Happy Tuesday, friends! I've been traveling so today's cuppa will be a Tuesday Cuppa moment. Hope you're having a great start to the week.

Here's a fun recipe to keep your grown up disguise in place :)

Can't wait to try this one out!

I spent the past few days in Dallas at the Romantic Times convention meeting awesome readers, sharing time with author friends, and enjoying the local scenery.

Play Pictionary during Saddle Up and Draw at RT. We had a lovely group of ladies. Becky Wade had some mad drawing skills.

With friends Becky Wade and Lisa Wingate. 

Bethany House Fiction Authors dinner.

With an awesome supporter of Christian fiction!

Visited the Dallas Arboretum. Talk about breathtaking....

One of the goodies I brought home from RT is this lovely tote bag.

I'm going to randomly draw a name from the comments below and you'll win this tote filled with books from authors at RT including Sabotaged (by me), A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade, The Story Keeper by Lisa Wingate, A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander and Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter.

Blessings,

Hi Friends, I hope you’re having a great week. It’s so hard to believe we’re into February. In fact, next week is the most romantic holiday of all—Valentine’s Day. To celebrate, I’ve joined forces with some awesome romance author friends to do a special LOVING WELL giveaway.

Today I’ll be sharing about Loving Kids Well. These can be your own children, your grandchildren, your nieces and nephews, or simply kids you interact with on a regular basis. Children are a blessing from the Lord and they deserved to be loved and cherished. Here are 8 Ways to Love Kids Well:

• Spend Time With Them—The number one way you can show kids you love them is by investing in their lives. We’re all so busy these days. Take time to give your child or the children in your life undivided attention.

• Listen—Kids love to talk and are very open about what’s important to them. Give them the opportunity to share and really listen to what they are saying.

• Figure Out Their Love Language—Every child has a different love language. Figure out what your child’s is and show them love in that way. See this link for more information: http://www.thrivingfamily.com/Features/Web/2010/jan/love-language.aspx

• Have Fun—Life can be busy, but it’s important to give kids time to be kids. Put on music and dance around together. Stare at clouds and see what find shapes you can find. Bake a cake. Laugh.

• Encourage—Everyone needs encouragement. Kids are no different. Find ways to encourage them each day. Leave a note for them saying they’re special in their lunch box, on the bathroom mirror in shaving cream, or on a post-it note by their bed.

• Exhibit Qualities You Want Them To Learn—Kids learn best by example. Teach your kids the Fruits of the Spirit by exhibiting them in your life. Be loving, kind, joyful, patient, faithful and gentle with them.

• Appreciate That God Made Them Unique—God made us all unique. Don’t fall into the trap of comparing your child to others, even siblings. God created each of us in our mother’s womb. He knit us together. Let your child/grandchild/niece know you’re so thankful for the special and unique person God created them to be.

• Share Jesus With Them—The most important way you can love your child well is to share Jesus with him or her. Spend time in pray, read God’s Word, tell them how much Jesus loves them.

Be sure to visit each of the Valentine’s Giveaway blog stops and you’ll be able to collect a word on each page that will add up to a ‘secret sentence’ by the final stop.  Enter the sentence into the entry box at the final stop and be entered to win a special prize.

My word is SHE.

 Upcoming Blog Hop Stops:

Feb 6th visit Rachel Hauck by clicking here

Feb 8th visit Lisa Wingate by clicking here

Feb 9th visit Katie Ganshert by clicking here

Feb 10th visit Susan May Warren by clicking here

Feb 13th visit Becky Wade by clicking here

To enter the giveaway, simply complete the form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good morning, We are supposed to get temps in the mid-50's today, which is totally unusual for our area, but I'm not complaining….As long as it turns cold and snows just in time for Christmas. LOVE a white Christmas. How about you?

Today's the last day of my week-long giveaway. I'm so grateful for your kind and encouraging comments, and I've really enjoyed spending this week together :)

Yesterday's winner was:

• Dawn Taylor

Congratulations, Dawn! Email your mailing address and choice of book (Submerged, Shattered or Stranded) to dani@danipettrey.com

Since it's the final day of the giveaway and in the spirit of giving, I've decided to pick 3 winners today. That's right…tomorrow morning there will be 3 winners announced, so keep the comments coming!

I've saved this recipe for last because it's my favorite. Pair it with milk or a good cup of coffee. It's dunking delicious.

Merry Christmas,

Hoping everyone is getting ready to celebrate Christmas! I'm so grateful for the birth of my Savior and the Lord's blessings in my life and that includes all of you. Yes, you! I'm so grateful for my readers. You are amazing, and in the spirit of spreading the love this Christmas, I'm giving away a copy of any of my books (winner's choice) each day this week--Monday, December 16th through Friday, December 20th.

Here's how it will work. Each day I'll post here and on my Facebook Page about the giveaway. Leave a comment either place and you'll automatically be entered. The following day's post will contain the winner's name and the winner can contact me with his or her choice of book (Submerged, Shattered or Stranded).

A special recipe, a McKenna family favorite or mine, will accompany each post, so get ready for some fun treats and prizes! Thanks again for your amazing support. Here's a recipe to get you started:

Want to learn a little about my family Christmas traditions and get a glimpse at the McKennas'? Check out my guest post on the Bethany House Fiction Blog.

A special thank you to all who voted for one of the Alaskan Courage Men in the Fiction Hero Features contest. I'm pleased to announce Landon Grainger won Hero of the Year with Gage McKenna coming in a pretty close second. Thank you for taking the time to vote.

If you haven't heard, Shattered is up for Book of the Year and this blog is up for Blog of the Year--both at www.bookfun.org if you'd like to vote (just scroll down and look on the lefthand side).

