We chat with author Annie McQuaid about Crash Landing, which is a funny and heartwarming debut romance about two exes forced to reunite when a plane crash leaves them stranded on a deserted island.
Hi, Annie! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi, thanks for having me! I’m a writer and lifelong bookworm who calls North Carolina home. I studied creative writing and communications at Elon University, which amplified my love of storytelling and set the stage for my career as a marketing director for an edtech company. Besides reading and writing, I love reality TV shows, movies of all kinds, trips to the beach, spending time with my nieces, and Taylor Swift – not necessarily in that order.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t begging to go to the library to check out more books or staying up late under the covers with a flashlight reading. It wasn’t until 8th grade that I discovered my love for writing — and that I might have a talent for it. My English teacher at the time encouraged me to pursue my writing and entered me in a state-wide writing contest. That was the turning point for me and I’ve been writing in one form or another ever since.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Boxcar Children (I still vividly remember realizing I could read a “chapter book” on my own as a little kid and how many doors into new worlds that unlocked for me)
- The one that made you want to become an author: Beach Read by Emily Henry (inspired me to start writing romance during the pandemic)
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Annie Bot by Sierra Greer (this one is wild, beautifully written, and a little terrifying)
Your debut novel, Crash Landing, is out April 1st! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Romantic, action packed, funny, sweet.
Or: Exes trapped on an island
What can readers expect?
I’ve been told by several early readers that Crash Landing is a fast read that’s hard to put down once you start! Readers can expect a thrilling beach read with a blend of romance, adventure, and humor.
Where did the inspiration for Crash Landing come from?
The inspiration came from a mix of things. I’ve always been captivated by survival stories and the way people adapt to extreme situations. Growing up, some of my favorite books were Hatchet, Julie of the Wolves, Island of the Blue Dolphins, and The Black Stallion. I’ve always had in the back of my mind and itch to write something that explored similar themes.
Another key influence was reading One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I couldn’t stop thinking about one of the characters who is presumed dead but is actually stranded on an island for over a year (sorry for the spoiler). It made me think “What if both of the main characters had been stranded together?” That concept, combined with my love for survival stories, helped shape the first draft of Crash Landing, which was less of a romance and much more of a gritty survival tale. After many more drafts, and reading tons of romance books, it morphed into a more lighthearted rom-com with the survival element as the backdrop.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I had the most fun writing the “then” timeline set in high school. There is something so sweet and wholesome about falling in love for the first time. I’m still close with my friends from high school and we reminisce all the time about those days, so it was easy to put myself back in that mindset of football games, prom, and first crushes. Those scenes flowed out of me and onto the page so easily and are the only parts of the book that have remained largely unchanged through every revision.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges was finding the right balance between the humor and the more serious survival elements. It was important to me that the story didn’t feel too heavy, even though the characters were dealing with life-or-death situations, because I wanted this story to provide a fun escape for the readers. I had to make sure the humor felt authentic and grounded in the reality of their experience.
This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
I can’t believe we’re finally to debut launch! I didn’t originally plan on publishing Crash Landing, but as I was writing I kept thinking “Can I push this further or make it better?” Once I took my manuscript as far as I could on my own, I entered it into the Kiss Pitch mentorship program and was picked by the co-author team Erin Rose who helped take my story to the next level. They encouraged me to query literary agents, and after a few months, I got “the call” from my lovely agent Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong.
I got very lucky while on submission and my editor, Tessa Woodward at Avon, scooped Crash Landing up in a two-book deal! However, I’m a firm believer that everyone’s path to publishing will look different and what worked out for one person may not be what works for another, and that’s okay.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on my second book. It’s not quite as dramatic as surviving a plane crash, but it’s still an action-packed romance with the opposites-attract trope, tons of flirting lessons, and the perfect “only one tent” setup. I can’t wait to share more soon!
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
There are SO many books coming out this year that I’m excited about! I feel so lucky to be debuting in a year full of amazing stories. Besides the books I’ve already read, here are the ones high on my TBR:
Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan, Sparring Partners by Erin Rose, Just My Luck by Emily Wood, Digging Dr. Jones by Olivia Jackson, Secret Nights and Northern Lights by Megan Oliver, Courtroom Drama by Neely Tuabti Alexander, The Summers Between Us by Noreen Nanja, Love is a War Song by Danica Nava, Roommating by Meredith Schorr, The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold by Ally Carter and Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson.
And that’s just a few!
