Meet Danielle Grandinetti

1.      How do you blend romance and suspense in a way that keeps readers both emotionally engaged and on the edge of their seats? 

I love blending the two because life and death situations show the characters what really matters to them and what they’re willing to sacrifice for what they love. In the end, they see the rawest versions of one another and love blossoms out of the ashes.

2.      What comes first when crafting a story—developing the suspenseful plot or the romantic relationship? 

For me, the characters come first. Then I plop them in the middle of a dangerous situation until they (and sometimes myself) aren’t sure whether they’ll survive. Since I love a happily ever after, however, they always manage to make it out in the end.

3.      How do you ensure that faith-based elements feel natural within such high-stakes stories? 

Again, I begin with the characters. Are they prone to lean on God or do they fight with Him when life crumbles? I let the characters lead the way with their unique relationship with God, which means sometimes my stories are more obviously faith-oriented and sometimes less so. Since I write stories about characters from other cultures, how their faith is expressed also changes to reflect that as well.

4.      Can you describe your approach to creating a believable and compelling villain or antagonist? 

Someone once said that a good villain is one who is the hero in their own story. If I put myself in the bad guy’s shoes, I ask what he wants and why. And while I rarely show his point of view, it helps me determine what actions he might take.

5.      What’s one of the most surprising twists you’ve written, and how did readers respond? 

In my Harbored in Crow’s Nest series, I kept a secret from my readers from book one about the main character who was the hero in book six. It wasn’t necessarily a surprise for me, but my readers were so excited for the reveal when the time came.

A surprising twist for me, however, occurred in Heart of Beauty. As I mentioned earlier, sometimes I wonder how my characters will get out alive and that is exactly what happened while writing that story. It took extra research to figure out the survival skills the heroine would need, but I think it was well worth it since it’s received glowing reviews thus far.

6.      How does your Christian faith shape the tension and resolution in your stories? 

The heart of my writing is showing that no matter how dark the night, we can have hope. And, as someone who loves Jesus, my greatest desire is that my readers finish reading one of my stories knowing they are seen and loved.

7.      Are there particular biblical themes or verses that inspire your writing? 

Yes! Micah 6:8 … “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

8.      How do you handle morally complex characters or situations while staying true to your faith? 

Showing the arc of both suspense and romance lets me entwine the concepts of mercy, justice, and love from start to finish. In the end, the yearning for justice is fulfilled, love has conquered, and hope for the future has been restored.

9.      What do you hope readers learn about love, trust, or faith from your novels? 

That no matter what life throws at them, they are loved just as they are.

10. What feedback have you received from readers that has meant the most to you? 

I love to hear when readers feel as if they know my characters, as if they’re visiting with old friends, or would wish to take a trip to the fictional places I create. It means I’ve succeeded in crafting a world that has all the realness of life and meets the reader right where they are.

To find out more about Danielle, follow this link: daniellegrandinetti.com/links