“Liveliness,” said Lyn Roberts, the manager at Square Books. “If there’s one thing about them, it’s their liveliness.”
Katherine, or Kat, and Margaret King are 67-year-old twin sisters from Oxford who have written six books, which have been featured in People, that recall their mischievous childhoods in small town Mississippi.
“The positivity they bring to this town definitely strengthens it,” Roberts said about the versatile twin sisters who are deeply rooted in the Oxford community. “They’re so energetic and have the best sense of humor.”
Kat is a mathematics instructor at Northwest Mississippi Community College, while Margaret is a retired governmental worker. The duo started writing the books in 2012 after recounting the stories to those closest to them.
“Our kids heard our stories about growing up as twins and they asked us to write them down to pass on to their children, and when we did, we realized they were funny.” Kat said, “That’s how it all began.”
The books Y’all Twins?, Which is Which? and Our Josephine were the twins’ first books, which sparked their interest of writing three children’s books. Each one recalls their adventurous memories as identical twin girls.
The twins agree that writing more books after the first was not at all expected.
Due to their indistinguishable looks, the two were notorious for switching places not only in school, but almost everywhere they went. Many fell for their pranks, but according to Margaret, one man from around the corner was never fooled.
“Mr. What’s-his-name,” she said. “We could never remember his name, no matter how many times our dad told us.”
Margaret later revealed that the man around the corner was named William Faulkner.
Our Josephine, which debuted last summer, has gotten notable recognition and has even been compared to classic books such as To Kill a Mockingbird and The Help. The book traces back to 1957, when “separate but equal” was enforced in Mississippi.
The nine-year-old twins had been sent to Vicksburg over the summer to spend time with their grandmother when they met Josephine, who was 16. She became their first African American friend and taught them many valuable life lessons. Years later, the two decided to write a book to outline their memories with her.
“It’s our favorite book of all,” the twins said. “Josephine taught us what respect for one another regardless of skin color really was,” said Margaret in addition.
Not only is the book getting the attention of readers, but of movie producers as well. The twins stated that a company in Hollywood wants the book, and a screenplay is currently being written.
The production company asked the twins who they would like to be in the movie, and without hesitation, their request was Morgan Freeman.
“We want it to honor Josephine,” Margaret said. “She would like a two bedroom house on a plot of land next to her home, and our goal, mission and passion right now is to help make that happen.”
The profits of Our Josephine go into a special fund to help Josephine, who is now 75.
The twins are currently traveling to schools, conventions, libraries and churches all over the country sharing their stories with identical outfits, which almost always include capes and crowns. The pair has even added a new act: rapping.
“We were sitting in our living room one night and we passed the rapping channel when we were watching television, and Kat told me to stop,” Margaret said.
“I told her that you don’t have to carry a tune to be a rapper, you’ve just got to talk and talk fast, but we can’t even do that as old Southern ladies,” Kat joked.
“Our first rap was in 2013 about Valentines Day, then we made a Super Bowl one shortly after when Patrick Willis and Michael Oher faced off, which was probably our favorite,” Kat said.
The duo have even gotten an album made in Nashville, which showcases several raps they’ve written.
Now, the two have traveled to over 100 schools in the U.S. with copies of their children’s book and CDs, along with the live performance of their newest addition, an anti-bullying rap that tells what to do if you’re ever approached by a bully.
“It’s a great learning tool for the kids, and they love it.” Kat said, “We go in as two old people and we walk out and we are so cool. They even ask for pictures, high fives and autographs.”
The twins usually donate a book to the library of every school they visit.
For their next chapter, the King twins have added “Laughter in the Workplace” to their traveling agenda, where they plan to rap and entertain for company retreats, luncheons and dinners.
The sisters could not agree on who was the coolest twin.
“I guess Kat.” Margaret said, “She’s good, but I’m the better-best.”
Olivia Wells is a senior print journalism major at The Meek School of Journalism and New Media. She can be reached at otwells@go.olemiss.edu.
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