Did you know that acquisition editors often accept or reject your entire novel simply based on your opener? Bestselling authors are known for their standout beginnings. Consequently, their opening lines play a large part in their success. If you can hook your reader with line one, page one, and chapter one, they are much more likely to continue reading. 

When your readers fall in love with your story, not only do you often secure a second book deal due to the spike in estimated sales, but sometimes you can even join the ranks of bestselling authors. 

If your opening sentences carry enough power to make or break your career success, it’s crucial to take a close look at what the successful authors are doing. In this article, I discuss the five ways to assess bestselling books and how to use your findings to inspire your opener. 

Remember, assessing what talented, bestselling authors include in their openers is to inspire your own. While you can study your favorite openers over and over, make sure that when you write yours, it’s true to your own creative ideas. Ready to dive in?

Story Openers: Learn From The Greats

J.K. Rowling is known as the author of one of the most beloved children’s book series of all time. Harry Potter did so well that following the publication of the sixth book, Rowling’s agent disclosed that global sales had hit 300 million copies sold. 

What was the first line that drew in publishers? Simply this: “Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.” 

What about Veronica Roth, author of the Divergent trilogy? “There is one mirror in my house.” A much different style of opener, genre, and premise, readers loved Roth’s story so much it landed on the big screen. 

So what are the writing tips that set these writers apart? What makes authors like Agatha Christie, Stephen King, Danielle Steel, and Suzanne Collins the household names they are today? It starts with their openers. 

Whether Dr. Seuss inspires your love for writing children’s books or Barbara Cartland is your icon for romance, these five steps will help you set the trajectory for a successful first page.

#1 - Find Your Comparative Titles

Comparative titles are simply books that are similar to yours. When you write your book proposal, you should include three to five comparative titles (or comp. books). The purpose of this section is multifaceted: 

• Demonstrate that other books like yours have sold well

• Show that you are a fresh take on an already-loved genre 

• Help marketers understand what they’re working with

While it’s usually frowned upon to use the classic bestsellers in your proposal, when writing openers, it’s helpful to choose three to four of the top books in your genre. 

Research bestselling authors who share your genre, find their most loved books, and narrow the list until you’re left with just a few that are similar to your work-in-progress. If possible, use a physical copy because this will help with steps two and three.

#2 - Circle Every Genre Specific Word Or Phrase

Whatever genre you write, it’s crucial for readers to feel immersed in your story world from the first page. If you leave ambiguity, you leave your reader hanging. Their confusion may drive them away from the book.

To combat this, reach for your stack of comparative titles. Grab a pencil and lightly circle every genre-specific detail the author includes in their opening. Take the bestselling novel, now a major motion picture, Divergent, for instance. In just the first pages, the reader learns:

• Only one mirror is allowed in a house

• There are five social tiers called factions

• An aptitude test places you in a faction

• A Choosing Ceremony acts as a right of passage

That’s quite a few genre-specific, draw-you-in type details. As a reader, your curiosity is piqued, and you want to continue reading to discover what it’s all about.

As you prepare to write your opening, ask yourself the following:

• What details will most orient my reader into the story world?

• Which details are imperative to know early on?

• Where is my protagonist’s primary focus? 

List out your answers and compare your number of details to the bestseller’s number. As writers, it’s vital to find the balance between giving readers enough information to feel oriented but not so much that they become overwhelmed.

#3 - Underline Every Character Revelation

Readers love characters they can relate to, empathize with, and root for. But how do you create compelling characters readers want to support on the first page? Let’s take a look at page one of The Hunger Games where we find that Katniss:

• Shares a bed with her little sister

• Hunts to find food for her family

• Has a potentially life-changing day ahead of her

• Is kind enough to give her leftovers to her little sister’s cat

These small details reveal the character of the protagonist. She is a leader because she takes charge of caring for her family. She is brave, thinking of her little sister when she herself has the same difficult day ahead. She is caring, giving what little food she has to a hungry pet. 

Each of these character qualities builds throughout the trilogy. Consider what qualities your readers should associate with your protagonist in the opening pages. How can you best set them up for the coming character arc?

#4 - Write Down Every Detail Your Reader Needs To Know Upfront

The details necessary for your manuscript depend on your genre. For instance, if you write historical fiction, orienting your readers with the time period and customs will play a large role in your world-building. 

Because I write dystopia, my readers need to know the basics of how my world functions as quickly as possible: 

• How do people make a living? 

• What is the currency? 

• Are there seasons? 

• What about social class? 

• How do people engage with one another? 

Readers also need backstory. How did the world come to be dystopia? What are the biggest struggles of my characters? What do they desire and why? 

To top it all off, I need to show my readers the most important aspects of my protagonist. The small details will come out later. But early on, it’s crucial to include details that allow readers to empathize with the character who will carry the story from first page to last.

Write these points down, then organize them from most important to least. As you write your beginning, layer them in accordingly. 
Tip: Always remember to layer details in to avoid an information dump. To do so, keep the show don’t tell rule top of mind.

#5 - Include The Most Important Elements Of Story

Readers are drawn to tension, conflict, and universal themes. In the early pages of your manuscript, make sure your theme doesn’t get lost in the details of your story. Your details should spotlight your theme, not distract from it. Every sentence should point to the bigger picture, a building block in the masterpiece that will be your final draft.

Look through your comparative titles and take note of how the sentences contribute to the overall theme. For instance, Beatrice is used to just one mirror in her home. Later, she learns that humility does not hinder boldness, but rather fuels her to boldly care for others. 

