Happy Monday! Through September 19th (culminating with a list of winners), I have the privilege of sharing mini interviews with nearly all of the 2020 ACFW Carol Award Finalists! Today I’m starting with Dani Pettrey and her Carol Award finalist book The Killing Tide! You can check out a list of all the finalists HERE.
FYI – There will be 2-3 posts per day, and a series-long giveaway, so make sure you catch them all!
Praised by New York Times bestselling author Dee Henderson as “a name to look for in romantic suspense,” Dani Pettrey has sold more than half a million copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance. Her novels stand out for their “wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likable characters” (Publishers Weekly), “gripping storyline[s]” (RT Book Reviews), and “sizzling undercurrent of romance” (USA Today).
Her Alaskan Courage series and Chesapeake Valor series have received praise from readers and critics alike and spent multiple months topping the CBA bestseller lists. Dani has also been honored with multiple awards, including the Daphne du Maurier Award, two HOLT Medallions, two National Readers’ Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, and Christian Retailing’s Best Award.
Dani considers herself blessed to be able to write the kind of stories she loves–full of plot twists, peril, love, and a longing for hope and redemption. Her greatest joy as an author is sharing the stories God lays on her heart. She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Maryland, where she lives with her husband. Their two daughters, a son-in-law, and two adorable grandsons also reside in Maryland. For more information about her novels, visit www.danipettrey.com.
THE KILLING TIDE
SERIES: Coastal Guardians #1
GENRE: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
RELEASE DATE: August 6, 2019
PAGES: 347
A Corpse That Only Leads to Secrets.
An Old Flame with Danger Written all over Her.
Things Are about to Get Very Complicated.When one Coast Guard officer is found dead and another goes missing, Coast Guard Investigative Service special agent Finn Walker faces his most dangerous crime yet. His only clues are what little evidence remains aboard the dead officer’s boat, and the direction the clues point to will test Finn and the Guard to their limits.
The already volatile situation is complicated even further by the arrival of Gabby Rowley–Finn’s boss’s sister and an investigative reporter with unrelenting questions about the crime. Now that she’s returned, the tug on Finn’s heart is strong, but with the risks she’s taking for her next big story, he fears she might not live through it.
Thrown together by the heinous crime, Finn and Gabby can’t ignore the sparks or judgments flying between them. But will they be able to see past their preconceptions long enough to track down an elusive killer, or will they become his next mark?
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Hi Dani! Welcome back to the blog!
Q: How has Christian fiction impacted you personally?
Dani: Years ago, a friend gave me The Protector by Dee Henderson as a birthday present. It was the first Christian fiction book I’d read. I had no idea Christian fiction even existed. I’d always read non-fiction books on Christianity. After reading The Protector, I nearly cried at how much it moved me. I was amazed how God used Dee’s book to minister to me. There have been many novels along the way that have stirred my soul, helped me deepen my faith, and enjoy the beauty of a well-told story.
Carrie: I love that so much!
Q: When you’re not writing your next award-nominated book 😉 who are your fave authors to read & why?
Dani: Dee Henderson will always be a favorite of mine. Not simply for her books, but because of the amazing person she is. I also adore Terri Blackstock. I love how she writes in first person. I remember reading Predator (multiple times) and she stole my breath away from the start. The third sentence just grabs you by the gut. Karen Witemeyer never ceases to make me laugh and care deeply about her characters. Katherine Reay writes smart, unique stories that tug me in. She’s on my keeper shelf.
Carrie: yes! four of my very faves too 🙂
Q: Do you have any strange writing habits/quirks?
Dani: I have a set routine when I settle in to write—not sure it’s strange or quirky, but it’s how I start each day. I grab a large cup of water and a steaming Black Eye (coffee with two shots of espresso). I lay out all my pens (the fabulous, erasable Frixion pens and highlighters) along with Post-it notes and a notebook. If it’s a first draft, I often keep a collage in view—images of my characters, scenery and hints of the story. I primarily write my first draft longhand, but I’m trying to shift to my laptop as it saves me the time of typing it in later.
Carrie: I love the idea of writing a novel longhand but yikes – having to type it all in again later seems daunting lol.
