Before I get to the subject a few words. I can’t really recall now how many interviews I’ve done in the past 6 years or so since I stumbled into doing it. Quite a few I can tell you. I’ve talked to them all: actors, actresses, directors, screenwriters, opera singers and a few odds and ends here and there.

And with the exception of one well known B (more like B minus) actress who was a real nightmare (which wasn’t a surprise to me since I always suspected she was and I was right) they all have gone very well.

But rarely do I have get apprehensive before an interview. I can count the number of times on one hand that I was a little nervous before interviewing soneone:

Chris Rock because I knew I had to be sharp, witty and on my game or else I would be fodder for his next stand up comic show. Thank God I didn’t.

Halle Berry because it was Halle Berry and it turned out to be one my best and more interesting interviews,

Kerry Washington because it was Kerry Washington and that also turned out to be one of best interviews ever,

Pam Grier because it was Pam Grier and that turned out to be a pretty interesting one too. At first she was giving me pre-packaged rehearsed answers to my questions and to get her to “come out” I started intentionally to challenge her on some things she said and she started to get pretty feisty and tuning into the Pam we all know and love and it turned out great and she knew it too.

I say all this because I was also somewhat apprehensive when I interviewed the author Sapphire week before last, because just judging from what I know about her, I figured she would be a passionate, intense person who doesn’t suffer fools gladly. And since I’m the biggest fool out there I thought I might have my work cut out for me.

As it turned out she was definitely passionate and intense, but a really nice person and as you will see has a lot to say. In fact our conversation after our official interview was over was just as intense and fascinating.

So here’s my interview with Sapphire which came out today on Ebony.com HERE Tell us what you think