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| Lady Harris, Author IDENTITY THEFT |
Author Sharea “Lady” Harris uses the misfortune of having had her
identity stolen to bring us her newest novel IDENTITY THEFT—“ a drama, with a pinch of comedy and suspense.”
The prolific Lady Harris also has written and produced plays; written and published
two poetry collections; written a screen play; and plans to release her third
book next year.
When she’s not writing or producing plays, her favorite past time is
to go to the beach with her husband and two girls.
Don’t miss the excerpt following her interview.
Q: You are an author of novels, poetry, and plays and also a
producer and director of plays. What led you to write your latest novel IDENTITY THEFT?
Lady Harris:
IDENTITY THEFT was inspired by a personal experience: my Identity was stolen
recently. I have found it easier to cope with certain situations in life by
writing them down and creating your own ending. You will find in the book how I
used a comedic edge.
Q: Would you characterize IDENTITY THEFT as a thriller? Why? What
makes it a thriller?
Lady Harris: I would
characterize it as a drama, with a pinch of comedy and suspense. Mostly because
"Island," doesn't catch wind that her identity has been stolen until
it’s too late and she's fighting to get her life back.
Q: Did you write IDENTITY THEFT primarily to entertain? Or did you have
a message you wanted to deliver? Did you want to influence or educate? Are
there lessons to be learned from your book about the topic?
Lady Harris:
IDENTITY THEFT was written as a release for me and to raise awareness. There
are many people who have had their identity stolen in a variety of ways...
wether it be credit cards, bank fraud, filing taxes and receiving refunds or
even as small as stolen ID's and impersonation.
Q: How do you introduce and develop your characters to make your
readers care about them?
Lady Harris: I introduce my characters with description and situations; their
past lives and mannerisms build their personalities throughout the story.
Q: What makes a hero? What makes a villain? Does IDENTITY THEFT have
heroes and villains?
Lady Harris: A hero, against all odds accomplishes his goal of saving someone, or
something in a story. A villain goes against the grain; the fighter for evil...
depending on the situation. In IDENTITY THEFT "April," would be the
villain, the theft. Island would be the hero.
Q: How important is setting to telling the story? Could you have
located the novel in any place at any time?
Lady Harris: Setting is everything in any story, it creates the atmosphere or
tone of the story. If it were to storm at a football game the story would
change, the field would be slippery. In IDENTITY THEFT the setting created the
situation...in any other setting Island may have been safe from theft.
Conscious to her surroundings and not so careless.
Q: How do you make your story credible? Did you do research on
identify theft? Do you have experience with it? Do you know someone either
guilty of it or a victim of it?
Lady Harris: My credibility for IDENTITY THEFT is from personal experience. It
took me two long years to get my life back and to prove I am...Me.
Q: What’s next? More novels? Plays?
Lady Harris: I just sent my third novel "Office
Secrets" to editing hoping to release it early next year. I will also
be producing my original play Confrontation
with a new cast for a three-city tour Spring of 2014.
Q: Do you have plans for releasing IDENTIFY THEFT in e-book
format? What do you think about e-books?
Lady Harris: With my publisher Publish America, I have to wait a couple months
for the E-book version. E-books are great for the new school, lol but I prefer
to sit in a hot tub with my paperback, with my kindle I would be afraid of the
steam destroying it or carelessly dropping it in the water.
Q: Tell us something about you. What do you like to do when
you’re not writing, producing, or directing?
Lady Harris: When I am not indulged in my crafts, I absolutely love the beach
with the family—my husband and two girls. The get away is relaxing and
satisfying.
About Sharea “Lady” Harris
Sharea “Lady” Harris was raised
in Buffalo, NY where she was introduced to poetry, arts and writing; and now
resides in Charlotte, NC. She began writing her first novel “Betrayal” at
the age of 19 and published it in 2010; since then she has published two poetry
collections, and has just released her next novel entitled IDENTITY THEFT. She believes in variety and diversity, and you can see this in
her works. She never bores with the same subject but challenges her talent and
reaches higher with each idea. She is now putting the finishing touches of her
first Erotica collection of short stories entitled “Office
Secrets”.
Since her move to
Charlotte she has expanded her talents in visual and performing arts. Producing
her first stage play at the African American Cultural Center in 2004 “Confrontation”,
and went on to produce her second stage play “Games” in 2012.