Q: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve googled lately while researching a book?
Dani: Oh wow. That’s a tricky one. My family always teases me that one day the FBI is going to show up at my door because of my search history. I suppose the weirdest thing was Googling how long it takes leather boots to disintegrate.
Carrie: yes, one day we’ll hear about some great suspense author roundup by the FBI because of their search histories 😉 LOL
Q: What is one of your favorite quotes from The Killing Tide & why do you love it?
Dani: “The ocean settled her soul like nothing else. Being near God’s creation reminded her of His sovereignty and majesty. Setting the moon in the sky to control the tides . . . it awed her. Jesus walking on water, calming the storm . . . Knowing He tamed something so wild and free settled her soul in a way nothing else did.”
I love it because it’s exactly how I feel about the ocean.
Carrie: there IS something so soul-settling about the ocean ♥
I am offering one reader any TWO books (print copies) that finaled in the 2020 Carol Awards! (open internationally as long as Book Depository ships to your address) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
What about you? What makes you want to read the romantic suspense Carol Award finalist The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey & what did you enjoy about Dani’s answers?
I enjoy Dani’s high-octane adventures!
I have read one of her books and talk about action and suspense! I like all of her favorite authors, Dee Henderson, Terri Blackstock and Karen Witemeyer surprised me for a suspense junkie writer. I need to check out Katherine Reay. I loved her quote from The Killing Tide, which is the book that I’ve read. I think I need to go back and read it again, I may have missed a few things.
I’m reading another Dani Pettrey book right now and appreciate her plotting. I’ll be looking for this new book, too.
Dani is a dynamite author!
Dani is one of my favorite authors and her books are always on my TBR list. I love the quote about the ocean. The sound of waves hitting the beach is so relaxing to me.
I always enjoy reading what is the weirdest thing an author has googled!
Dani is another one of those authors I have never read, but is definitely on my list of TBR.
The story sounds very intriguing.
You are a new author to me and your book sounds interesting.
Love her books.
I love the replies to what her google searches are. The book sounds good!
So much yes to the ocean quote…or any body of water with a small beach. It truly is my happy place where I breathe in His wonder. This book is 3rd in line of my TBR pile. Excited to read it soon!!! 📚🥰
This sounds good. Very nice cover. Thanks for the chance.
Just got book #2 LOL I always do it backwards…should start with one.
I enjoyed learning that Dani usually writes her first draft longhand. That is always my preferred method for writing anything. I hope paper and pen, paper and ink never go the way of the dinosaurs.
I love all these answers the authors are giving for why they love Christian fiction.
This cover! I really need to discover what I have been missing out on by not having read Christian suspense. I love her quote about the ocean.
Dee Henderson is also one of the first Christian fiction authors whose books I read. I keep hearing great things about Dani Pettrey’s books but haven’t read them yet. The Killing Tide sounds like I would enjoy it.
oh you should! her books are fabulous
I loved Dani’s story about how Christian fiction has impacted her. That’s great!
me too!
The searches would be fun. I happen to know that leather boots take a very long time to disintegrate.
eeep! lol
One of my favorite romantic suspense authors! The series is so good….
Nice cover. I liked the blurb. It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
I really liked this book and weirdly even how it felt. The cover had a different texture to it which only added to the enjoyment of reading it. And I too, <3 the ocean.
differently textured books feel like a special treat of some sort, don’t they??
This cover…❤ its patiently waiting for me on my tbr pile!
This series is really good! And I can’t wait for the third book to come out! I think the Chesapeake Valor series is my favorite though, because it’s set in my home state.
that’s a fab series for sure!
I would definitely love to read this book.
yay!
I love all her books especially after meeting her at the CFR conference. I will miss not having the conference this year. Always look forward to meeting and hearing from the authors.
Dani is a favorite author. I won #2 in this series and can’t wait to read it.
I love suspense.
Dani, is a very talented author! This is a very interesting, on the edge of your seat book!
Love the quote! Dani is a favorite of mine, I can’t wait to read this!
I love that book quote–very calming. I can’t wait to read Dani’s book!