The Deepest Waters - Blog Tour Part 2

As last week ended, the blog tour for The Deepest Waters wrapped up, as well. My publisher sent me a list of all the bloggers who participated. They said 5 or 6 more might come in a little late. I realized as I looked over the list, I hadn't seen many of them before. I'm guessing something is amiss with Google Alerts.

For my first 2 books, I'd set a Google Alert to flag me any time someone wrote about the books, mainly so I could visit these blogs in a timely way. With the other two blog tours, I was getting sometimes 5 or 10 alerts a day. This time, maybe 1 or 2 (and some of those were about scuba diving off "the deepest waters" near some reef). But I was able to visit them over the last few days and, once again, was overwhelmed by the responses to the book.

Here are a number of excerpts. Click on the blog name, if you'd like to read the full review:

“I loved everything about this book. It has so much packed within its pages from historical fiction and romance to suspense and some action…If you have not had the chance to read any of Dan’s books, I would suggest reading them ALL. They are that good!”

-- Café Lily

“This week MiscMayzee is featuring a blog tour for an absolutely wonderful volume, The Deepest Waters by Dan Walsh. This Christian fiction novel features so many solid plot elements that it is difficult to pick one place to start.”

-- MiscMayzee

“This was a captivating epic love story! It’s an honest story that touches your heart and soul…This was a moving, larger-than-life story. I was inspired as I read about these characters holding out for God’s best for them, whatever that may be. This novel would make a great movie.”

-- Nora St. Laurent – Finding Hope Through Fiction

“I read this book in two days. If it weren't for the fact I had to sleep, it would have been done in one! I just could not put it down. I had to know what happened.”

-- Passionate Perseverance Blog

“I’ve not had the pleasure of reading Dan Walsh’s previous books, but that’s about to change. Thank you, Dan Walsh and Revell Books, for providing such a riveting, hold-your-breath read.”

-- Peg Phifer’s Blog

“Dan Walsh knew a good story when he heard about this particular bit of history and he was right. But for him to take that and turn it into an absolutely amazing tale that kept me glued to the book - fantastic! I totally loved this book. Probably my favorite of the year as of right now.”

-- Cornhusker Academy Blog

“The Deepest Waters is an inspiring and uplifting story that has left me feeling so happy and satisfied. This is a delightful story that has enough action and adventure to appeal to a male audience, but at the same time there is enough tenderness and love to appeal to any woman reading this book. Dan is very good at having that warm and tender quality in his books that makes me as a reader really happy to have invested my time. I highly recommend The Deepest Waters. I guarantee no reader will be disappointed.”

-- Carlybird’s Home

These are just a few of the dozens of reviews I read, and only a few sentences from each one. Thanks to all the others who participated that I didn't mention here. And a special thanks to Donna Hausler at Revell, for all her hard work putting this blog tour together.

The Deepest Waters Goes On Tour

Starting this past Sunday, my 3rd novel, The Deepest Waters, has been on tour. A blog tour, that is. My publisher, Revell, launched the tour with fifty-five bloggers throughout the country. Each received review copies of The Deepest Waters several weeks ago, giving them time to read it before the tour began. Some will also be doing interviews with me and giving away free copies of the book.

I'm writing this on Thursday. Already dozens of bloggers have responded, and I've been overwhelmed by their reaction. I couldn't cite them all, but here's a sampling of what I've been reading this week. I've put the links after the quotes, if you'd like to read the entire review.

"This is Dan Walsh's third book, and I have been fortunate to have reviewed all three. And like the other two he wrote, this is an excellent piece of fiction...I started reading this book this evening, and as often with a great book, got pulled into it and could not put it down."

-- Thoughts of a Sojourner Blog

“Dan Walsh has become one of those authors that whatever he writes I will read. This is a great book!”

--Lori's Book Reviews (Rating: 5 Stars)

“This is the third book Dan Walsh has written and in my opinion it is his best yet… I highly recommend this book and will keep it for my private collection.”

