I’m so excited to welcome Dani Pettrey today! Can I tell you what a fabulous writer she is? I just finished her debut novel and am pretty much telling everyone I know that they need to read it…It is so good! (And yes, I’m friends with Dani, but my opinion is completely unbiased. :))
Dani Pettrey is a wife, 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 her characters’ faith, and plenty of romance. She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters. Visit her website at www.danipettrey.com. You can also visit her blog, Twitter page, or Facebook Author Page.
Welcome, Dani! Now on to the questions…
Opener Question: What seven words best describe you?
Wife, mom, Christian, writer, daydreamer, beach-lover, coffee-drinker. Hope hyphenated words count 🙂
Either/Or Questions:
1) Andes Mountains or The Alps? The Alps. I love Europe.
2) Full steam ahead or Life in the slow lane? Does somewhere in between count? I usually go pretty full steam ahead, but there are certainly days I wouldn’t mind life in the slow lane.
3) Better Homes and Gardens or ESPN Magazine? ESPN. We love international soccer with a passion. Go FCBarca!
4) Mommy chic or Comfy casual? Comfy casual. I’m all about comfy.
5) Chocolate cake or Carrot cake? Chocolate. It’s my favorite food 🙂
6) Shop til you drop or Shop only if necessary? It depends. If I have plenty of funds and I’m shopping for something fun, then shop until I drop. If it’s grocery shopping, trust me it is only because it’s necessary.
7) Rock climbing or Skydiving? (since I know you incorporate adventure in your novels) Rock climbing. I tried it while researching an earlier manuscript and fell in love with it.
I wish I was brave enough to try rock climbing or sky diving, Dani, but I’ve gotta admit…I’m a wimp. 🙂 I’m totally with you on the chocolate thing, though. And I do love a good game on ESPN, although my choice tends to lean toward football or tennis. Does your family blow one of those airhorns in your living room like they do at the soccer games? It always sounds like there’s a hive of bees living in my TV when I watch the World Cup. 🙂
Thanks so much for visiting today! I’m anxiously awaiting Book 2, so I’ll be stalking–I mean, keeping an eye out for when it releases. 🙂
Submerged
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.
Blog Readers: Let’s Talk…Are you an adventure seeker? What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done? Any sports fans out there? If you could go to a professional soccer match, would you take an airhorn or earplugs? 🙂
*mug photo by Ivory Mix/CreativeMarket.com
I’m not an adventure seeker at all. I doubt I have ever done anything that others would consider adventurous. I’m a comfort seeker I’d have to say.
Comfort’s a very good thing, Mary 🙂
I’m an adventure seeker…as long as the adventure is of the preschool variety! (you know…like having an Easter egg hunt or going to the zoo. HA!) I couldn’t hack the skydiving and ATV rides and all that. Though I have to say…they’d be great blog fodder…provided one of the things I broke wasn’t my hand!
Preschool age is a serious adventure 🙂 I remember those days…. My girls are both teens now and that’s a whole ‘nother adventure 🙂
Great interview! I’m an adventure seeker, depending on the adventure! I enjoyed rock climbing in my late teens, but I haven’t done it in years. And I’m with you, Dani. All about comfy and chocolate. Not so much the soccer. 🙂
Thanks, Jessica! I loved the questions Sarah sent. Really can’t beat comfy and chocolate 😉
As a teen, I adventured into water skiing, swimming in the Atlantic (beyond the large beach piers),and such. But upon reaching adult hood, my most adventurous was raising a family of 5. They created enough adventure for me, so now I, Granny Godley, enjoy the simply quiet of comfort. I still enjoy the adventure of working in a Christian school amongst kids. 🙂 Your book sounds interesting and I would like to give it an opportunity to adventure into my hands and heart.
Raising five kids–I’d say that’s a grand adventure 🙂
Absolutely! And the adventure continues as I have watched them raise their’s – some of the grands are young adults and others are babes in arms.
Wow! That’s wonderful, Vera.
I’d like to be more adventurous, but I’m afraid I’m not. Hiking is about the most outdoorsy thing I’ve done, and I’m horrible at rock climbing (in a gym…never tried real rock climbing)…I get to a certain point and just can’t force myself any higher.
I love to hike, even more than I enjoy rock climbing. There’s just something about being out in God’s creation, away from it all (even if it’s only a half hour drive from the city :))
Thanks for the intro to Dani! I’ll have to check out her book. As for adventurous…I’m only mildly so. My biggest adventure would probably be hiking in the Tetons (a moderate trail). But then, raising three children is pretty adventurous, don’t you think?
Congrats to Vera!
Absolutely, Karen! Parenting is the greatest adventure of all 🙂 I bet hiking in the Tetons was beautiful!
I love Dani and I really enjoyed her book! So fun to see her here today!
Thanks, Katie 🙂
Fun interview, ladies!
I’m not adventurous at all. The most adventure I get is tracking down bargains. (I’m definitely shop ’til you drop.)
Thanks, Susan. Bargain shopping is definitely fun 🙂
I am not an adventure seeker at all!! The most adventurous thing I have done is scuba diving and I will never do it again. I did go parasailing once and was convinced I was going to die. After I got up in the air, I fell in love. It was so quiet and peaceful. Nothing like it. That’s about as adventurous as my life gets. 🙂 Not a sports fan. I love going to the games for the nachos and people watching. I like watching games at home because it gives me time to sit down and knit (which doesn’t happen very often anymore!)