Katniss hunts for food for her family, which at first glance, seems like an inconsequential detail. By the third book, this character trait directly highlights the theme of the trilogy and her character arc as a whole. Her desire to protect those she cares about grows to include not just her family, but District 12, and ultimately, all of Panem.

Remember To Enjoy The Process

In an interview with Publisher’s Weekly, Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley said, “Focus on enjoying the process and let the rewards, such as they are or might be, take care of themselves.”

The journey from aspiring author to published author is long, filled with highs and lows, and not for the faint of heart. First time rejections are nearly guaranteed and acceptance often feels like a distant dream.

With this in mind, there’s nothing quite as intimidating as comparing your first draft to a bestseller’s opening page. However, learning from established authors largely contributes to your overall growth. Master a growth mindset—it’s key for the longevity of your dream. 

I hope these five tips inspire you as you write your opener. Not everyone has the opportunity to write the book they want to read. Enjoy the privilege of creating characters you love and that one day, thousands of readers may love too.

Regardless of your sales success, the learning process is invaluable, your creativity will grow, and the end result will be worth it!

---

Sarah Rexford is an SEO copywriter for companies from startups to multi-million dollar businesses. She writes for influencers around the nation, from CEOs to a New York Times bestselling author, and speaks at writing conferences with keynotes such as Charles Martin. A creative writer as well, Sarah helps writers clarify their dreams so they can work them into reality. For more about Sarah, find her at her website, www.sarahjrexford.com.

Hi friends,

Happy Wednesday! Hope you’re having a wonderful week.

My family and I headed to the beach for a much-needed vacation. Everyone has been working hard and we all needed time to just soak up some sun and breathe in the sea air. But this vacation was different for me. As Cara Putman shared a few weeks back about an author who left her laptop at home, I did the same. I’ve worked every vacation we’ve taken since I sold my debut novel over a decade ago. Most vacations I’d simply wake up an hour or two earlier before the rest of the clan was up. Just because I wasn’t taking time away from being with family time by getting up early, I was taking vacation time all the same.

Knowing I had more downtime, I collected a few (make that a handful of) books to read, but as the trip grew nearer, I discovered something I never anticipated. I was scrambling to think how I’d spend my time while my family slept as I’m the early riser in our crew. I mentally took an inventory of what filled me with enjoyment, pleasure, and what hopefully would replenish my creative well, and I came up blank.

Blank?!? How on earth did I forget what was fun for me? Don’t get me wrong on beach days, I love swimming in the ocean, walking with my hubby on the beach, and daydreaming on my beach towel, but during our ten-day vacation stay, there are rainy days where we just chill in the house. I told myself this was the time to catch up on all the enjoyable things I never have time to do. Then I realized the problem…

Read what I realized on the Inspired by Life and Fiction blog!

Hi friends,

I absolutely love to travel! My favorite place to visit…? The beach—as I’m sure many of you have guessed. But I love traveling, period. I love visiting new places and stumbling upon unplanned treasures—a secret waterfall, a ruin we didn’t know existed, a world-famous bakery in Charleston that makes biscuits so mouth-watering a weary bunch of authors were up at 5 a.m. to be lined up when they opened at 6. Each trip holds the wonder of a new discovery.

While I’m all for spontaneity—I’ve been known, bless my husband’s heart—to wake up in the morning and suggest we pack a bag and head for an overnight trip or weekend getaway—I’ve also found comfort and practicality in several must-have travel items.  These are the items, no matter how spontaneous our adventure, that I don’t leave home without. I thought it would be fun to share some of them with you, and maybe you’ll find them useful too.

1)    Travel attire:

I don’t know about you, but I want to be comfortable while I travel, while not looking like I just rolled out of bed, though that’s often the case. I’m not an uber early riser but somehow always end up on the 6 a.m. flights or early morning drives to avoid morning rush hour on 95.

If I’m heading out for a conference and need to be ready when I arrive, I opt for Kut from the Kloth jeans. They are the MOST comfortable jeans I’ve ever owned. I choose a dark rinse or black for a more professional feel. I pair it with a comfortable blouse from Banana Republic and a lightweight, yet cozy sweater for cold airplane cabins. Old Navy has some great ones and they are lightweight enough to fit in my handbag. But, the most important item of my conference attire is my Tieks ballet flats. They are pricey, but they last forever and are the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn, no matter how much walking is required or how big the venue to venture about. Here’s a pic of my favorite color—romantic blush. You can dress it up or down.

For family trip attire, I stick with Kut from the Kloth but I go with their drawcord pants, paired with an uber-comfy PrAna t-shirt and a pair of Sanuk flip-flops. The latter being the most important. Their flops are made from yoga mats so it’s like walking on a cushy yet supportive service all day long.

2)  My Top Three comfort accessories for plane or car:

With COVID considerations many people are choosing to drive for vacations rather than fly and all these items are great for both flights and road trips alike.

A pashmina is a tool of many trades. It works as a scarf in the winter, a wrap on summer evenings, a blanket for cuddling up whether it’s a chilly plane cabin or a cool car. It weighs practically nothing to carry and you can even stash it in your purse.

Sun Bum Lip gloss

This stuff is addictive with all the yummy flavors, and it keeps lips from getting dry. Their sunscreen is great too!

Hand lotion

Lotion not only helps keep hands soft but just putting on lotion can make you feel like you’ve freshened up and there are so many scents (if you don’t need to go fragrance-free) that you can find one that perks you up or relaxes you.

My favorite brand of lotions is L’Occitane and they come in travel sizes perfect for stashing in your purse. My favorite scents are lavender for relaxing and verbena when I need a pick-me-up.

