From 3rd Grade Dreamer to Award-winning Author: Danielle Grandinetti

She penned her first short story in third grade and hasn't stopped since. We chat to Danielle Grandinetti, author of The Italian Musician's Sanctuary, the second book in the multi-author, multi-genre series, Our House on Sycamore Street.

When did you start writing?

I’ve penned (with pencil and paper) my first short story in third grade, and haven’t

stopped.

What are some of your hobbies?

I love taking nature pictures, attempting to maintain an herb garden, and dehydrating/preserving food, and crocheting, too.

What’s your most bizarre life experience?

Honestly, one of the most … unexpected … situations happened while flying from the US to Uganda. A delayed flight caused us to miss our connection, and so we were booked on a flight through Egypt. From the heavily armed security to the moon shining in a cloudless sky as we waited outside for our next connecting flight … it's an experience I'll never forget.

What's your favourite book or author?

While it’s hard for me to narrow down a favourite book, there's one author whose books

constantly hit my top reads of the year: Roseanna M. White. A special shout-out to her,

too, because she helped me talk through the spiritual struggles Luke faces in The Italian

Musician’s Sanctuary, which is why this story is dedicated to her, and her Patrons &

Peers.

What kind of research did you do for The Italian Musician’s Sanctuary?

This story grew out of research I did for another novel, Sheltered by the Doctor. As a

second generation Italian-American, I enjoy writing Italian characters. However, it was also heartbreaking to write about a particularly dark period in Italian history.

How did you choose your character's name? The heroine’s name is Margherita. In Italian it means daisy. I chose it because I wanted to give my heroine a gentle, but strong name to fit her situation.

Are your characters based on anyone you know?

No, however, I do draw from personal experience. I’ve injured my leg many times,

including while out of the country, and know how hard it is to function. I’ve also been to Italy, and studied the language, so I was able to include what I’ve learned in the story.

Fourteen doors... all you have to do is knock.

What do you enjoy about participating in author collaborations?

I love collaborations! It’s such fun to meet other authors, to share creative ideas. The

comradery and uplifting one another is such a blessing.

Any advice for the aspiring authors out there? Particularly those who are feeling a little discouraged?

Keep going. Keep reading. Keep writing. Keep building friendships. It took a long time

for my third grade dream to become a reality, but it was worth all the learning and

experience to be where I’m at today. And the best part is all the relationships along the

way.

More about Danielle:

Danielle Grandinetti is an award-winning inspirational romance author fueled by tea, books, and the creative beauty of nature. She mixes romance and suspense, and brings history to life while her stories show finding home and hope in hard times. Married to her hero, Danielle is a second-generation Italian-American, a dairy farmer’s granddaughter, and a boy mom from Chicagoland who now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline. Find her online at daniellegrandinetti.com.

Buy The Italian Musician's Sanctuary here.