Thursday, August 03, 2017

GHOST HEART - Lisa Harris and Lynne Gentry - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I have been eagerly awaiting this day. Both Lisa and Lynne have been dear friends of mine for years. I’ve been privileged by God to help each of them along their writing journey, and both of them have an amazing writing voice. Together, they’re more powerful. I’ve known about this book for a long time, and I knew it would have to be published someday. That day is here.

Welcome, Lisa and Lynne. How did this book come about?      
LYNNE: Just over a decade ago, a newspaper article featured a picture of a terrified albino. The fear in his pale eyes caught my attention. As I read about the horrors these fragile people faced in Africa, I couldn’t believe such evil existed in the world. I contacted Lisa, who lives in Mozambique, and asked her to investigate.

LISA: Until Lynne wrote to me about the article, I’d never heard of these barbaric crimes. But after doing some further research, I discovered that the atrocities against albinos had been going on for years. Once we learned that the witch doctors targeted the pale skin and hair of this minority to make good luck charms and potions, we knew we had to tell their story.

Tell us about the book’s cover and what makes it unique.
We were looking for something that conveyed both the medical aspects of the story and its African setting. The heartbeat and the baobab tree ended up being the perfect combination as well as setting the tone we were looking for. And when you read the book, they will become even more significant.

Please explain and differentiate between what’s fact and fiction in the book.
While the actual story line is complete fiction, the things that happen in this story could happen. Albinos really are hunted for the “magic” in their skin. There really is a black market for organ parts. People really do go to third world countries for transplants when they are out of options. We took these facts, then weaved them into a medical thriller.

How much research did you have to do for this book?
There was a long list of topics we had to delve into and study: Albinism. The transplant tourism trade. Heart conditions. Pharmaceutical testing. Piloting small planes. Organ transplants/rejections. American Embassy procedures in an African country.

Neither of us were experts on any of this so we spent hours tracking down people who were. It helped tremendously that Lisa lives in Africa. Her experiences in a third-world country lend a tremendous amount of authenticity to the project.

What are some of the most interesting things you found about this subject that you weren’t able to use in the story?
While we didn’t shy away from our depiction of the gruesome treatment of albinos, we spared our readers tons of the terrible details we read on the subject. The power of superstition is strong. Only the power of truth is stronger. 

What inspired and surprised you while you were writing the book?
We believe that beneath the color of our skin we are all alike, but this belief was tested when we had to write from the POV of a terrified mother of a cursed child. What surprised us was how much she was willing to do to save her child. This realization really drove home the platitude we spouted so easily and opened our eyes to the fact that you really can’t know how another person is thinking or feeling if you’re not willing to wear their skin, so to speak.

What do you hope the reader takes away from the story?
Because while we live in a fallen world, we believe it is possible to bring light into the darkness. The journey of these characters challenged us, comforted us, and pushed us to live life more courageously. But most of all, writing this story opened our hearts to wanting to do our part to create a world that loves no matter what the color of our skin, education, financial status, or nationality. And reminded us that God's light truly does shine, even in the darkest places. We pray this story will do the same for each person who reads it.

What is the next project you’re working on?
LYNNE: I’m finishing up the last book in my Mt. Hope Southern Adventures series. This romantic comedy (Baby Shoes) wraps up (for now) the quirky life of Leona Harper. After that, I’m doing edits on a Young Adult sci-fi I can’t wait to release.

LISA: I’m currently working on two novels. A Love Inspired Suspense set in Rio and the Amazon, and a new stand-alone suspense novel for Revell. Both will be released next year.

What do you do when you have to get away from the story for a while?
LYNNE: I have several diversions – four grands under the age of four that I love spending time with. I’ve also trained a medical therapy dog that I love to take to visit the cancer wards at a major medical center.

LISA: I love hanging out with my family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography, and heading into the African bush on safari.

That sounds like fun. Please give us the first page of the book.
Makuru, Tanzania
According to legend, their kind could never die. When they grew old, they simply vanished from this world, like smoke from the cooking fire that snakes above the spindly baobab trees and slithers away.

But not all legends are true.

