Monday, February 27, 2017

Researching Desert Secrets + a Giveaway






If you love romantic suspense, I wanted to give you a heads up about my latest Love Inspired Suspense novel set in the Saharak and Morocco. This book was so fun to write, mostly I believe, because the setting was so fascinating.





Since I've never been to North Africa, I spent a lot of time doing research on this unique part of the world. The Sahara is an incredible place for people who love the beauty of nature with a hint of adventure. Think camel treks, a star-studded sky, sand dunes, and kasbahs--old fortified Moroccans homes with long narrow passages and secret rooms.

While researching, I discovered a ton of interesting facts.


  • The Sahara is the largest hot desert, and the third largest desert. 


  • It's about the size of the United States, 3,600,000 share miles.


  • The temperature can get extremely hot, but in the winter, the temperature in certain parts can also drop below freezing.


  • What about camels? Camels really don’t store water the way most people think. Their humps are actually made of fat, allowing them to keep their body temperature down. And they have three eyelids!

Night sky

  • The milky sap of the desert plant called the Alkhad can be used to treat a scorpion sting.


  • There are also heavily-armed drug convoys that make their way through the desert's vast expanse, often laying landmines out to stop the authorities.


  • Holding people for ransom--like in the story--has become a global business. In 2013 alone, $66 million dollars were paid out, primarily by European governments. 


Here's a blurb about Desert Secrets from the back of the book.

"When aid worker Lexi Shannon is abducted at gunpoint in Mali, she quickly learns her kidnappers are really after her brother—and the money he's stolen. Landing at the secluded desert compound, ex-military pilot Colton Landry has a clear mission: rescue his brother-in-law, who's being held for ransom. But after discovering the kidnappers also have Lexi, there's no way he's leaving her behind. Their daring escape soon turns into a deadly chase when their plane is shot down, stranding them in the desert. Making a desperate run for the Moroccan border, Lexi and Colton must trust each other and rely on their strength and ingenuity to survive. But it may not be enough to outrun and outsmart their relentless pursuers…"

 



To win a digital copy of Desert Secrets, leave a comment below with a way for me to contact you. I will draw one winner on March 3rd.

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.

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LISA HARRIS is a Christy Award finalist for Blood Ransom and Vendetta, Christy Award winner for Dangerous Passage, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 (Blood Covenant) and 2015 (Vendetta) from Romantic Times. She has over thirty novels and novella collections in print. She and her family have spent over thirteen years working as missionaries in Africa. When she's not working she loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography, and heading into the African bush on safari. For more information about her books and life in Africa visit her website

22 comments:

  1. Yay! Congratulations once again, Lisa, on your new release. And love learning some of these facts about the Sahara. I grabbed a copy off iTunes last week and am keen to dive in. I expect I'll picture Matthew McConaghy for your hero Colton as, like you, so enjoyed "Sahara", the movie.

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  2. Thanks so much Ian! I don't know about you, but I love research. . .sometimes too much! :-) Happy reading!

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    1. Yes ... I tend to over research as I have so much fun.

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  3. I always enjoy your books, Lisa... looking forward to reading this one also!

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    1. Thanks so much, Susanne, and thanks for stopping by!

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  4. It's definitely a place that showcases the magnitude of God's creation.

    As of visiting? I've actually thought a lot about that because the location really intrigues me, but honestly a lot of the area seems too dangerous for me!

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  5. Oh so cool! Definitely can't wait to get my hands on your new novel.

    smbindia1day(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Yeah! Love hearing that, s.m.b. Thanks for stopping by!!

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  6. This sounds great!

    The only part of Africa I've visited is Egypt and the Sinai. Great sights, but it was good to get home, to get out of the heat.

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    1. I'd actually love to visit Egypt, Iola, but I agree that I wouldn't mind missing the heat!

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  7. Hi Lisa! Fascinating facts about the Sahara desert, I did not realize it was about as big as the US. WOW, that amazes me! As far as camels having three eyelids, that would make sense to me since they are around sand they can keep it from getting into their eyes. Kind of like reptiles, sharks and some other animals of the sort. That's cool! Also neat is the plant that helps treat scorpion stings, it's like God designed it that way ;-)
    Wonderful and educational post, I learned quite a few new things! Thank you so much for the book giveaway too, your newest LIS sounds great. Congrats!

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, Trixi. I definitely enjoyed the research too!

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  8. This sounds like a great read. I have never been out of the U.S.
    CherylB1987 AT hotmail DOT com

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    1. That's the great things about books, Cheryl. You can 'visit' without ever leaving your house!

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  9. Can't wait to read this, Lisa. Fascinating facts about the Sahara. Like you, I love research and often spend valuable writing time absorbing facts that I won't be able to use! In my current WIP, I'm researching the journey across another desert by the Children of Israel. The facts I've discovered about the Red Sea are so thrilling! What an amazing world we live in. Isn't God so clever! :-)

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    1. Sounds so interesting, Shirl! And yes, I'm constantly amazed by the complexity of God's creation!

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  10. this sounds interesting I have not been outside United States. Thankyou, Ken pohl19@comcast.net

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    1. Books will take you anywhere, Ken! Thanks for stopping by!!

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  11. Wow! Sounds exciting. And what a setting. I would love to win a copy. leannehardy at gmail dot com

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    1. Great to see you here, LeAnne! Thanks for stopping by!!

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  12. Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by and commented! I'm a bit late drawing my winner as I'm traveling, but congrats to Cheryl for winning a copy of Desert Secrets! Watch for my email!

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