Author Interview: Danielle Grandinetti

Do you prefer historicals or contemporary? Or both? Today, we're chatting with author Danielle Grandinetti, who writes both Historical Suspense and Sweet Contemporary Romance. And all of her books sound so good. I hope you'll enjoy getting to know more about her and her stories. She has a new one releasing this month!

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Danielle, you write both Christian Historical Suspense and Sweet Contemporary Romance. What is your favorite part about each?

My favorite genres are historical, romance, and suspense, so combining them is awesome. I mean, what better way to have two characters fall in love but when they're running for their lives? However, all suspense, all the time, can be challenging, which is why I also love writing sweet romance. My first foray into this genre is A Father for Her Boy, which releases in August from Love Inspired.
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As you've done research for your historicals, what is one of the neatest facts you've discovered?

Oh there are so many fun facts I've learned! One interesting thing I learned in my research for Confessions to a Stranger is about Memorial Day. In 1930, the year the story is set, Memorial Day occurred on a date, not a day. So that year, Memorial Day landed on a Friday. It was originally a time to remember those who served and sacrificed during the Civil War. However after WWI, the holiday began to morph in name (from Decoration Day to Memorial Day) as well as to include those who fought in the Great War.

You've also done some teaching in the past. What is your favorite part of teaching? Do you ever weave that part of your life into your stories?

I worked for 20 years in various teaching roles before becoming a write-from-home mom. From providing private piano lessons to coaching writing online to middle schoolers to teaching Intercultural Communication and Group Dynamics as an adjunct professor at a university. I miss it. Now I teach the occasional writing workshop, combining my Intercultural Communication background with writing, which lets me share my two favorite topics with others.

As a matter of fact, I did weave a bit of my communication background into Confessions to a Stranger. The premise behind this story comes from how we often confide in strangers our deepest secrets. We share more than we might otherwise online, on airplanes, and in other places with people who we likely will never meet again. Yet we might have a hard time sharing with people we see on a more frequent basis. It’s a fascinating phenomenon. If you’d like to read more, I recommend the article by Lydia Denworth and Brian Waves, “The Paradox of Confiding in (near) Strangers,” Psychology Today, September 28, 2017.

What's the hardest thing about balancing motherhood and being an author?

Finding uninterrupted time to write. I snatch moments whenever I can, usually working from the living room sofa as my boys (5 & 3) play around me. I'm fortunate to be one of those people who work well with lots of distractions.

Finding uninterrupted time is a big deal for me too!
Want to give us a sneak peek into something you're working on for the future?

Sure! I'm in the brainstorming phase of what will be book 3 in my Harbored in Crow's Nest series. Winter in Wisconsin and the weather is the least of the problems facing Marian Ward and her two little girls. I'm aiming for this book to be released in early 2024!

Last but not least, what is something about you that very few people know?

I almost drowned as a kid in swim lessons. Fortunately my mom was watching and got me help before it became serious. It's made me passionate about sharing the true signs of drowning. It's not like in the movies with splashing and screams. It's quiet and still. I share this story, not just as a PSA, but also because it plays a role in Confessions to a Stranger. In the early 1900s, organizations like the YMCA took it upon themselves to teach life-saving techniques to women and in the first chapter, that knowledge might just save someone's life.

Wow! That sounds intense. Thanks so much for chatting with us today, and for sharing about your writing and life. I'm looking forward to diving into some of your stories now, too.
Readers, be sure to read all the way to the bottom for how to find out more about Danielle and her books.

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Confessions to a Stranger

She’s lost her future. He’s sacrificed his. Now they have a chance to reclaim it—together.

​Wisconsin, 1930—While fleeing for her life, Adaleigh Sirland’s rescue of a child introduces her to a family who provides her safe harbor. When her identity comes under threat of exposure, she must choose between running once more or helping the man who teaches her to hope again.

First mate David Martins is intrigued by the mysterious woman taken in by his grandmother, but she wrestles with a troubled past. When his estranged father is arrested for murder, can David put aside his own struggles in time to discern which secret threatens Adaleigh before it kills them both?

Find out more here.

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​Inspirational romance author, Danielle Grandinetti, writes both historical romantic suspense and contemporary sweet romance. An avid reader, she became a book blogger in 2016 and has been reviewing books since. She also won the University of Northwestern Distinguished Faith in Writing Award.
Danielle’s educational background includes an M.A. in Communication and Culture from Trinity International University, a B.A. in Communication from Louisiana Baptist University, and an A.A. in Biblical Studies from New Tribes Bible Institute, as well the Apprentice, Journeyman, and Craftsman Level certifications from the Christian Writers Guild. She has taught college courses on intercultural communication and group dynamics at Trinity International University and worked for twelve years as a virtual middle school writing coach.
Originally from the Chicagoland area, she now lives along the Wisconsin shoreline of Lake Michigan with her husband, their two young sons, and Labrador puppy. Find her online at daniellegrandinetti.com.