3) Last but certainly not least… A BOOK

Whether it’s on e-book, print, or audible, a book is a travel necessity for me.  Right now, I’m re-reading one of my favorites, The Screwtape Letters. I enjoy visiting old favorites now and again.

Reader Question: What’s your number one travel go-to?

Blessings,

Dani

I’m sharing my top summer picks on the Inspired by Life and Fiction! Read here.

I may write contemporary fiction, but I love history. I even try to weave into some of the stories I write. My debut novel, Submerged, focuses on Russian-Alaskan history, while Cold Shot is primarily set at Gettysburg National Park.

Researching Gettysburg 2017

While researching Submerged was fun, researching the military history of Gettysburg resonated far more with me.

I’ve always had a profound respect and gratitude for our soldiers. I think because of my family’s service history. I’m a direct descendent of Revolutionary War veteran, Daniel Leasure, making us proud Daughters of the American Revolution members.

Daniel Leasure’s Tombstone in Pennsylvania

Between my family and my husband’s, we had relatives serve in the War of 1812, the Civil War, WW I, WWII, Vietnam, the Cold War and Persian Gulf.

This military history, my husband’s service in the Navy included, has fostered a deep appreciation for all soldiers and their families. It’s why we support Black Rifle Coffee by being members of their Coffee Club.

Black Rifle is veteran-owned and operated. They support veterans, police officers, and first responders. With every purchase we make, they give back, giving hope to veterans for the future and supporting them in the trenches through programs such as Buy a Bag, Give a Bag. Not to mention, as you can see by their packaging, they take their coffee as seriously as we do.

“Black Rifle Coffee Company is quite literally the combination of my two favorite passions. I take pride in the coffee we roast, the veterans we employ, and the causes we support.”

— QuoteEvan Hafer, CEO / Founder Source

You can find Black Rifle Coffee here. I hope you’ll check them out!

Question for you: What is a charity you’re passionate about?

On my way to caffeinate,

Dani

Hi friends,  

I always love spending a day with you! I think all readers have reading quirks or habits. How we handle our books, when we read, where we read, and how we save our spot, of which I have numerous ways.

Visit the Inspired by Life and Fiction blog to see all the ways I save my spot (and what I’m currently reading!)

Hi friends,

Back in 2012, I did a feature on Bear Grylls. It’s hard to believe it’s been so long. I’d nearly forgotten about the post when the Editor at bouncemojo.com reached out to me. Ryan was doing some research on biographies and came across my post from all those years ago. I’d cited a post he’d reviewed, and he reached out to let me know that he’d written the most comprehensive biography on Bear Grylls’ wife, Shara Grylls.

I admire Bear greatly for serving his country in the British Special Air Service, his devotion to God and to his family. I love that he wrote a book for his sons called To My Sons: Lessons for the Wild Adventure Called Life.

While Bear is in the spotlight, given his life of adventure and faith, I grew very curious about his wife Shana. I was fascinated to learn that Shana has written two books of her own. Marriage Matters and Never Stop Holding Hands: And Other Marriage Survival Tips. And, Shana is quite an adventurer herself.

In 2001, Bear and Shana bought an island near the Llyn peninsula of North Wales and converted the island into their home. They live there with their three sons—

Jesse, Marmaduke, and Huckleberry. What’s really amazing to me is that the secluded island is five miles away from the mainland. They have no electricity or running water.

When Bear travels, Shana is there with the three boys. Being a mom isn’t easy, being a mom five miles out to sea with no running water or electricity is amazing. She must be an adventurer at heart and such a resilient woman.

Why am I sharing about Bear and Shana today? Because they are exactly like the characters I strive to write. Ones that love adventure, faith, and family.

Question for you: Who is the strongest heroine you’ve read about?

Blessings,

Dani

Hi friends,

Happy to be back with you today! As the title alludes, this originally was going to be a post about preserving through difficult times, but then I realized, to my surprise, it wasn’t about perseverance at all.

To say life has been a rollercoaster lately is an understatement. I went in for cataract surgery a couple of weeks ago. Everyone told me it was easy. Everyone around me who’d gotten the procedure done had a wonderful experience.

I’m typically the medical anomaly. Well, an anomaly in general, but that’s a post for another day :D This time the medical anomaly held true. Everything was going smoothly until my doctor went to put the new lens in. Due to childhood trauma, the capsule they typically put the lens in, burst. I won’t go into full detail, but in my doctor’s words while I’m lying on the surgical table were, “everything just went south.” Definitely not the encouraging words I was hoping to hear.

Read the full story on the Inspired by Fiction blog HERE.

I’m ecstatic to be here with you again. Due to health reasons and deadlines, I took a long hiatus, but I’m back! And I will be posting here every other Wednesday!

I don’t know about you but May begins the kick-off of my summer reading. I think it’s so cool how different seasons can affect how often I read, where I read, and even the genres I choose to read. I’m so curious if you’ve found the same thing to be true.

For summer, I love reading beautifully written, classic Christian romance like that by Becky Wade, historical romance that makes me laugh out loud like Karen Witemeyer’s stories, I enjoy clean YA, and last but certainly not least—Christian suspense, and do I have a good one for you this month. It actually just launched yesterday so it’s perfect timing. But the top book in my reading pile is Jaime Jo Wright’s On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor.

Doesn’t the title and cover beckon you alone. And then I read the story summary and I was sold.

1885

Adria Fontaine has been sent to recover goods her father pirated on the Great Lakes during the war. But when she arrives at Foxglove Manor—a stone house on a cliff overlooking Lake Superior—Adria senses wickedness hovering over the property. The mistress of Foxglove is an eccentric and seemingly cruel old woman who has filled her house with dangerous secrets, ones that may cost Adria her life.

