Annalisa Daughety, a graduate of Freed-Hardeman University, writes contemporary fiction set in historic locations. She is the author of seven previous novels, including Love Finds You in Charm, Ohio and Love is a Battlefield. Annalisa lives in a small town in Arkansas with three spoiled dogs and is hard at work on her next book.
Congratulations on the release of your novella “Beneath the Surface” in the collection Rainbow’s End. Please tell us a bit about this novella and how it came to be.
In “Beneath the Surface,” Madison Wallace returns to her small hometown to participate in the Rainbow’s End Treasure Hunt with her sister. She isn’t very excited about the prospect of traipsing around the Ozarks for two months—and is even less excited to be back in her hometown. Grant Simmons agrees to participate in the treasure hunt in order to spend time with his grandfather. When their partners back out at the last minute, Madison and Grant begrudgingly team up.
When I set out to write this story, I wanted to show how sometimes a snap judgment can be way off the mark. Grant sees Madison’s polished exterior and immediately pegs her as a certain “type”—and likewise, Madison believes Grant to be a bumbling country boy. The story is really about looking a little deeper and getting to know the person hiding “beneath the surface.”
Is this your first/only release? If not, what has released recently or about to be released that our readers would like to know about?
This is my eighth release and I have three more books releasing this year. (Can’t Help Falling in Love, Love Finds You at Home for Christmas, and A Wedding Date in Hot Springs) My most recent release is A Wedding to Remember in Charleston, South Carolina, which is part of Barbour’s Destination Romance line.
What special something do you try to bring to every story you write?
My books often deal with difficult topics but I always include humor. Even in the most serious situation, I look for a way to add a light moment. I think it’s the same way in real life—even if I’m going through something awful, there is always something to smile about.
What’s the most off-the-wall piece of research you’ve ever done?
I love to research! When I wrote Love is Grand, I visited the Grand Canyon and did some hiking because a pivotal scene in the book takes place during a hike of the Bright Angel Trail. When I was writing Love Finds You in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, I traveled to Lancaster County and spend two nights on a dairy farm. I learned how to milk cows and even got to bottle feed a baby calf!
What’s one small bit of you that’s in your novella’s main character?
Madison Wallace is very independent—just like me!
What are five random facts your readers probably didn’t know about you–until today?
1. I collect vintage aprons.
2. I know how to fire a Civil War musket.
3. I was the pitcher on many softball teams: summer league, college intramurals, and church league. I miss playing!
4. Three of my aunts are published authors.
5. I was named after a book character—the book Airs Above the Ground by Mary Stewart has a character named ‘Annalisa’ in it. My mom happened to read the book while she was pregnant with me, and the rest is history!
If you could go on an all-expenses-paid month-long vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go? What would you do there?
I have two answers. First, I’d go back to Florence, Italy. I spent a semester there during college and loved it—the language, the art, the people, the food! I’d love to go back and spend my days eating gelato and wandering around looking at the beautiful architecture and visiting museums.
But I’d also like to go somewhere that I’ve never been—maybe to an island in the Caribbean. I would want it to be a place where my phone and computer didn’t work so I could spend an uninterrupted month sitting in the sunshine, reading books and napping. Either of those vacations sounds wonderful to me! Or both. . .
Where or how do you like to connect with your readers?
I love to connect with readers on various sites.
Facebook
Twitter
website
blog
Thanks so much for letting us get to know you a little!
