Meet K.D Harris (Wilmington, Delaware)

K.D Harris is a three time Delaware Black Author of the Year nominee and award winning recipient of DJ Gatsby’s Book Club Awards, Author of the Year category. She was raised in a diverse community (Brookmont Farms) located in Bear, Delaware. She gives credit to the adventures she encountered in BMF, as she calls it developed her peculiar knack of storytelling. K.D signed a deal with The Cartel Publications in 2007 which produced the bestselling Poison Series, a factual fiction novel.

In 2011 K.D signed a deal and teamed up with La' Femme Fatale' publishing and produced the Bliss and Playground Trilogies and The Other Side thus far.

K.D describes her writing as Factual Fiction because she has a knack for producing story lines that relate to real life situations. She believes in airing out the “dirty laundry” so to speak.

In Early 2012 she started her Factual Fiction with K.D Harris, a Blog Talk Radio show. K.D understands that marketing is important in the literary business. Factual Fiction is her way of providing authors with a marketing tool that will get them exposure.

KD’s titles include:

 

Playground 3

The Other Side

Bliss 3

Playground 2

Playground

Bliss 2

Bliss

Poison 2

Poison

About “The Other Side”

Kameera Oliver’s fairy tale life comes to a halt when her parents are gunned down in cold blood. Twelve year old Kameera is uprooted from the suburbs and forced to live in the pits of Castle Bridge Projects with her prostitute aunt Yazz. Determined to make it out of the hood, after graduation she enrolls in a nursing program and gets a job. After a horrible car accident, she finds herself strung out on pain meds and low on cash. Desperate for money to feed her addiction, she teams up with Yazz and hits the strip of the notorious Cash Avenue. Nicole “Nikki” Felton is looking for love in all the wrong places. Nikki aka the Kim K of South Bridge Projects goes all out when the love of her life, Milk, leaves her to be with Kameera. Unable to understand why he would leave his family to turn a Ho into a housewife, she makes a vow to make Kameera’s life a living hell. In the midst of it all she ends up getting herself caught it in situations that become fatal…

UBAWA: When did you first decide you wanted to become an author?

KD: I have always been a reader; writing was not in my career path. In 2007, I was writing short stories on a website for fun. I received great feedback. I continued to add to the story at the readers’ request. Three weeks passed and I had completed Eccentric Bliss, better known as Bliss. One of the readers told me to remove it because I had a full manuscript. She believed I should shop it. I pulled the book and let friends and family read it and they loved it. That's when I took interest in becoming an author.

UBAWA: How did you decide on the idea for your 1st book? 2nd book? 3rd book, etc?

KD: Poison was somewhat based on experience. That particular book told the story of the people in my neighborhood. It was fictionalized to an extent; I don't want any lawsuits.

Bliss came off the top of my head. It was pure fantasy.

Playground is based off a real club in Philly and somewhat of a memoir for Model Bubbles, my co-author.

UBAWA: How long did it take you to complete your first book? What was the process like?

KD: Bliss 3 weeks. Once I start writing I’m in a zone. No process, just writing.

UBAWA: What’s so rewarding about writing books and being an author?

KD: My reward is seeing other people excited about my work; I love to entertain.

Writing is a release for me; even if I wasn't signed, I would write.

UBAWA: Was there ever a time you felt like giving up?

KD: Of course, this publishing world can be brutal. I wanted to walk away several times. As I stated before I will NEVER stop writing.

UBAWA: There’s more to being an author than writing a book. How do you manage to handle the business side of things?

KD: I'm still learning. It's so much. Marketing and branding are key as this industry continues to change; you have to stay ten steps ahead. Sometimes I feel as if I am still in school with all the research that is required.

UBAWA: Do you have an editor or do you edit your own books?

KD: The publishing house has an editor.

UBAWA: Who does the cover art for your book(s)?

KD: Davida Baldwin did Poison

Marion Designs did Bliss Trilogy

Playground Trilogy was designed by Dashawn Taylor

The Other Side was an in house designer

UBAWA: Do you ever encounter writer’s block? How do you get past it?

KD: No, thank God.

UBAWA: How often do you write?

KD: I write daily. I don't care if it's five hundred words of nothing. I write.

UBAWA: Tell us about your last book signing.

KD: My last signing was with my label mate Lady K at Horizon Books in Philadelphia. It was awesome.

UBAWA: Beside social media, what other methods are you using to get the word out about your book(s)?

KD: Word of mouth, the libraries, flyers, radio, local events.

UBAWA: As a Woman of Color, what inspires you the most?

KD: The thought of someone actually being transformed by my stories. There is a thought provoking message in every book I write.

UBAWA: Who is your biggest influence?

KD: My children. I do this for them.

UBAWA: Have you ever done something in the past you regret? How did you get through it?

KD: I used to regret many things. I learned that there was a reason for me to endure those situations. They were learning experiences to make me stronger.

UBAWA: How do you get through the tough times in life when life throws what it throws at you?

KD: I believe in a higher power. I pray and give it to him.

UBAWA: What is one goal you want to accomplish for yourself in 2013?

KD: To complete all of my unfinished business.

UBAWA: What do you have planned next?

KD: To become a New York Times Best Seller.

UBAWA: How can readers and others in the literary community reach you?

KD: You can reach me at www.iamkdharris.com and www.lffpublishing.com

Twitter: @kdharris

Instagram: kdwrites

Facebook: Author K.D Harris

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