Wow! Parasailing is very adventurous. I would love to try that some day. People watching at games is always fun, and great research for characters 🙂
Revealing interview Sarah and Dani. A comfy attired rock climber with chocolate in the backpack and sporting an FC Barcelona shirt is great picture.
I love this summary. LOL!
Fully an adventure seeker. I’m game for just about anything. I love Dani and I must say, I just began her book and it IS SO GOOD!
~ Wendy
Thanks, Wendy 🙂
Congratulations on your release, Dani!
I’m with you. The Alps are spectacular! I have wonderful memories of hiking in the area around Grindelwald, Switzerland and returning at the end of the day to sit on the balcony of our chalet and gaze at the north face of the Eiger. Aah!
Aah! I’m picturing it right now 🙂 Never been to Switzerland, but now I’m really think I should….
Thanks so much for this interview, Sarah. Fun getting to meet Dani.
As for the soccer game, I might be in the minority, but I’d have to take the earplugs…and a good book, of course. 😉
Thanks for commenting, Heidi. Feel you on the earplugs…especially when air horns are present 🙂
Congrats, Dani, on the release of Submerged! Sounds like a heart-pounder!
I have to admit, I’m not as much of an adventure-seeker as I was when I was younger. Somehow, roller coasters, hot air balloons, & skydiving just don’t hold the same appeal. I like to live vicariously through others when it comes to those types of thrills!
Thanks, Cynthia. Appreciate it 🙂
-You always ask fun interview questions, Sarah! I am the farthest thing from an adventurer but I love reading suspense and having an adventure on my couch 🙂
Isn’t that the great thing about books, Julia? You CAN have an adventure or journey or mystery all from the comfort of your couch. I LOVE that about stories.
Great interview! Great meeting you, Dani!
I’m still a rock climber!
Hi Loree. Thanks so much for saying hi. That’s awesome you’re a rock climber. It’s so much fun!
Thanks so much for having me, Sarah. This was such a fun interview and I love getting to hear everybody’s answers. Sorry I’m chiming in so late. I spent half the morning trying to locate a social security office that wasn’t under renovation and the other half in said social security office–talk about adventure 😉 No air horns for our family, just really enthusiastic cheering 🙂
Wow, Dani, things have been busy here while I was gone! Sounds like you had quite the fun day. All fodder for a future novel, right? 🙂
So glad to have you here today!
I’m loving reading everyone’s answers! I absolutely think parenting is the greatest adventure of all 🙂
I’m not really an adventure-seeker, but my dad is going to teach me how to ride a motorcycle this summer! 🙂
That’s pretty adventurous, Marissa 🙂 Hope you love it! My hubby is a rider. He actually teaches advanced motorcycle riding and motorcycle safety.
Nice to meet you Dana! Congrats on your release!
I tried rock climbing once. Made it about 6 feet off the ground and decided it was most definitely not for me. I couldn’t get over the feeling that my butt looked HUGE in the harness. 🙂
LOL! Never thought about that 🙂 Harnesses really aren’t flattering.
I’m a total wimp who married an adventure seeker. I scream if the light turns yellow and we still have a mile to slow down-yep, it’s that bad 😉 Your book sounds great, Dani. The cover really hints at an exciting story. I’m looking forward to reading it!
Thanks, Joanne. I may be biased, but I LOVE the cover 😉 Hope you enjoy Cole and Bailey’s adventure. Blessings.
Congrats on your release one more time! I am not for hiking,but I love to ski. You should plan a trip to Austria if you like Alps.
Very enjoyable time reading your book.
Dana, thanks so much for dropping by and for reading the interview. Very kind of you. Skiing is wonderful, though I’m used to the size of the slopes around here; probably wouldn’t know what to do skiing down the Alps. I bet it’s gorgeous!
So glad you’re enjoying it!
The most adventure thingy I have done is water ski. Took me many tries to get up but I made it!!
I’m not a fan of soccer but I do love ice hockey and I would take an airhorn to that in a heart beat!
Submerged sounds like an edge of your seat read and I can’t wait!! I’d love to win a copy!
Blessings!
Judy:)
Thanks, Judy. Ice hockey–that’s fun and definitely action-filled 🙂
Not usually super adventurous, but on a trip to Costa Rica we took on the rapids in white water rafting and zip lining with a tarzan swing. So much fun!
Thanks for a really fun interview! This novel sounds great! Added it to my Goodreads list!
I shared on twitter (@momta6) and on facebook (facebook.com/1bookme)
Brenda–Thanks so much for adding Submerged to your Goodreads list and for sharing it on twitter and facebook. You rock! Your trip to Costa Rica sounds fabulous.
Hi everyone! Sorry I’m so late to the party today. I’m out of town on a writing trip and just now had a chance to catch up. I’ve loved reading about all your adventures! (And I’m secretly glad I’m not the only non-adventurer in the bunch.) 🙂
Hope you’re having a great trip, Sarah. Thanks so much for having me!
a great posting…..thanks for the chance to read dani’s novel…it sounds great 🙂
Thanks, Karen 🙂