Today I’m welcoming Danielle Grandinetti. Her prequel novella To Stand In The Breach is already available. A Strike to The Heart will release April 2022. I always love to hear about an author’s journey. Tell my readers a bit about yours.
I penned my first story in grade school. It was a handwritten story that covered one and a half sides of a notebook page. From there, I continued to study writing—through books and under the mentorship of a writer’s guild—and my stories grew longer. However, I still love short-form story-telling. While I have around a dozen short stories published, I’m thrilled to now add a novella to that list.
I wrote my first story in grade school too. Short stories are fun to write and to read. Can you tell us a little about To Stand in The Breach?
My most recent release is To Stand in the Breach, the prequel novella to A Strike to the Heart, which releases in April 2022 from Iron Stream Media.
Here’s a blurb about To Stand in the Breach:
She came to America to escape a workhouse prison, but will the cost of freedom be too high a price to pay?
1933, Wisconsin — Large animal veterinarian Katy Wells takes her patients’ welfare personally, so it’s no surprise when she stands up to angry farmers planning a milk strike or takes in an injured draft horse to save its life.
But after a visitor from the past discovers her location and reveals a threat, she must choose between her work and her freedom, and whether to trust a man to keep her safe.
Sounds intriguing. Because I’m not from Wisconsin the milk strike was never mention in my history books growing up. Tell us how you research for your books?
I love history and I love hearing people’s stories, so my research is often combing through a variety of books, history web pages from various organizations and historical sites, and, my favorite, old newspapers. With so many online opportunities through the library, local historical museums, and universities, it’s opened up many learning possibilities, most for free or a reasonable fee. One of my favorite resources for To Stand in the Breach was an old agriculture textbook from several decades ago. Most of all, I’m grateful for the people who let me ask them questions and double check my facts based on their real life experience.
I love this sort of research too, especially hearing their stories. What inspired your stories?
In the case of To Stand in the Breach, I actually wrote the novel first. As I was editing A Strike to the Heart for my publisher, I couldn’t get Katy’s story out of my head, so I asked permission to create a prequel novella. Thankfully, they agreed, and after handing in my edits on A Strike to the Heart, I got to work on Katy and Joey’s story.
A romance in the midst of a strike makes the story more interesting I think.
When did you realize your calling to create words on paper to share with the world?
I’m not sure I have an exact day, but I love how this question is worded because I do feel a call to create words on paper to share with you. While attending a writers’ conference, one of the speakers used the term “keyboard missionary” and it resonated with me because of my missional background. While I write for the Christian market, a missionary isn’t only about reaching those who have never heard the Gospel, it is also about encouraging and cultivating the faith of those who do believe. I hope my stories do that for you.
I love the quote “keyboard missionary”, what a wonderful visual.
Now I’ll ask a few of my favorite more personal questions
If you could go back in time and give one piece of advice for your younger self about writing what would it be.
Stick with your passion and trust what you love. I experimented with other genres before returning to my first love of history. Once I did, and combined it with romance and suspense, it renewed my writing passion and I’m excited for what the future will hold.
Who is your best support system to keep you focused on your writing?
My husband is my biggest supporter and cheerleader. I also have several writing friends who are on this journey with me, in particular Ann Elizabeth Fryer who released her third book, a historical romance novella, over Thanksgiving, and Beth Pugh, my publishing sister, who releases her first contemporary romance in the Spring with Iron Stream Media. Because I’m a book blogger, I’ve also had the privilege of interacting with other authors and am grateful for such a welcoming community.
Surrounding ourselves with a writing community is so important.
What is your favorite genre to read for fun?
I write what I love to read: historical romance, especially if it has suspense! I also like contemporary romantic suspense and contemporary romance, but tend to be more picky in those genres. When life gets stressful, however, I often navigate to sweet, category romance that has that perfect happily ever after.
Lastly, where is your favorite place to write?
As a work-from-home mom of two little boys, my usual place to write is the living room sofa where I snatch any minutes I can.
Thank you for being with us today Danielle.
Readers she is offering a give-away today. A e-copy of To Stand in the Breach. Leave your name in the comments and you’ll be put in a drawing. The lucky winner will be drawn on Monday, December 20th. And Danielle will contact you.
Here’s more about our author
Danielle Grandinetti is a book blogger at DaniellesWritingSpot.com. Her short stories have appeared in several publications and her writing has won the University of Northwestern Distinguished Faith in Writing Award. Originally from the Chicagoland area, she now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline with her husband and their two young sons. Danielle especially loves quiet mornings served with the perfect cup of tea.
Purchase Links:https://daniellegrandinetti.com/to-stand-in-the-breach/
The landing pages have the book summary and all the purchase, Goodreads, etc links
To Stand in the Breach (prequel novella) landing page is here.
A Strike to the Heart (releasing April 2022 from Iron Stream Media) landing page:
Social Links
website/blog: daniellegrandinetti.com
newsletter: bit.ly/FiresideNews
Instagram.com/danielleswritingspot
facebook.com/danielleswritingspot
twitter.com/dgrandinetti
pinterest.com/danielleswritingspot
goodreads.com/danielleswritingspot
bookbub.com/authors/danielle-grandinetti