 WELCOME KD HARP author of: WHITE LIES | |
I see your newest book, White Lies, addresses violence against women.
Keep in mind WHITE LIES is a romantic suspense and not women’s lit, so the focus must be entertainment and adventure, not statistics and coping strategies for real-life victims. The protagonist Alexandra makes lemonade of lemons whenever she can, so it’s a natural for her to exploit the media hoopla over her trial prosecuting her assailant from BLACKMAIL (the first book in the series) to promote awareness of domestic violence. The decision to take the reader into Wallace’s boudoir and attempt to let them feel some of Alexandra’s terror was difficult. It’s not for the faint of heart. I still get uncomfortable reading this passage, even though I know Alexandra’s a sharp cookie who fends for
herself, and Adam and Brett are moving heaven and earth to come to her aid.
Alexandra’s fear is pure fiction. If reading it makes us uncomfortable, just imagine living the nightmare of true domestic violence. In real life, too many women and youth are preyed upon with malice and no hope of rescue. It is always my goal to entertain, but my hope with this story goes beyond a fun read, and with that in mind, I listed some of the more useful resources for women in abusive relationship at the end of WHITE LIES. If it helps a reader help themselves, or someone else, then my discomfort is well worth it.
Keep in mind WHITE LIES is a romantic suspense and not women’s lit, so the focus must be entertainment and adventure, not statistics and coping strategies for real-life victims. The protagonist Alexandra makes lemonade of lemons whenever she can, so it’s a natural for her to exploit the media hoopla over her trial prosecuting her assailant from BLACKMAIL (the first book in the series) to promote awareness of domestic violence. The decision to take the reader into Wallace’s boudoir and attempt to let them feel some of Alexandra’s terror was difficult. It’s not for the faint of heart. I still get uncomfortable reading this passage, even though I know Alexandra’s a sharp cookie who fends for
herself, and Adam and Brett are moving heaven and earth to come to her aid.
Alexandra’s fear is pure fiction. If reading it makes us uncomfortable, just imagine living the nightmare of true domestic violence. In real life, too many women and youth are preyed upon with malice and no hope of rescue. It is always my goal to entertain, but my hope with this story goes beyond a fun read, and with that in mind, I listed some of the more useful resources for women in abusive relationship at the end of WHITE LIES. If it helps a reader help themselves, or someone else, then my discomfort is well worth it.
Who are the heroes in your book (no spoilers please)?
WHITE LIES has been the weirdest and most fun journey, the most realistic piece I’ve written (or encountered) for some time, because everyone, heroes, heroine, supporting players, villains, has something greater than themselves driving them. There’s a streak of hero in the entire cast even though the actions they take appear otherwise. (Well, maybe except the dog. He’s a little too happy-go-lucky to be a hero.) Oh man, there’s SOOOOoo much more I’d like to say, but we’re too close to the spoiler limit already.
Will we be surprised by the outcome?
Oh yeah. All of us readers like to predict what’s coming, but where’s the real fun in knowing the end? Any good author better be able to surprise in the end.
It’s encouraging to end every edit cycle of WHITE LIES smiling. (This close to publication, I’ve dealt with these people SO many times, they’d BETTER be entertaining!)
White Lies is an award finalist? That’s quite an honor.
Yes it is. Very exciting and humbling all at once and a huge help to me. Snaring Fourth in the Hook, Line, & Sinker! Contest, a nationwide competition juried by total strangers, was exactly the objective support this author needed.
What drives you to write and what preparations or quirks do you practice to inspire you or give you a comfortable writing environment?
Work environment, shmerk environment. I’ve written on the beach, at the kid’s orthodontist’s, bedside while attending dying parents, in the park, at home. Life goes on. If you’re serious about your craft, the work has to find a way to fit.
It’s imperative to maintain as a high a standard as possible; to create entertaining yet realistic characters, intelligent ones with multiple facets to their personalities, in feasible but unusual situations, with heart-wrenching stakes and courageous, smart, surprising solutions. For a reader to care about and possibly embrace the characters’ values, they have to respect and care about them. The story must be human, funny, thought-provoking, and something to be unhesitatingly shared with someone who may never have seen the world through Faith’s lens. My goal is deliver all of that and more.
WHITE LIES has been the weirdest and most fun journey, the most realistic piece I’ve written (or encountered) for some time, because everyone, heroes, heroine, supporting players, villains, has something greater than themselves driving them. There’s a streak of hero in the entire cast even though the actions they take appear otherwise. (Well, maybe except the dog. He’s a little too happy-go-lucky to be a hero.) Oh man, there’s SOOOOoo much more I’d like to say, but we’re too close to the spoiler limit already.
Will we be surprised by the outcome?
Oh yeah. All of us readers like to predict what’s coming, but where’s the real fun in knowing the end? Any good author better be able to surprise in the end.