Present Day

Kailey Gibson is a new nurse’s aide at a senior home in a renovated old stone manor. Kidnapped as a child, she has nothing but locked-up memories of secretes and death, overshadowed by the chilling promise from her abductors that they would return. When the residents at Foxglove start sharing stories of whispers in the night, hidden treasure, and a love willing to ill, it becomes clear this home is far from a haven. She’ll have to risk it all to banish the past’s demons, including her own.

Sounds amazing, doesn’t it? I can’t wait to dive in.

To celebrate Jaime Jo’s release, I’m giving away a copy of On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor and a Sand and Fog candle to one lucky winner. To enter just follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for taking time out of your day to spend a little while of it with me.

Blessings,

Dani

Jaime Jo Wright is the author of six novels, including Christy Award winner The House on Foster Hill and Carol Award winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. She's also the Publishers Weekly and ECPA bestselling author of two novellas. Jaime lives in Wisconsin with her cat named Foo; her husband, Cap'n Hook; and their littles, Peter Pan and CoCo.

Connect with Jaime: website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

Welcome to the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt! If you’ve just discovered the hunt, be sure to start at Stop #1, and collect the clues through all the stops, in order, so you can enter to win one of our top 5 grand prizes! 

• The hunt BEGINS on 3/12 at noon MST with Stop #1 at LisaTawnBergren.com. Hunt through our loop using Chrome or Firefox as your browser (not Explorer). 

• There is NO RUSH to complete the hunt—you have all weekend (until Sunday, 3/15 at midnight MST)! So take your time, reading the unique posts along the way; our hope is that you discover new authors/new books and learn new things about them. 

• Submit your entry for the grand prizes by collecting the CLUE on each author’s scavenger hunt post and submitting your answer in the Rafflecopter form at the final stop, back on Lisa’s site. Many authors are offering additional prizes along the way! 

Hi friends!  I’m Dani Pettrey. I write inspirational romantic suspense for Bethany House Publishers. I chose this genre because it combines three of my favorite things: faith, love and good mystery. A dead body doesn’t hurt either. You can learn more about me and my stories here on my site and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. My next book, The Crushing Depths, includes all three and it’s now available for pre-order. 

The Crushing Depths

When an accident claims the life of an oil-rig worker, Coast Guard investigators Rissi Dawson and Mason Rogers are transported to the scene. Tensions aboard the oil rig are high and the death has everyone on edge. Environmental activists just off the rig’s port side are threatening to do whatever it takes to stop the ‘plague on the environment from continuing its work. Meanwhile, rumors are being whispered aboard about an ancient curse lurking in the depths beneath them. 

Mounting evidence show the death may not have been an accident at all. Was he killed by one of the activists or, perhaps more frighteningly, a member of his own crew? Rissi and Mason have to sort through not only a plethora of suspects but also their own past and attraction to each other. Just as the case seems like it'll break open, worse news arrives. 

A tropical storm has turned their way and soon they're cut off from rescue--and right where the killer wants them. 

Rissi and Mason were trapped…or was the killer? 

HOW I WRITE WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS

Writing The Crushing Depths wasn’t easy. None of my books have been for years now, yet I don’t quit. Not even when I feel like it. Why? Because, instead of seeing writing as a job, I view it as a blessing.

Perception is half the battle. I’m not always great at it. Sometimes I’m downright awful about it, but I’m thankful for a loving Lord whose mercy is new every morning. 

God has fostered a love of stories in me from a young age. It started with Agatha Christie, Nancy Drew and Scooby-Doo. When I was very sick years ago, God pulled me out of the muck and the mire and set my feet on a rock and poured the love of story even deeper into my soul. Soon He kindled that fire for me to not only enjoy reading stories, but a deep longing within to write them. 

Through the years I studied the craft, attended conferences, and prayed. One day, God made my publishing dream come true. I’d like to say that was the end of the story, but it appears this health journey is going to be a long one.

At home we joke that I have the ‘Dani Dozen.’ We figure we can either laugh or cry about it, so we go for the joy of laughter around here. Most days. I’m far from perfect, and dealing with conditions like Lupus, Raynaud’s, and Depression certainly isn’t easy. But I know He is right beside me, and He’s given me…us…a special gift. He’s blessed us with a love and joy of story. 

I get to sit down each day and delve into the world of my characters whose stories God has laid on my heart!

Some days it’s with a heating pad or an ice pack, some days I’m on the couch with my laptop because it is the least painful option. The blessing is that I always know a story is waiting. 

Here’s the Stop #13 Basics: If you’re interested, you can pre-order The Crushing Depths on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD or at your local bookstore!

Clue to Write Down: always

Link to Stop #14, the Next Stop on the Loop: Nancy Moser’s site.  

Hope your hunt is fabulous! 

Dani 

Wait!

I don’t want you to miss this special bonus giveaway opportunity! Join my email list and get your copy of the Suspense Starter Kit!

Enter via the Rafflecopter form below for a chance to win a signed print copy of The Killing Tide (Coastal Guardians book 1) PLUS winner’s choice of an additional book and stainless steel water bottle set.

Winner may choose from Promises from God for Life’s Hard Moments and Be Still My Soul water bottle set OR An Anchor for the Soul and Set Your Mind on Things Above water bottle set.

Due to shipping costs, this giveaway is open to US mailing addresses only. Winner will be announced below on March 16, 2020!

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As summer wraps up I’m on deadline and locked away in my writing cave. While I work on finishing up this book I thought it would be fun to share a peek at our summer. Even while I was busy writing and launching The Killing Tide, I was still able to sneak in some family fun.

