Lisa’s new romantic suspense, Stolen Identity, is out this month. Here’s what the publisher says about it: Danielle Corbit doesn't understand why someone would want to steal her identity. A single mother running a small business—nothing special, right? But after discovering a dead body on the Oregon coastline, she's attacked by a dangerous hacker who will stop at nothing to frame her. Only her former fiancé, Jason Ryan, is willing to help. Years ago she broke his heart, but he can't walk away from a woman in need. He'll do anything to protect her from their unseen adversary. But is there enough time to work together and untangle this twisted web of fraud and deception?
LeAnne Hardy: My eighty-seven-year-old mother-in-law had her identity stolen this spring. Someone tried opening a dozen credit card accounts in her name using various family phone numbers and addresses. He even knew what kind of car my mother-in-law drives. So how did a stranger get all that information? It’s scary to think that the scenario of Stolen Identity is not all that far fetched! Lisa, what made you think of turning identity theft into a thriller?
LeAnne: You live in Africa near the Indian Ocean, and some of your books have been set there. Others are set in North America where you grew up. Are there common themes that run through your books regardless of setting?
Lisa: One, I like to take a real-world situation, like identity theft, or human trafficking, or refuge camps, and use those issues as the backdrop for my story. These are real issues, but they are also the perfect setting for ordinary people to face tremendous odds and have their faith challenged. On a spiritual level, I want to then use this situation to show how even when life is spinning out of control, our only hope can still be found in our heavenly Father.
Lisa: I think having faced some difficult issues in my own life, like infertility and a miscarriage, helps me be able to relate to some of the emotions of my characters. I know what it is like to love, and to lose, and yes, even to question God. While I always want the spiritual thread in my stories to be natural and not forced, it is very important to me to have my characters grow or be challenged in their faith. I often find that my character's spiritual struggles and growth mirror my own.
LeAnne: You and your husband are church-planting missionaries. Your blog and website describe some of the major projects you are involved in. You’re also a homemaker (in a challenging environment!) and school your own kids. How do you find the time to write?
Honestly, it's not always easy. I am blessed because my family is very supportive, and help out whenever I'm on a tight deadline. My twelve-year-old has even been known to cook dinner for us to help out in a pinch--there is no fast food where we live--but I also strive to put my family and our ministry first, which means I have to be careful and realistic with my writing schedule. I also know how fast these years with my children slip away, and I don't want to sacrifice them for a career. So the balance isn't always easy, but I'm always trying to adjust and be better organized--aren't we all?--and enjoy life as much as possible.
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