Taming It Down,” which explores love and life in the work place for Hope Robinson, a young black woman struggling to integrate without disintegrating.

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RikiTiCCCi: Little, Brown and Company and The Talk City Network are proud to present our special guest for tonight, Kim McLarin, whose debut novel, "Taming It Down." explores life and love in the workplace for Hope Robinson, a young black woman struggling to integrate without disintegrating. Welcome, Kim, We're glad you're here!

Kim McLarin: Thank you, glad to be here!

CCCouGar: What was Kim McLarin like as a child? Interests, hobbies?

Kim McLarin: That's an interesting question! I suppose I was fairly studious, I read a lot. I was a middle child, so I was not an attention seeker. I did well in school, and that's about it. (smile)

William: How did you get your first job as a reporter?

Kim McLarin: I began getting internships at newspapers when I was in college. From the time I was in high school, I knew I wanted to be a journalist, to make my living with words. Through a placement program at college I got my first job at the St. Petersburg Times.

Gar^^Trek: Was being a journalist an early dream? Did you bring any natural qualities to the job?

Kim McLarin: I think it was less being a journalist, and more being a writer. I felt being a journalist was a way to be a writer without starving. I was less interested in the reporting aspect than the writing aspect. I think I brought talent as a writer to the job.

Benjamine: What was your most exiting story when you were a journalist?

Kim McLarin: Probably going to Liberia right in the middle of their civil war. It was during a lull, so we managed to get in without being shot at, but it was still a very volatile and painful time. At one point we went into the bush to interview one of the rebel leaders. It was in the morning. We were told, "Whatever you do, get out of there before the afternoon, because he starts to drink and shooting people!" About 4 questions into the interview he pulled out a beer and started drinking. So, that was exciting. (smile) We asked our questions and left. It was pretty nerve-racking.

John: Journalists are supposed to do unbiased reporting, yet we all have our "slant." Do you think reporters are assigned according to their "slant" on things?

Kim McLarin: No, I don't. But I do believe it's impossible for human beings to be unbiased. I do know that journalists bring their biases to their stories, some deliberately so.

Oglethorpe: From what you've seen as a journalist, do you think the U.S. is getting past prejudice or simply masking it with new terminology like "troubled urban youth"?

Kim McLarin: I think anyone who would deny that we've made progress would be wrong. But I think that racism is a fact of life. It's certainly a fact of life in this country, and I think it always will be. I don't think we will ever eliminate it entirely, but we have made progress in the legal implications of this, and perhaps this is the best we can accomplish for now.

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