It’s encouraging to end every edit cycle of WHITE LIES smiling. (This close to publication, I’ve dealt with these people SO many times, they’d BETTER be entertaining!)
White Lies is an award finalist? That’s quite an honor.
Yes it is. Very exciting and humbling all at once and a huge help to me. Snaring Fourth in the Hook, Line, & Sinker! Contest, a nationwide competition juried by total strangers, was exactly the objective support this author needed.
What drives you to write and what preparations or quirks do you practice to inspire you or give you a comfortable writing environment?
Work environment, shmerk environment. I’ve written on the beach, at the kid’s orthodontist’s, bedside while attending dying parents, in the park, at home. Life goes on. If you’re serious about your craft, the work has to find a way to fit.
It’s imperative to maintain as a high a standard as possible; to create entertaining yet realistic characters, intelligent ones with multiple facets to their personalities, in feasible but unusual situations, with heart-wrenching stakes and courageous, smart, surprising solutions. For a reader to care about and possibly embrace the characters’ values, they have to respect and care about them. The story must be human, funny, thought-provoking, and something to be unhesitatingly shared with someone who may never have seen the world through Faith’s lens. My goal is deliver all of that and more.
What’s the funniest or strangest thing that has happened to you as an author?
I took a Citizen’s Police Academy course and made the mistake of telling the instructor I was nervous about an exercise where we play “cop” to cops playing “citizens” during a traffic stop. He gets an evil grin and goes off to confer with his buddies.
The night’s not going well for the “cops”. Our score’s zilch and we’re entertaining our hosts. My partner’s game to let me drive the patrol car and we’re soon in hot pursuit of certain felons who refuse to respond to our sirens or PA commands. They finally stop for our flashing blues, and after ignoring several more instructions, our “perp” reveals he’s “deaf”. The observing cops have a field day with this until I lift my hand and start finger spelling instructions. Smirk vanished, our perp can’t believe I can sign. I can (enough for this) and if he can’t, he’s faking being deaf and under arrest.
Unfortunately the cops nearby are too busy busting a gut laughing at him to help me haul him jail ...but we’ll get ‘em
next time, Danno.
(The full account of My Night At the Academy is here under Shorts.)
Where can we find your books and what’s next in the series?
Just as in real life, you may find language that could be offensive to some readers.
The books are available worldwide in multiple formats and can be ordered through any major book retailer.
The easiest way to find them is to visit http://www.kdharpbooks.com, where you’ll find descriptions, samples, and
hyperlinks for purchase.
Also links to GoodReads, to K.D. Harp, Author on Facebook, to Amazon Author Central, an e-mail list, and basically more than my own dog wants to know about me.
I’m an equal opportunity character torturer, so it’s Adam’s turn to need Alexandra’s help again, if Brett lets him anywhere near her. Tentatively titled WILD BLUE (third in the series) is in its infancy and needs any prayer you can spare. Since I’m already asking for favors, every author needs any good review they earn. This is an incredibly tough industry. If you enjoy a book, anyone’s book, try to send them props.
Thanks so much for sharing time with me.
May all your reads be great ones!
I took a Citizen’s Police Academy course and made the mistake of telling the instructor I was nervous about an exercise where we play “cop” to cops playing “citizens” during a traffic stop. He gets an evil grin and goes off to confer with his buddies.
The night’s not going well for the “cops”. Our score’s zilch and we’re entertaining our hosts. My partner’s game to let me drive the patrol car and we’re soon in hot pursuit of certain felons who refuse to respond to our sirens or PA commands. They finally stop for our flashing blues, and after ignoring several more instructions, our “perp” reveals he’s “deaf”. The observing cops have a field day with this until I lift my hand and start finger spelling instructions. Smirk vanished, our perp can’t believe I can sign. I can (enough for this) and if he can’t, he’s faking being deaf and under arrest.
Unfortunately the cops nearby are too busy busting a gut laughing at him to help me haul him jail ...but we’ll get ‘em
next time, Danno.
(The full account of My Night At the Academy is here under Shorts.)
Where can we find your books and what’s next in the series?
Just as in real life, you may find language that could be offensive to some readers.
The books are available worldwide in multiple formats and can be ordered through any major book retailer.
The easiest way to find them is to visit http://www.kdharpbooks.com, where you’ll find descriptions, samples, and
hyperlinks for purchase.
Also links to GoodReads, to K.D. Harp, Author on Facebook, to Amazon Author Central, an e-mail list, and basically more than my own dog wants to know about me.
I’m an equal opportunity character torturer, so it’s Adam’s turn to need Alexandra’s help again, if Brett lets him anywhere near her. Tentatively titled WILD BLUE (third in the series) is in its infancy and needs any prayer you can spare. Since I’m already asking for favors, every author needs any good review they earn. This is an incredibly tough industry. If you enjoy a book, anyone’s book, try to send them props.
Thanks so much for sharing time with me.
May all your reads be great ones!
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