Dani Pettry Interview

I am happy to have Dani Pettrey as a guest on The Borrowed Book today. Dani  is a wfe, homeschooling mom and author. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves–the thrill of adventure, nail-biting suspense, the deepening of one’s faith and plenty of romance. She’s a huge fan of dark chocolate, is always in search of the best iced mocha and her dream is to one day own a little cottage on a remote stretch of beach. She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters.

Welcome, Dani. You have a book releasing May 1. Tell us the title and give a short blurb about the book.

Submerged is the first in my Alaskan Courage series.

A sabotaged plane. Two dead deep-water divers. One single clue.
Bailey Craig vowed never to set foot in Yancey, Alaska, again. She has a past, and a reputation--and Yancey's a town that doesn't forget. She's returned only to bury a loved one killed in the plane crash, but then dark evidence emerges and Bailey's own expertise becomes invaluable for the case.

Cole McKenna can face dangerous rescue dives. He can face the fear a murderer may be threatening his town. But facing the reality of Bailey's reappearance is a tougher challenge. She broke his heart... but doesn't seem to be the same girl who left Yancey ten years ago. And he's not the same guy she left behind.

Racing against the clock and a rising body count, Bailey and Cole must move beyond the hurts of their pasts to work together until the truth of what is hidden in the depths finally surfaces.

This is your first book. I’m always interested in how an author reacted when they received the call his/her first novel had sold. How did you react?

I was completely ecstatic. It was a combination of utter joy and a good dose of shock. I called all of my friends and family, and then my husband and our daughters went out for a celebration dinner.

Submerged is set in Yancey, Alaska. What made you choose a setting in that state?

I wanted a setting that worked well for adventure and suspense. Alaska is a gorgeous state full of adventurous possibilities, and there is an inherent risk of danger if you aren’t prepared properly.

In the reviews I’ve read, there is a hint that your heroine Bailey Craig has a past and a reputation in Yancey. What has happened in her past that caused this?

Well, I don’t want to give too much away, but let’s just say Bailey has bought into the Faulkner quote: ‘"The past is never dead. It's not even past." She has a lot in her past that she’s ashamed of and unfortunately she’s letting that hamper what God has in store for her future.

Then there’s your hero Cole McKenna. He sounds like a hero that readers will love. Tell us more about him.

After his parents died, Cole McKenna, the oldest of the McKenna clan, set aside his dreams to raise his siblings. The family co-owns and runs Last Frontier Adventures in Yancey, Alaska, and Cole is a dive rescue captain with the area’s volunteer dive rescue team. Submerged begins with his team’s search-and-rescue mission to recover a plane that has crashed into the ocean. And that crash ultimately brings the woman who broke his teenage heart back to town.

What do you want readers to take away from the story as they read Bailey and Cole’s story?

I hope readers will take away the truth that we find wholeness and fulfillment in Christ alone. Only He can take what is broken and make it whole again.

What are you working on now? Is there a sequel to Submerged?

Shattered, book two in my Alaskan Courage series, will be out in February. It is Piper McKenna’s story and I had a blast writing it.

What advice would you give to writers still waiting for the call that they’ve sold their first book?

Keep writing. Seriously. I know it sounds trite, but it’s true. Writing isn’t easy. It can be a lonely endeavor, but if you believe God has called you to write, if you have a passion for telling stories, keep at it. Never give up on that dream.

I'll add my endorsement to that idea, too. Never give up on your dreams. Thank you for stopping by today, Dani, and we wish you great success with the release of Submerged.