Friday, April 2, 2010

A WORD FROM LISA HARRIS ... COME BY AND READ IT!

We want to welcome to our blog, Lisa Harris. Let me share a little about her with you.

Lisa Harris is an award-winning author who has sold twenty-one novels and novellas. She lives with her husband and their three children in Mozambique, Africa, where they work as missionaries. When she’s not busy writing or home schooling, she loves traveling, cooking different ethnic foods, and going on game drives through the African bush.

SDC: Welcome, Lisa. Africa, huh?  That's so awesome. I saw your theme scripture from your website (Hebrews 12:1-3) I believe. Tell us about why you selected those verses as your focus, and how they correlate with the types of books you write.

Lisa: Thanks so much for having me stop by, Shirley! I love Paul’s encouragement that we keep our eyes focused on Jesus so we don’t grow weary and lose heart. Life isn’t always easy, yet as I write my books, I want people to see that through Christ and his sacrifice, there is hope.

SDC: And how blessed we are to know we do have that hope in the Lord about every aspect of our lives! Amen.

Tell us about your publisher(s) and your experiences in working with them and what you have coming out soon.

Lisa: While I’ve written for several publishers throughout the past few years, currently I’m writing for both Zondervan and Summerside Press, two publishers that I have really enjoyed working for.

My newest release with Zondervan is book one in my Mission Hope Series, called Blood Ransom. It’s a fast paced-thriller thriller about the modern-day slave trade and those who dare to challenge it. The second book in the series will be released next spring. Currently, I’m writing a romantic suspense for Summerside Press’s new line. Dark Continent will come out in February. This story is set in both Northern Rhodesia (Africa) and New York in the early 1920’s.

SDC: How interesting! I look forward to reading some of your work! What kind of response have you received from readers who have been influenced greatly by your writing or your personal testimony?

Lisa: Because Blood Ransom is about the modern slave trade, I’ve heard from many readers lately who have been struck by the fact that slavery is still so prevalent today. While I do want to open people’s eyes to some of the issues happening in the world today (the next book in the series is set primarily in a refugee camp) I also want to share that through Christ there is hope. This is the response that I love to hear!

SDC: That almost already answers my next question. How do you thread faith, love, and hope along with the reality of life work together in your stories?

Lisa: It’s always as tough balance. First of all, like all authors, I want my books to be hard-to-put-down page-turners. But the threads of faith and hope are also very important to me and I try to add them naturally, through conversation and situations that show rather than just tell.

SDC: Important to me as well. How long did you have to wait before getting published the first time, Lisa? What are some things that went through your mind?

Lisa: Writing is definitely a hard journey that builds patience. I wrote for about six years before I sold my first novella to Barbour and the waiting wasn’t always easy. But I discovered a lot about myself in the process while I learned about the craft and grew in my writing, and I’m still learning!

SDC: I have a candle lit at the corner of my desk. Just the scent gets my creative juices flowing, but I have a difficult time sitting in my lonely office for too long a time before I have to get up and go say hello to my husband or move my laptop in the living room where I feel life or action around me. Does a room or special place or thing play any part in your story writing and how?

Lisa: I don’t have an office due to space and have had to learn to write wherever I am. Sometimes it is hard and I long for a quiet moment, but as a home schooling mom of three, those quiet moments are rare. There are times when I really need a few hours without interruptions and thankfully my family is very supportive and gives it to me. During that time, I sometimes play music with no words that goes along with the mood of the story and helps me focus.

SDC: How does your family and the ministry with your church correspond with your time to write and do research for writing?

Lisa: Right now the biggest priority in my life is my children and home schooling because we are in that stage of life. I know it won’t last forever and before I know it they will be out of the house, so I purposefully am enjoying this time with them. I’m also not as involved in ministry as I have in the past, though I still do a lot to support my husband, and know that ministry time will increase once our kids leave the nest. My writing then fills in the rest of the time, and I get done what I need to everyday by setting very specific goals for each day.

SDC: A growing family will keep all of us busy. Life never changes. Think of an intriguing question you would like to ask one of our viewers to answer to help me select the winner of your newest book coming out.

Lisa: I love to travel, so if you could travel anywhere in the world, were would that be and why?

SDC: That's a great question. Thanks.
And thank you, Lisa for being here. It’s been a real pleasure having you at A Pen for Your Thoughts. Please include your URL and where people can find your books.
Lisa: Thank you so much for having me, Shirley! You can find out more about me on my blog at http://myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com or my website www.lisaharriswrites.com.

Okay readers and other writers. Now it's your turn. Look above to find Lisa's question. We look forward to receiving your replies. We will be drawing the name of the book winner in a few days from now.
READERS: Be sure to answer Lisa’s question above to try to win a copy of her book! Don’t forget to include your email address.

Congratulations to our new winner west of the rockies in the good old USA...Casey Herringshaw!  How exciting to share a great book with you. Be watching for it soon. 

8 comments:

  1. Australia!!! Seems so different from MN. Cool accents.
    wsmarple/at/gmail/dot/com

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  2. Answering Lisa Harris' question. If I could travel anywhere it would be to Mozambique, Africa. The reason being to visit my daughter and family and see firsthand how their daily lives are and maybe help her home school my grandchildren. Ermalee Ort e-mail is e.ort@cox.netsoionte

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  3. Ahh...thanks Mom. :-) And Wendy, I'd love to visit Australia as well. Some day!

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  4. Answering Lisa's question: Sorry, can't take the question to win the book because of what ErmaLee said. She has EARNED it as Lisa's mom!

    However, I would love to visit where the real people live, in Russia. I'm sure it's quite different than Idaho, USA.

    AleneKnox@msn.com

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  5. Dear Lisa, bless your heart for having the courage to write about such heavy issues. I pray that the Lord will richly bless you for your compassion. Best of luck with your book.
    Debby Lee

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  6. Where would I like to travel? that is something my husband and I do a lot when we can. I think I would like to visit Italy. Maybe because of the history I would grasp from being there. thanks for some great insite on your interview.
    Janice Ian
    jian@aol.com

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  7. I would travel to Virginia in the fall because of the beauty and history and I would go to the Smithsonian in Washington, again because of the history. :) If I were to travel outside the U.S., it would be Ireland. I think it is so pretty.

    Would love to read this book!

    Email in profile. :)

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  8. I would love to travel to Ireland and just see all the beauty there that God has created. I'd also like to see alot of other countries, but Ireland would be first. I enjoyed the interview and would love to be entered for the giveaway...Lisa's book sounds really good. Thank you!

    Blessings,
    Sandee61

    Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com

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