Meet the author: Anna Daugherty

Hello, hello! This month I’d like to introduce you to author Anna Daugherty. Anna is a Texas-based author and editor, with a journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin. With unflinching honesty, Anna brings the light of grace to the darkest issues facing believers today. Reviewers described her debut novel, Outside of Grace as “exceptional,” “powerful,” and “[one] you won’t want to put down.” Her second novel will be out in October 2024. She has also published articles and short stories for local and international publications, including Austin Monthly, WestJet Magazine, Fragmented Voices, Community Impact Newspaper, and more.

Anna lives in the hill country with her husband and three young daughters. When she isn't writing or chasing a toddler, she can usually be found enjoying the outdoors, going for a run, or reading a book while burning dinner.

1. What is your favorite part of the writing process, and least favorite part of the writing process?

I love almost every step of creating a story—I love crafting characters, dreaming up scenes, the writing itself, and even editing. The earliest stages are probably my favorite, when I’m just beginning to imagine it all. I tend to get a bit spacey. My husband will sometimes find me staring at a wall or mumbling to myself, and ask if my imaginary friends are talking to me again. Why, yes, they are, and they’ve just helped me create the next scene!

My least favorite part is when the writing ends and the work of publishing begins. Putting those beloved words out for all to see and judge is an act of vulnerability. And marketing can become all-consuming, it’s hard to ever feel accomplished when you can always do more.

2. Do you prefer writing fiction or non-fiction? 

What a hard question! I love and write both. I studied journalism at the University of Texas and worked as a journalist for several years, so my background is certainly in nonfiction. Since switching to fiction, though, I have fallen in love with creating worlds and stories. I firmly believe in the power of a good story, and enjoy the challenge of writing one! Fiction may be my current preference, but I do see the potential for a nonfiction book down the road.

3. Your debut novel Outside of Grace is a very tender and powerful story; where did you get the inspiration and idea?

The heart of the story comes from my own experience of wrestling with my faith in college. Having grown up in the church and then faced isolation and bullying as a young adult, I wanted to explore the lost feeling many Christians have when their faith is tested. I also wanted to honor the stories of friends who have experienced assault, and tackle the way purity culture adds undue baggage and shame to women.

Another part of the inspiration came from feeling frustrated with what I was reading in Christian fiction. I felt like many stories either glossed over faith, or portrayed it in a glowy, quick-fix way. As a Christian for nearly 20 years now, I have seen many “dark nights of the soul,” yet I have also seen how God brings light and grace to those times (though it may not be instantaneous), and my goal in Outside of Grace was to showcase that.

4. Where is someplace you feel most at home?

I love being outdoors. Give me a hammock in the shade any day (well, when it’s not 100+ degrees here in Texas), and I instantly feel peaceful. Another favorite outdoor spot is the pond near our house. As a total introvert, I’ll take almost any natural area that’s quiet and uncrowded!

5. What kind of books do you gravitate toward in your own reading life? 

I’m a sucker for clean, light-hearted romance. I miss the heyday of rom com films, so I turn to novels to fill in those gaps for me. I also read a lot of non-fiction about motherhood, because with three little girls, I’m always looking for wisdom and encouragement as a mom.

6. What is one of the best pieces of advice you’ve ever gotten?

Growing up, my mom always told me to “just take the next step.” Sometimes, things look too big (like publishing a novel!), and it’s easy to get stuck in a state of overwhelm. When you just figure out the next thing to do, however small it may seem, you can make progress. Sure, a fully mapped out life plan is nice, but sometimes you can’t see that far, and you need to just take the next step to find a little clarity about what’s ahead. Thanks, mom!

You can get a copy of Anna’s novel Outside of Grace here. Give her a follow on Instagram or Facebook, or check out her website www.annadwrites.com 

Talk again soon!