If you would like to read more about my Writing Cave and how I why I’ve been taking a step back from my online life you can read my latest blog post at Inspired By Life and Fiction.

So while you’re waiting for for me to come out of the cave I hope you’ll enjoy a few pictures from our family adventures.

A Question for You

In the comments below, I’d love you to share what you’ve been up to this summer and how do you feel about summer coming to an end.

Hi friends, 

I’m ecstatic to announce that my latest novel—The Killing Tide—is available now!!!! It hit stands today. It’s so hard to believe that my 10th full-length novel is on shelves. To celebrate and, to thank you all for your amazing support, I’m giving away an autographed copy to one lucky winner who comments to my Reader Question below. 

For those of you unfamiliar with The Killing Tide, it features a Coast Guard Investigative Service Team. Each book in the three-book series will focus on a different member of the team. The Killing Tide is Finn Walker and Gabby Rowley’s story. 

Meet Finn and Gabby

Finn is a combination of laid-back surfer meets adrenaline junkie. He lives to ride waves and to see justice done. Gabby is a go-getter who pursues truth for a living. Only when the truth hits too close to home, she tends to run. Can Finn and his deep love for her, show her that home is the best place to be—right in his arms?  

In addition to spending time with characters I loved getting to know, I also spent a good deal of time researching the Coast Guard. I quickly learned that I had no idea of depth and breadth of ways its valiant members serve our country. Here are just a few amazing facts about a branch of service that often doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. 

Did you know…?

I have a new-found appreciation for the men and women in the Coast Guard. 

Just in case you missed it, here’s a video that shows the Coast Guard in action: 

The U.S. Coast Guard says a cutter interdicted a submarine suspected of smuggling drugs in the Pacific Ocean. A video shows Coast Guard officers boarding the submarine and ordering those inside to open the hatch.

Reader Question:

What do you enjoy most in a novel: getting to know the characters, learning about a new profession and the suspense element that goes with it, or discovering a new setting? Leave your answer below and I’ll randomly pick one winner for the autographed book. I will announce the winner here next Wednesday!

If you haven’t gotten your copy yet, you can grab one here: 

Have a blessed week and thanks so much for celebrating with me! 

~Dani 

Hi friends, 

Last week I was in New York City for Thrillerfest. What is Thrillerfest you may ask? I’m happy to report it is not a conference for lovers of Michael Jackson’s song Thriller. Though I do admit thinking the song and the music video were pretty cool when I was in middle school. But, alas, not about Michael Jackson or his outfits that sparked red leather jackets and sparkly gloves onto the fashion scene. 

According to ITW’s) website Thrillerfest is the annual conference of ITW, International Thriller Writers. The unique, popular, and rapidly expanding gathering was created in 2004 by successful, bestselling authors to bring thousands of writers, readers, publishers, producers, editors, and agents together to promote and support thriller authors everywhere. 

The conference has six main components: Master Class, CraftFest, ConsultFest, PitchFest, ThrillerFest, and the Awards Banquet. I participated in Master Class which was amazing, Craftfest where I learned how to deepen my craft from leading NYT thriller authors, and last but not least, Thrillfest where I had the honor of sitting on a panel discussing how an opening line, paragraph and chapter has to the reader or most will not continue with your hero much farther if they aren’t already intrigued and invested. 

If you write any form of thriller genre (mystery, romantic suspense, action-adventure, etc.) you want to be at this conference. If you’re a fan of thrillers in any genre, you want to be at Thrillerfest. There is a fabulous community of writers there who love connecting with readers and with each other. I had the best time. 

While there, I’m happy to say I was blessed with tickets to Wicked for me and three friends. The cast was phenomenal along with the stage design, costume design and story.  Loved the creativity flowing through that one. New York is a very cool city to hang out in. 

Question for you:

What is one city you love to visit or would love to visit and why? 

Blessings, 

Dani 

Hi friends, 

Exciting news! I’m joining fellow Bethany House author Amanda Dykes to celebrate the release of her debut novel, Whose Waves These Are, and my upcoming novel, The Killing Tide. Since both of our new releases feature lighthouses and coastal settings, we decided to give readers a fun challenge.  

You can find out all about it and the two great ways to participate here: 

About Amanda

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Amanda, I wanted to give you a sneak peek at Whose Waves These Are and a glimpse at the awesome lady herself. I’ve known Amanda since my debut novel, Submerged, sold. She helped me with website and virtual assistant tasks before needing to focus on her blossoming family and writing career. I miss working with her every day but am so glad she devoted her time to writing because her debut is fabulous, and BookList agrees! 

About Whose Waves These Are

In the wake of WWII, a grieving fisherman submits a poem to a local newspaper: a rallying cry for hope, purpose . . . and rocks. Its message? Send me a rock for the person you lost, and I will build something life-giving. 

When the poem spreads farther than he ever intended, Robert Bliss’s humble words change the tide of a nation. Boxes of rocks inundate the harbor village on the coast of Maine, and he sets his callused hands to work.

Decades later, Annie Bliss is summoned back to Ansel-by-the-Sea when GrandBob, the man who gave her refuge during the hardest summer of her youth, is the one in need of help. But what greets her is a mystery: a wall of heavy boxes hiding in his home. Memories of stone ruins on a nearby island ignite a fire in her anthropologist soul to uncover answers.

Together with the handsome and enigmatic town postman, Annie uncovers the story layer by layer, yearning to resurrect the hope GrandBob once held so dear and to know the truth behind the chasm in her family’s past. But mending what has been broken for so long may require more of her and those she loves than they are prepared to give.

