Chef Robinson first attained national prominence as a character named Ethel (based on real-life events), one of the students portrayed in famed author Pat Conroy’s novel, The Water Is Wide.
Since its publication in 1972, the novel has inspired stage adaptations as well as two major movie productions. Pat Conroy wrote the foreword to Sallie Ann's first cookbbook and was a dear friend and mentor since the day he was her sixth grade teacher. This historic schoolhouse is a stop on the tour. Sallie Ann is a contributor author to the book Our Prince of Scribes: Writers Remember Pat Conroy.