--Trinity's Rose Garden

“In my opinion, Dan can officially be dubbed, ‘The Nicholas Sparks of Christian fiction.’ If you love romance―particularly historical romance―you won't want to miss out on this book.”

-- Lynda Schab – On the Write Track

“This is one of those books that will grab you at the first page and not let you go until the last… I am writing this review with droopy eyes since I could not put the story down and read all night from cover to cover!”

--Lulu – Knits and Reads

"I loved the writing style, the tone of the story, the setting. I loved all of it. The spiritual thread was well done, too...This book is making my favorites list!"

-- Michelle Sutton, Edgy Inspirational Author Blog

"Ever since I read The Homecoming by Dan Walsh I have been a huge fan of his. His books instantly capture my interest and attention, which was the case with this book as well...His book made me cry, but in the best possible way. I cannot wait to read Dan Walsh's next novel in the Fall!"

-- Melinda Joy Blogspot

I wish I had the time and space to include excerpts from all of them. Thanks to each of you for taking the time to read my book and let others know about it. It's a humbling thing to read such things, makes me want to get right back to my keyboard and start hammering away.

More Great Reviews for The Deepest Waters In

This week my 3rd novel, The Deepest Waters, officially released. I say "officially" because it began showing up in online stores, and even some retail outlets a week ago. Some wonderful reviews have come in this past week. Some are too long to re-post here, so I'll share some excerpts.

Except this first one, from 3-time Christy-award winning author, Athol Dickson (author of books such as River Rising and Lost Mission). Click on his name to view his website. This is the entire quote:

"I stayed up all night to finish The Deepest Waters, which is something I have not done in years. It has everything: action, romance, tearful partings, desperate situations, beautiful and terrifying natural settings, history, characters I hated and characters I loved, and plenty of unexpected twists, all wrapped up in eloquent and straightforward prose. It's a wonderful read, with a compelling message about the healing power of faith."

--Athol Dickson

"The depths of characterization and the emotions evoked make this powerful story a true winner. Dan Walsh’s detailed account takes readers onboard and keeps them eagerly sailing throughout the journey, despite the uncertain outcome. I appreciate his style and writing ability and want to read every book he pens. Don’t miss the adventure in The Deepest Waters! (The title forms a parallel between the ocean setting and the abiding love explored within the novel’s pages). This book was inspired by an actual event and some of the extraordinary happenings 150 years ago."

--Mary Hake, President,
Oregon Christian Writers

"Usually not a big fan of historical fiction, I find myself enjoying reading it when Walsh writes. His ability to take the reader back in time is magical, while simultaneously teaching us about that particular time and place in history...The Deepest Waters, like his first two novels, is first-rate. Walsh is a new author who transcends many genres and will appeal to both men and women. He writes books that refresh our spirit and give us hope that all is not lost in a world filled with danger and threats of destruction. His ability to weave romance throughout his work will attract many readers who enjoy wholesome stories with a redeeming theme. His stories will bring tears to your eyes as he reaches into the hearts of his characters, allowing them to emote passion and sincerity. He had me searching for a tissue on more than one occasion..."

--NY Journal of Books,
John M. Wills, reviewer

It does wonderful things for my soul reading things like this. I loved every part of researching and writing this book. So satisfying to see it affecting others the same way. And I'm so grateful for the things God did back in 1857, the true events that inspired it (apologize for all the italics, can't shut them off for some reason).

Great Magazine Reviews for The Deepest Waters

Not sure why this is so (though I'll take it happily) but a number of national magazines, some who passed on my first two novels, are reviewing my 3rd book, The Deepest Waters, which releases in less than 2 weeks on April 1st. The reviews have been very positive.

Here's an excerpt from several I've received in the last week or so (this first one actually did give great reviews to my other novels):

4 Stars - "Walsh provides a story inspired by real events that reveals hope, true love, and faith in God. But it will also keep readers on the edge of their seats as they learn the fate of John and Laura. The story grabs you and carries you all the way through to the end..."