“In this pocket of a harbor where splintered lives, like waves upon the shore, are gathered up and held close ... I never imagined that it would be my breaking place, too. Nor how beautiful the breaking could be.”

To find out more or grab your copy, visit: http://amandadykes.com/mybooks

Hope you’ll take part in our Summer Splash Adventure! It’s going to be a fun month. 

Hugs, 

Dani 

Hi friends,

So happy to be back with you today! I’ve got something really fun to share. Actually not ‘thing’ but characters to share with you. As you may know, my tenth full-length novel—The Killing Tide—is releasing August 6th. I’m so excited to share this new set of characters, a new setting, and a whole heap of mystery and adventure with you.

Today, I’m going to give you a sneak peek by introducing Finn and Gabby! I hope you’ll come to love them. Gabby Rowley is feisty and pursues truth for a living. Finn Walker is low-key until it comes time for adventure and pursues justice for a living. Put these two together and things are about to get very complicated.

Pre-Order

If you pre-order The Killing Tide you can get collector cards of Finn and Gabby, along with more fun perks. A percentage of your pre-order will also be donated to the Coast Guard Foundation. You can find out more here.

What’s one of your favorite character traits or qualities?

For me, I love a fighting spirit. Can’t wait to hear your answers! I always look forward to reading them.

Have a blessed day!

Dani

When I think of summer, I think of sunshine, flip-flops, long days, ice cream cones and relaxing. Summer is the best! Unfortunately, it’s also full of temptations to keep us from meeting our writing goals.

I used to look forward to summer with a mixture of excitement and dread. On the one hand, no more getting up at the crack of dawn to get the kids off to school. On the other hand, kids at home for three months did not equal writing bliss!

Now that my kids are older, I still wrestle with excitement and dread—but for a different reason. It’s way too easy to let my writing slide because the delights of the season are calling to me. Thankfully, I have tricks that have kept me on track for the past several years. They allow me to enjoy summer and meet my writing goals.

Here are my top 3 tips for writing during the summer.

1. Every week decide when you’ll write, and create a contingency plan.

June, July and August practically beg us to make spur-of-the-moment plans. That’s why my summer schedule is less rigid than the rest of the year’s. To avoid letting the fun stuff crowd out my writing, every Sunday night I find a comfy spot, grab my day planner and my phone (I keep track of appointments using my phone’s calendar), and I plan my week.

First, I look at all of my commitments. I analyze the best times for me to write. Then I determine alternative times to write if something comes up. This allows me to keep my schedule flexible and still get my writing in.

For example, maybe Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 7am to 9am are generally a good time for you to write. A less ideal time would be from 4pm to 6pm on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. If a friend invites you to coffee Wednesday morning or one of your kids needs to get dropped off to tennis on Thursday morning, you can shift your writing to the alternate times.

2. Define what you absolutely need to get done and how you’ll achieve it.

If you have a book due in August, you absolutely need to get it done. Other than contracted books, only you can decide if something is an absolute need-to-get-it-done project for the summer.

It’s easy to overestimate how much we can accomplish during the summer, but most people plan vacations, spend more time outside, and have fun activities they can only do during the warm months. Be realistic. Don’t tell yourself you’re going to write two books and a novella in three months.

Once you’ve decided what you need to get done, be proactive and specific to stay on track.

This might look like the following:

I have to write 45,000 more words to finish this draft, and it needs to be finished by July 14. This means I need to write 7500 words per week for the next six weeks.

My work-in-progress is drafted but needs a lot of work. It has 24 chapters. If I revise two chapters per week, I can have it in good shape by the end of August.

At the end of each week, review what you accomplished and adjust your goals accordingly.

3. If you have children at home, be realistic about your writing schedule.

I was a stay-at-home mom for years, and summer was tough. I struggled to fit any writing in. One summer I’d had enough and told myself I either had to take summers off or get serious about working year-round. So I got up early and wrote until the kids woke up. After a short break to make sure they were fed and occupied, I continued to work until lunchtime. The rest of the day I spent with them. This allowed me to make progress on my book and still have plenty of time to go on adventures or hang out together at home.

If your kids are younger, you might have to write when another adult is home or hire a babysitter. If you’re not on deadline, you can always take the summer off. It’s okay. Writing will be there in the fall. If you are on deadline and worried about kids interrupting you every ten minutes, have someone else watch them. Go to a coffee shop or the library—anywhere out of the house—to write.

If you follow the above tips, you’ll find it helps shift your attitude. Writing while your friends are living it up can feel like a sacrifice. On the other hand, all fun and no writing can make you feel guilty.

At the end of the day, we’re writing because we love it. We have stories that need to be told. So set clear parameters around your writing and get more fun into your days. Make ooey-gooey sundaes, lay outside, read a good book, take a long walk. Summer doesn’t last long—make the most of it!

About Jill Kemerer

Jill Kemerer is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author of inspirational romance novels for Harlequin Love Inspired. She loves coffee, M&Ms, a stack of books, and long walks outdoors. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two almost-grown children. Please visit her website, jillkemerer.com, and sign up for her newsletter.

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US residents will receive 4 signed paperbacks. International residents will receive 4 ebooks.

When his childhood friend Kit McAllistor shows up, widowed and pregnant, rancher Wade Croft offers her a place to stay…but he can’t offer her his heart. As old feelings begin to surface, past tragedies force Wade to ignore them. But on the brink of losing his ranch, will he also risk losing the woman he’s beginning to love…or can he cowboy up in time?