Or so Jeme prayed.

Squinting through the shimmering rays of the grueling African sun, Jeme balanced the bowl of dried beans on her head and pressed through the crowded marketplace. A maze of narrow paths twisted around her, each lined with dozens of sellers who sat in cramped wooden shops displaying wares on rickety tables.

The smell of curried meat roasting on the grills mingled with the pungent odor of dried fish baking in the late afternoon heat. Jeme’s empty stomach roiled as she hurried past piles of tomatoes, peppers, oranges, and colorful bags of spices. If only she could escape the whispers competing with the buzz of the buyers and sellers. Whispers that spoke of the magical powers of albino blood spilled across the brown earth, and of potions that could bring untold wealth.

I’m very eager to read the rest of the book. I’ve only heard the half that Lynne wrote. How can readers find you on the Internet?
LYNNE: I love hearing from readers.

LISA:

Thank you so much for letting us stop by!!

Oh, girls. I’m so blessed knowing both of you, and it’s a privilege to promote your books. I know my readers will be as eager as I am to read the book.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Ghost Heart: A Medical Thriller Ghost Heart: A Medical Thriller

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

23 comments:

Melanie Backus said...

I would love this book, for sure! It sounds like a must read!

Melanie Backus, TX

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a great book! Shelia Hall sheliarha64@yahoo.com

Elly said...

Looking forward to this!
Elly -Indiana-

Lisa Harris said...

Thank you Lena, for your sweet words of encouragement and for letting us stop by and share about Ghost Heart! And thanks to all of you who've stopped by and left a comment so far! We are super excited about this story!

Unknown said...

Thank you gor sharing a little about yourself and this book with us! I would love to read this! Westlake, Louisiana

Raechel said...

Very interesting and good interview! Thank you for this giveaway - I very much would like to read this one!
Raechel in MN

Lynne Gentry said...

Lena, you have always been such an encouragement to writers and I have been one of those writers who have benefited from your generous mentoring. Thanks for showcasing this book. We can't wait to get it into the hands of many readers.

Anonymous said...

I would love to win this book.The storyline intrigues me.
Connie L. in Texas

Lena Nelson Dooley said...

I don't usually post on the interviews, but I love both of these women so much. And this tory truly is a must-read book. If I could afford it, I'd buy each of you commenters one.

Winnie said...

This book sounds absolutely fascinating. Thanks for the interview and the chance to win a copy.
Winnie T from Utah

Unknown said...

This sounds like such an interesting and important book. Thank you for the chance to win.

Lisa Harris said...

Thanks so much to all who has stopped by, and Lena, for your precious words! Like Lynne said, I was so blessed to have you for my first mentor. You taught me so much and I'm truly grateful. And as you know, this book has been a long time in coming and definitely one of those stories from the heart.

Bonnie Engstrom said...

I am especially interested in reading this book because in the latest story in my series (not titled, not published yet) a mixed race couple has twins of different skin tones. I would love to win this book!

Bonnie Engstrom
Arizona

Connie Porter Saunders said...

This sounds wonderful and Lena's endorsement in the comments just make it a must-read for me! Thanks for this giveaway!
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

Britney Adams said...

A must-read, indeed!

Britney Adams, TX

Becky said...

Sounds good! I've read one of Lisa's books, and will definitely read more. Enjoyed this interview.

Dianna said...

I saw this book on a different blog, too. I think it's a story I'd love to read!
Dianna in TN

Caryl Kane said...

I'm excited to read Ghost Heart! I love Lynne's stories. I've not yet read Lisa's.

Caryl K in TEXAS

Lisa Harris said...

Enjoying reading through your comments. Thanks so much to all of you who have stopped by!!

Sharon Richmond Bryant said...

Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway SC.

Paula Shreckhise said...

Always love Lisa. Am anxious to read this . thank for the chance to win! Paula from MO.

Beth Gillihan said...

Sounds like an interesting book. It is going on my wish list. Thanks for a great interview and chance to win!

Beth in Montana

Lourdes said...

Looking forward to reading this of course I love reading Lisa's books thanks for the giveaway.

Lourdes Long Island, NY