🎙 In this powerful episode, host Monica Fullerton sits down with bestselling suspense author and veteran spouse Dani Pettrey. From an eighth-birthday gift of Murder on the Orient Express and after-school Scooby-Doo to 14 published novels and over 1,000,000 copies sold, Dani's story is a masterclass in passion, purpose, and perseverance. She shares how marriage, motherhood, and military life shaped her path; why she homeschooled to protect family flexibility; how a craft class, a mentor (the legendary Dee Henderson), and years of rejections forged her voice; and the conference hallway moment that led to her first book deal in 2010. Practical, encouraging, and real—this is for every creator who's tempted to quit right before the breakthrough.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Passion → craft → career: How childhood mystery love + steady practice + mentoring opened doors.
• Military-life pivots: Homeschooling for flexibility; writing during "pockets" of time (sports practices = writing sprints).
• Resilience pays: Two early novels racked up ~30 rejections each; the third sold—then 13 more followed.
• Agent ≠ destiny: Trusting your gut—even parting amicably with an agent—can be the brave, right call.
• Conferences matter: Pitch sessions and hallway conversations (hello, Bethany House!) can bypass the slush pile.
• Indie vs. Traditional: Creative control & management mindset (indie) vs. publisher-handled production & bookstore reach (traditional).
• Author marketing 101: Let readers know you—share life 2/3 of the time, book promo ~1/3; build a loyal launch team and genuine relationships.
• Mantra to move you: "I can do hard things." Pair it with Monica's: "Growth begins when comfort ends."

📚 Dani's Series (Reader Faves)

• Alaskan Courage – Five siblings, adventure outfitting, and search-and-rescue suspense in rugged Alaska.
• Chesapeake Valor – Four friends in Baltimore law enforcement; a tragedy separates them, a case reunites them.
• Coastal Guardians – High-stakes cases with the Coast Guard Investigative Service team.
• Jeopardy Falls – Siblings raised by con artists flip the script as PI's who bust cons.

👤 Featured Guest:

Dani Pettrey — Author & Veteran Spouse

🛍 Featured Brand:

Dani Pettrey Books onSpouse-ly - Dani Pettrey

Perfect gifts for the mystery/suspense lovers on your list—bundle a series for the holidays!Suspense with heart, hope, and high stakes. 14 novels (and counting).

🙌 Special Thanks:

Huge thanks to our season sponsor, US Bank and Elavon, for their continued support of small business owners through the Small Business, Big Ambition initiative. Learn more and enter to win a $3,000 business grant at Small Business, Big Ambition.

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