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Hi friends,

Happy Wednesday. I’m super excited to have as my guest, my dear writing friend and prayer partner, Becky Wade. We met on a trip to Bethany House Publishers shortly after we both signed with them, and our debut novels released with them on the same day in May 2012. We’ve been encouraging and supportive friends since. Writers definitely need friends like that. People who get our crazy brains and creative spirit.

Today, Becky is sharing about her latest release, Sweet on You. If you haven’t grabbed a copy, we’ve got a fun giveaway for you! Enjoy Becky’s guest post and be sure to enter to win our Book-end Your Summer Giveaway. Becky’s novel kicks summer off and my upcoming novel, The Killing Tide, releases in August when Becky will be giving away a great set of book ends (see below) and copies of my books. Hope you enjoy her fabulous post and hope you all have a wonderful week!

The Book-end Your Summer Giveaway is now closed. The winner is Emilee Douglas. Congratulations, Emilee.

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Friends Who Fall in Love

By Becky Wade

I've now published eight full-length Christian fiction romances.  But my new release, Sweet on You, is my first attempt at a story about two adult friends who fall in love.

My husband and I were friends for a year before we started dating!  I've known other women who ended up marrying men who were first their friends.  I've read a few books with this premise and thoroughly enjoyed them. Thus, when I sat down to write Britt and Zander's story, I imagined I had a good handle on my task.

However, as I started writing, I began to flail.

Those of you who read romantic books and watch romantic movies know that conflict is the lynchpin of every gripping love story. My two characters knew each other tremendously well.  Britt had liked Zander enormously for more than a decade. Zander had loved Britt secretly for more than a decade. After I put them on the page together, I thought Where do I go from here? and What's the conflict?

I figured out the answers to both of those questions gradually as I wrote and rewrote Sweet on You. In the end, the challenge inherent in the set-up only made the writing process that much richer and more satisfying.

Penning Sweet on You reminded me why it's wonderful to fall in love with your friend. Namely:

1. You can dispense with the get-to-know you chit chat.  Your guy friend already realizes that your favorite color is blue, that you get cranky when tired, that you love watching BBC.

2. You don't have to worry that he'll break up with you and run screaming when he meets your eccentric aunt Lucille.  He's met your people.

3. You can count on his acceptance of you.  He's not going to be surprised by your knack for math or by your fear of roller coasters. The two of you are friends because he appreciates and accepts you.

4.  You can trust that the bedrock of your friendship will remain intact over the course of your romance.  Years after you start dating or marry, the things that motivated your friendship -- your shared sense of humor, his kindness, your loyalty -- will still bond the two of you together.

In your opinion, what's the best part of falling in love with a friend?  Has anyone here dated or married their friend?

Book Overview:

Britt Bradford and Zander Ford have been the best of friends since they met thirteen years ago. Unbeknown to Britt, Zander has been in love with her for just as long.

Independent and adventurous Britt channels her talent into creating chocolates at her hometown shop. Zander is a bestselling author who’s spent the past eighteen months traveling the world. He’s achieved a great deal but still lacks the only thing that ever truly mattered to him–Britt’s heart.

When Zander’s uncle dies of mysterious causes, he returns to Merryweather, Washington, to investigate, and Britt is immediately there to help. Although this throws them into close proximity, both understand that an attempt at romance could jeopardize their once-in-a-lifetime friendship. But while Britt is determined to resist any change in their relationship, Zander finds it increasingly difficult to keep his feelings hidden.

As they work together to uncover his uncle’s tangled past, will the truth of what lies between them also, finally, come to light?

About Becky:

Becky’s a California native who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and settled in Dallas. She published historical romances for the general market before putting her career on hold for several years to care for her three children. When God called her back to writing, Becky knew He meant for her to turn her attention to Christian fiction. She loves writing funny, modern, and inspirational contemporary romance! She’s the Christy and Carol award winning author of My Stubborn Heart, the Porter Family series, and the Bradford Sisters Romance series.

Enter the Book-end your Summer Giveaway

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Hi friends, 

Happy Wednesday! I’m super excited to share about something really fun that’s happening. For a limited time, when you pre-order The Killing Tide, you get some awesome goodies. The first two-hundred people will get an adorable anchor keychain and collapsible, Coastal Guardians, water bottled along with even more goodies. For everyone after the first two hundred there are still lots of goodies for you. And, the great part? Ten percent of my profits will be donated to the Coast Guard Foundation. 

Why did I pick this particular foundation? Because of the amazing work they are doing. 

The Coast Guard Foundation’s Mission is to:

In times of triumph and through adversity, the Coast Guard Foundation:

• Focuses on the well-being, education, and morale of the men and women of the Coast Guard

• Empowers and educates Coast Guard families

• Provides critical support during times of injury and loss

• Serves to promote the missions of the Coast Guard

Who are the men and women behind the Coast Guard Foundation?

Their founding directors were Coast Guard veterans who served together during World War II. 

The founders, who enjoyed successful careers after their military service, saw that the Coast Guard Academy's operate budget wasn't fully covering all of its needs, and they started the Foundation to provide funds that could make up the difference.

In 1986, the Foundation expanded its charter to support projects that enhance the education, welfare, and morale of all Coast Guard members and their families. 

Since the expansion of their mission, the Foundation has provided millions of dollars in college scholarships to dependents of Coast Guard personnel, and their morale initiatives have supplied exercise equipment, learning materials, computers, and more to thousands of cutters, bases, and units across the country.

To learn more, visit their website here: Coast Guard Foundation

I’m so honored to partner with the Foundation as The Killing Tide, and all the upcoming books in my Coastal Guardian series, feature the Coast Guard Investigative Service. It has been such a privilege learning about the men and women serving our country in the Guard and as part of CGIS. Hope you’ll enjoy Finn and Gabby’s adventure in the Killing Tide. 

