EXCLUSIVE: U.S. novelist Kimberla Lawson Roby, who is best known for her ‘Reverend Curtis Black’ book series, has retained L.A.-based boutique entertainment legal firm Newell Law Group to represent her catalog of 28 novels for film and TV adaptations.
Roby has sold three million copies worldwide across her three decade career, but while her work has been praised for its honest and compassionate exploration of faith, family, relationships, and the complexities of the Black experience, it has never been adapted to the big or small screen.
Her Reverend Curtis Black books revolve around the tumultuous personal life of a charismatic preacher. The ninth book in the series, The Reverend’s Wife, won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction.
Standalone works include longtime female friendship tale Sisters Friends Forever and the non-fiction work The Woman God Created You to Be.
Roby, who has a loyal fan base and is a regular inspirational guest speaker, will work with Newell Law Group’s Packaging & Sales team, headed by Ty Cameron, to strategically position her library for adaptation across television, limited series, and feature film.
The company plans to actively introduce the literary properties to agents and seek partnerships with established production companies, studios, and media companies.
“I am thrilled to be working with Ty Cameron, Quincy Newell, and everyone at Newell Law Group,” said Roby.
“For many years, my readers have asked me when my work will be adapted for television and film, so being represented by Newell Law Group is a wonderful blessing. I am also excited to have such a prestigious and highly experienced law firm, working to bring my beloved characters and storylines to the screen. This is certainly a dream come true, and I am grateful.”
The Newell Law Group’s Cameron believes the time is ripe for an adaptation push on Roby’s work due to increasing demand for faith adjacent, character-driven stories that engage audiences while reflecting cultural authenticity.
“Mrs. Roby’s novels represent a goldmine for adaptation,” said Cameron. “Their layered characters, moral complexity, and authentic, contemporary themes make them not only viable but highly sought-after content for film and television. Audiences are hungry for grounded, emotionally rich storytelling within the faith, family drama, and women’s fiction genres, which are consistently among the highest-performing sectors in both streaming and traditional media.”