-- RT Book Reviews Magazine (has millions of subscribers and in bookstores everywhere)

"...Fans of faith-based historical fiction will find Walsh’s latest novel to be a compelling tale of hope and fortitude, while inspirational-romance readers are certain to go through a box of Kleenex waiting to see if Laura and John really do get their richly deserved happily-ever-after ending."

--Booklist Magazine (goes out to 90,000 librarians across the US)

"Inspired by real life events from 1857, where God did bring about one miracle after another, The Deepest Waters reminds the reader that even in hopeless situations, God is still at work. Walsh's emotional work matches the compelling storytelling of bestselling romance author Nicholas Sparks."

-- Christian Retailing Magazine (distributes monthly magazine to every retailer in the US who sells Christian material, over 10,000).

Needless to say, I'm very grateful that a book I labored on for almost a year is off to such an encouraging start.

Excerpts from Publisher's Weekly

If you've been following my blog, you know we've been expecting a writeup in Publisher's Weekly (PW), regarding my upcoming novel, The Deepest Waters. A few weeks ago, they contacted me for a phone interview and said they'd be reviewing the book, as well. For those who don't about PW, it is to publishing what the Wall Street Journal is to finance. It's been running continuously for 138 years and read by almost everyone in the publishing industry.

Well they ran both the interview and review today. Here's an excerpt from the interview:

"I'm a writer who became a pastor; back in 11th grade I got bit by the bug," says Walsh, who dedicated his first book, The Unfinished Gift, to Mrs. Connie Longnecker, his high school English teacher. So after a 25-year pastorate at a church in Florida, Walsh is returning to a love of writing he developed when Mrs. Longnecker took him aside and inspired him.

As a pastor, he wrote 6,000–8,000 words a week for his sermons, so he had plenty of practice before 2010, when he stepped down as a full-time pastor and became a full-time writer. "My blood pressure is doing much better as a writer. Writing has been really a relaxing thing for me, very calming," Walsh says.

The Unfinished Gift (2009) and The Homecoming (2010) were both set during WWII, but The Deepest Waters is set in the 19th century. "The first two are more like Hallmark movies, but The Deepest Waters is more like Masterpiece Theater," Walsh says. [Note from me here...didn't mean they deserve to be on Hallmark and Masterpiece Theater; he'd asked me how this book differed from the first two].

With The Deepest Waters, Walsh establishes himself as the writer he started out to be before taking a 25-year detour into ministry: a writer of character-driven historical fiction, crafted by a man who's been telling stories to a live audience for a quarter of a century.

Here's an excerpt from the PW review of The Deepest Waters:

"Walsh, a pastor turned full-time writer, surprises with a swashbuckling tale of a sunken pre–Civil War era steamship and its cargo of gold--and a newlywed couple who must make a harrowing decision. When a steamship heads directly into a hurricane on the Atlantic coast, John and Laura Foster must choose to stay together or be separated when women and children are evacuated to another ship. What makes the story more than romantic fluff is its basis in a true event, the sinking of the SS Central America and its payload of gold, and a dramatic subplot of Micah, a slave who longs to be free along with his family...With this novel Walsh establishes himself as a Christian historical fiction writer who crafts credible character-driven stories." -- Publishers Weekly

I can't wait for the book's release, now just one month away.

A Major Book Club picks The Deepest Waters

My publisher just informed me of some exciting news. Crossings Book Club has decided to make The Deepest Waters (my 3rd novel releasing April 1st) available to their book club members. Crossings is one of the largest book clubs and the largest Christian book club in the country, with 400,000 members.

One of the nicest aspects of this deal for me (and for the Crossings club members), is having this beautiful cover available in a hardback edition. I love all kinds of books, even ebooks, but hardbacks are still my favorites.

When the art department first sent me this cover, I was so taken with it. It is by far, my favorite one yet. I remember thinking as soon as I saw it, this is a cover that deserves to be a hardback (click on the cover to see it bigger). I hope thousands of Crossings club members are drawn to it, buy it, and love reading the story as much as I enjoyed writing it.