BOOK Overview

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.

When investigative reporter--and Finn's boss's sister--Gabby Rowley arrives, her unrelenting questions complicate an already volatile situation. Now that she's back, 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?

PRE-ORDER PERKS

To learn more about the awesome goodies you can get when you pre-order The Killing Tide, drop by our giveaway and goody page here:

 Which goody are you most excited about? 

Have a blessed day!  

Dani 

Hi friends, 

Happy Wednesday! Thanks for taking time out of your day to stop by and spend a little time with me. Grab a cup of coffee or your favorite beverage and pull up a seat. Today I’m continuing my series on The Power of Christian Fiction. I started last week on the Inspired by Life and Fiction blog, which you can find here. 

Today I’ll be sharing on how Christian fiction mirrors the hope God gives us.   

I love happily-ever-afters. How about you? Think about your favorite swoon-worth HEA? Got it? I’d love if you’d share the name of the book in the comment section below. I’m always on the lookout for recommendations. 

I heard actor Dwayne Johnson (primarily still known as The Rock) say that his producers want to end a certain movie of his on a sad note (Don’t worry. I won’t say which one. I don’t want to spoil anything). Dwayne politely and quite adamantly refused. He explained there was enough sadness in this world and that he wanted his movies to end on a satisfying, hopeful note. I’m so glad he did because it was a wonderful movie. 

When it comes to Christian fiction, story structure and endings are genre dependent, but even those that don’t end on a full HEA almost always end on a hopeful note. The character or characters end up in a better place than when the story opened. 

Fiction Character’s Growth

I love the beauty of watching characters grow, of seeing God work in their lives and of seeing stories infused with love, which is a gift from God. No matter the genre, within Christian Fiction hope exists. In contrast, not all secular fiction breathes hope into its stories, but the vast majority, if not all of, Christian Fiction does--even if it’s just the beauty of nature and the awe that fills us when we spend time in it. That’s what makes the Christian life and Christian Fiction, in particular, so inspiring. 

Here’s an example of hope from my upcoming novel The Killing Tide. Enjoy the first sneak peek I’m sharing.  

Here is a snippet of scene with my heroine Gabby Rowley. 

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.

It doesn’t have to be a full conversion in every story to infuse hope in us. Simply seeing the beauty of God, of His work in creation and in character’s lives fill us with hope and reminds us of the hope we have in Christ:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13 (NIV)

Thoughts from Becky Wade:

I asked my dear author friend Becky Wade if she’d share about her experience writing Christian Fiction and how it relates to hope, and she said: 

“Writing books has grown my faith! It’s shown me what it feels like to put action behind Hebrews 11:1 which reads, ‘...faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.’  Each time I sign a contract for books not yet written, each day when I show up at my computer uncertain of what to write next, I have to step forward in faith, trusting that the Lord will show up and write another story through me.  I have to find assurance in something that’s hoped for… but not yet seen — the finished book.  I have to believe that He’ll equip me to do what He’s called me to do, which is scary sometimes.  Because I know I cannot do it without Him."

Hope of the Gospel

As writers of Christian Fiction and readers as well, we get to see the hope of the Gospel, the hope of our redemption and the love of Christ mirrored in the pages of each book. 

Question for you:

What is one of your favorite Happily-Ever-After story endings. No spoilers, but I’d love to know the book title and the author. I’m always on the lookout for new reads. 

As always, I look forward to hearing your answers. 

Have a blessed day!  

Dani 

Hi friends, 

Cold Shot—the first book in my Chesapeake Valor—is on sale for $1.99 on e-book for a limited time. In honor of the sale, I thought we’d check in and find out where Griffin McCray is now. 

Looking back at Griffin:

In college, Griffin McCray and his four best friends had their lives planned out. Griffin and Luke Gallagher would join the Baltimore PD. Declan Gray would head to the FBI, and Parker Mitchell would go on to graduate school as a crime scene analyst. But then Luke vanished before graduation and their world–and friendships–crumbled.

Now Griffin is a park ranger at Gettysburg, having left life as a SWAT-team sniper when a case went bad. The job is mostly quiet–until the day he captures two relic hunters uncovering skeletal remains near Little Round Top. Griffin just wants the case to go away, but charming forensic anthropologist Finley Scott determines that the body is modern–a young social justice lawyer missing since spring–and all evidence points to the work of an expert sniper.

When FBI agent Declan Gray takes over the case, past and present collide. Griffin soon realizes he’ll need to confront some of the darkest days of his life if he–and those he cares about–are going to escape a downward spiral of murder that crosses continents.

Where is Griffin Now?

It’s been a few years since we last spent time with Griffin and Finley. Right now, he’s finished up the renovations on the older farm house he was working on. He’s done a magnificent job. Here are a few pictures of what I envision it looking like: 

He’s rejoined the police force and is loving his continued pursuit of justice. He’s still full of loyalty, devotion, and strength—all the qualities I and other characters in the book greatly admire. 

As far as Griffin and Finley go, I don’t want to give any spoilers, but the end of the book gives you a great idea of where they are at today! 

If you haven’t had a chance to read Griffin and Finley’s adventure, I hope you’ll check it out. Now is a great time to snag it for a good price. 

Question for you:

Did you enjoy catching up with Griffin and, if so, would you like to see Where Are They Now character updates? Leave your answer in the comment section below. 

Thanks for spending a little of your Wednesday with me. Hope you all have a wonderful rest of your week! 

Blessings, 

Dani