Between writing and putting on stage plays Sharea has also produced poetry
contests, MC Battles, and her live sketch comedy series entitled “Skitz,” at
venues in Charlotte and Monroe, NC including but not limited to “The
Neighborhood Theater”, The CAST Theater; The Rendezvous Lounge, Upscale Lounge,
and The Venue.
Sharea continues to write
research and explore new ideas to further her writing career. She has completed
her first screen play entitled “What You Don’t Know,” and plans to shoot it in
the near future adding another notch to her belt.
About IDENTITY THEFT
She lurks behind smiles and friendly gestures,
seeking angles and loop holes. She's clothed in insecurities and misery; but
you'd never suspect a thing. She's intentionally watching your every move. She
knows you better than you think. While she laughs with you she jots down
everything; with her photographic memory. She slides right between
conversations baiting, faking and gaining access to all aspects of your life.
She is plotting, watching, learning and becoming. Soon you'll see when someone
steals your IDENTITY.
Excerpt
INTRODUCTION
She
undresses and walks towards the shower, physically and mentally exhausted. She
reaches down and turns both knobs hot and cold the same way, with the exact
same degree of turn. The lavender scent from the fresh towels relaxes and
soothes her while she waves her hand under the shower head from left to right, testing it until the water feels just right. She
shakes the water off her hands pulls her shirt over her head and steps in the
shower. The day washes away as the pressure from the water, like a million
hands, beating and thumping at her tired frame. Standing there, she conjures up
her next plan; she wonders what the game will be this time around. She
finishes up and steps out of the shower, releasing a cloud of steams into the
tiny hotel bathroom. Then she wraps the large white towel around her dripping
wet body. She taps her face with the white towel and tucks it under her arm,
making sure that it’s secure; then grabs the soapbox from off the sink area,
opens it and lets the small box of soap slide into her hand. She turns on the
water and rubs her hands quickly together. Once the lather builds, she drops
the soap and washes her face. It was the same routine in every new
city.
She
finishes her ritual and stares at her reflection in the half steamed mirror.
She smirks, letting out a whimper of a sigh. “Time is money”, she states as if
she was not the only one in the room. She learned to talk to herself years ago,
as she could only really trust three people. She stood by the quote, “Me, myself,
and I”, and she used it often. Looking at the bags she so messily left thrown
across the bed. She sighs again and continues towards the bed. As she
straightens up, she rips off the airways tags that revealed the location of her
last life.
I
won’t need these anymore. She tosses them onto the bed and opens each bag.
There were three bags total, not including her pocketbook. She begins to
fumble through their contents. She searched for about five minutes before
finally coming across a fully packed, old wallet. She exhales and kisses the
large black leather wallet, they had been together for so long. She flops down
onto the bed with ease, her feet lifting slightly off of the floor while her
body bounced twice from impact on the pre-made hotel bed.
She
opens her wallet and flips through its contents. There are so many different
possibilities, sizes, names, and ethnicities. Who will it be this time? Who
deserves a role in her evanesce life? She crosses her legs, becoming frustrated
with the thought of becoming someone else all over again. This game was
becoming increasingly old. What she needed was a retirement plan. One big shot
to live and never have to leave again. These were her thoughts, but she knew
that day would never come. That day was just a fantasy in her world.
This
was her life, her life for so long. She created rules along the way from
mistakes. Rule one you should never leave money in a hotel room after a job.
Never get caught with more than one ID on the street; work alone, and last but
not least never get too close to them, make the mark your friend but never ever
catch feelings for a mark.
“Let’s
see here, hum.” She pulls out three choices, folds the wallet back up, and
places it safely beside her. She spreads the three driver’s licenses in
her right hand as if she was playing spades and really needed these last books
to win. She stares at the ID’s, tilting her head back and forth, slowly
analyzing her next identity. Pulling the center card out and sitting the other
two cards down, she continues to stare with a sneaky smirk on her face.
“Tajanae’ Winters’ it is.” She stands up and holds her hand out as if to give
her ID to a greeter. “I’m Tajanae’ Winters. I am here to visit some guests.”
She pauses, and moves her hair around while staring in the mirror over the
desk. “I could easily be a Tajanae’. My friends could call me Taj.” Smiling,
she turns her attention back to her luggage. “Now what would Taj want to wear
today?”
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