Thanks again for your support. I pray you all have a very Merry Christmas! Be sure to drop by here or my FB Author Page everyday this week for a chance to win.

Blessings,

Thank you so much to everyone who entered to win an advanced copy of Stranded.

I was overwhelmed by your enthusiasm! You guys rock! I wish you all could win, but since I only have one advanced copy left, the winner is:

• Patty H.

Congratulations, Patty. If you could email me your mailing address I will get Stranded and your gift card in the mail. You can email me at: dani@danipettrey.com

And, as an extra thank you for everyone's amazing support, I'm giving away two more prizes.

• Crystal Goldman and Megan Williford: you've both won a Shattered Travel mug, keepsake bookmark and $5 Starbucks gift card. Just email me your mailing address.

Thanks again to everyone who entered. I hope you will all enjoy Stranded when it releases September 1st.

God bless,

As promised, I'm giving away another Advanced Reading Copy of Stranded--my upcoming release from Bethany House Publishers. I'll also be including a $5 Starbucks gift card so you can enjoy your favorite drink while reading Gage and Darcy's story.

All you have to do to enter is leave your name and email address in the comments section below.

I will let this run through midnight on Friday, July 26th and will announce the winner right here on my blog Saturday, July 27th.

Thanks so much for your amazing support and encouragement!

Blessings,

Thank you SO much to everyone who entered to win an Advanced Reading Copy of Stranded. I'm thrilled by your excitement for Gage and Darcy's story. Thank you for your kind and encouraging words. Have I mentioned that I have the best readers? I deeply appreciate you all. The winner of Stranded's Advanced Reading Copy is Caitlyn Santi. Congratulations, Caitlyn! Email your mailing address to me at dani@danipettrey.com and I will get Stranded and your gift card in the mail :)

If you aren't today's winner, don't worry. I'll be giving away two more Advanced Reading Copies of Stranded--one the last week of June and the other in mid-July.

In case you missed the announcement on my FB Author Page, check out your chance to join Team McKenna!

If you've posted a review for Submerged or Shattered (or both!) on GoodReads, Shelfari, Amazon, Facebook, or your blog, I've got a very fun opportunity for you. Find out more, here: http://danipettrey.com/join-team-mckenna/

Hi all, Some fun news to share and a giveaway to show my thanks! I've just learned that:

• Submerged has gone to its 4th printing.
• Shattered has been chosen as The Book Club Network's Book of the Month for May. Thanks to all who voted!
• Shattered is being translated into Norwegian. My full-blooded Norwegian father is extremely excited about this :)

I have the most amazing readers! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. In deepest appreciation for your continued support and encouragement, I'm giving away the first of three Advanced Reader Copies of Stranded--my September 1st release. I'm also including a $5 Starbucks gift card so you can enjoy your favorite drink while reading Gage and Darcy's adventure.

What do you have to do to enter?

Simply leave your name and email address in the comment section below. On Monday, June 10th, I'll randomly select a winner and announce the winner right here on my blog Monday night.

Best of luck, and thank you again for your amazing support!

Blessings,

I'm celebrating Shattered's release with some fun events, interviews and giveaways. Thank YOU so much for your support, and for sharing Shattered with your friends and family. It's because of YOU that Shattered has made the CBA, ECPA and LifeWay Bestseller lists this month!!!!

• Facebook Author Chat Party

• Guess the Name of Book #4 Contest

One person who guesses correctly will win an Alaskan Courage Prize Pack, which includes:

Autographed copies of Submerged and Shattered Submerged and Shattered custom travel mugs Submerged and Shattered keepsake bookmarks Submerged tote bag Bag of Moose Munch (Piper McKenna's favorite snack) 1lb. Caribou Coffee (Another McKenna family favorite) Chocolate covered espresso beans (to start your day off right) And a $10 Starbucks giftcard (a Dani favorite :) )

Winners will be announced during my FB Party on March 14th. You can submit a new guess each day! Open Internationally!

Can't wait to hear your guesses.

• Goodreads Giveaway

Shattered (Alaskan Courage, # 2) by Dani Pettrey (Goodreads Author)

Release date: Feb 01, 2013

Piper McKenna couldn’t be more thrilled that her prodigal brother, Reef, has returned to Yancey, Alaska, after five years. But her happiness is short-…more

Enter to win

Giveaway dates: Mar 06-Mar 28, 2013

5 copies available

Countries available: US and CA

• Recent Interviews

Sherri Wilson Johnson's Blog PLUS Giveaway of Shattered and Submerged!

Christian Novels Blog

Novel Crossings

I'm so appreciative to Sherri, Abbi, and C.J. for hosting me!

• Local Events

If you are in the Maryland area, I have two upcoming book signings and would love the chance to meet you. You can find more details on the News Page of my website.

March 24, 2013 – 2-4 PM EST -Local Author Day at the Bel Air Public Library | 100 E. Pennsylvania Ave, Bel Air, MD 21014

April 5, 2013, 5-7 PM - Booksigning at Fenwick Books |  41655A Fenwick Street, Leonardtown, MD 20650

• Fun Extras

In case you haven't already checked them out, there are a lot of new extras on my FUN Page including:

Submerged and Shattered's Playlists

Shattered Pinterest Board

Shattered Snow Cam

Book Club Packets (full of yummy McKenna recipes).

Plus, a video interview!

Hope you'll drop by and dive into the McKenna's world.

Thank you again for all your support and encouragement!

Blessings,

Hi all, I hope this post finds you well. I'm guest blogging today on A Fictional Life about my love of words. Hope you'll drop by and say hi. You could win a copy of Submerged!

Blessings,