June 2024: Zappity-zap, a new book, and more great stuff!
Stuff from Ann’s Brain …
When I was a little kid, like four or so, I stuck a bobby pin in a light socket to see what would happen. I can clearly remember the before-being-zapped moment, the during-being-zapped moment, and the after-being-zapped moment. I can see my little hand reaching out, feel the jolt of pain and surprise, and remember the tears that followed.
A couple of years later, I remember touching an electric fence to see what that felt like. I’d heard many warnings from my dad and my brothers not to pee on the electric fence, so there was no way I would do something that crazy. But just a touch with my finger wouldn’t be a big deal, would it? Well, it sort of was. Again, my hand reaching out, followed by a zap, and then tears.
Now some of you would think there is a metaphor for life in these two examples of my young naïveté. You reach out to try something exciting (whether it be a new job, a new friendship, or a new hubba-hubba); you get a little jolt from the experience—maybe good, maybe bad; and then there are tears—again, maybe good, maybe bad.
Some (namely authors) might say this is a metaphor for writing books: Reach out (aka publish a book), ZAP! (receive reviews), tears (which may or may not be augmented by too much alcohol used in celebration or in sorrow drowning).
Some might think that these experiences are my “inspirations” for writing stories that include pain and a lot of cringing often followed by laughter—occasionally even tears of laughter.
In truth, I mention these two experiences because all these decades later I still have no idea why in the heck I would foolishly dabble with something that would zap my butt, and I periodically wonder what in the planets I was thinking. It also makes me wonder, from time to time, about the quality and measurement of my intelligence.
Maybe the answer is actually something simple: I was Dr. Frankenstein’s monster in a past life and believed I needed electricity to zap my brain to life. You know, based on my love for sugar, I think maybe I might have been a cockroach in a different past life, too.
But I digress, and we have a newsletter to check out that includes:
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A BRAND NEW book in the Deadwood Undertaker series available for pre-order! YAY!!! |
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Another FREE ebook from an amazing author. |
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A new prize to be won for June’s Newsletter drawing. |
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An opportunity to join Sam and my Deadwood Prospector promo team and have a chance at even MORE fun prizes. |
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A yummy pie recipe. |
Check out all of the great stuff below!
In the meantime, stay zap-free,
Ann
New Book! New Book!
EBOOK AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!!! (Release date: June 28th)
Hip Deep in Bad Company (Deadwood Undertaker Book 5)
Print book available June 28th.
(Audiobook release date TBD)
BACK COVER COPY
I ran freight and wagon trains for years from Missouri to Santa Fe. Courted death from arrows to snake bites, drowning to dysentery, each and every trip. Came through all that only to be dealt a bad hand in Deadwood. Got myself killed.
Now the Grim Reaper is swinging for my boys, too. They’re men, actually, and I won’t let them end up dead like me. Same goes for their friends, Clementine the Amazon and Hank Varney.
First thing, we need to reckon with that smokey Egyptian devil. His no-good henchmen are searching for something underneath the streets of Deadwood. One thing’s for sure—it’s not gold.
Second, the Pinkertons tracked my boys all the way to the Black Hills. I figured they would, but hoped they wouldn’t. My boys will end up in jail yet.
Not so long ago, Deadwood seemed like a good place to set up a freight office, but now the Hills are hip deep in bad company. Sooner or later, the devils around here are going to kill us all. Well, not all, unless you can kill a fella twice.
“I’m a ghost. A specter, some would say. A spirit. A shade, the hallucination of a compromised mind. Whatever moniker you prefer, that’s me. Excepting that last one.” ~Uncle Morton
BUY LINKS:
Psst—GOOD NEWS! If you don’t want to wait for the official JUNE 28th release date for the new Deadwood Undertaker ebook, YOU CAN GET THE EBOOK NOW in my online store (you will need to email the downloaded file to your ereading device or account). [Click here to go to Ann’s store.]
**Amazon**
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Canada
Australia
UK
**Apple**
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Canada
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Australia
**Barnes & Noble**
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**KOBO**
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Canada
UK
Australia
Booksigning in Deadwood on July 2nd!
Sam and I will be in Deadwood at the beginning of July for my mom’s Celebration of Life and we’ve decided to make time for a booksigning at Chubby Chipmunk Hand-dipped Chocolates. My mom would insist that the show must go on, so we will honor her life on July 2nd by toasting some truffles in her honor.
A little backstory … Chubby Chipmunk has been one of our longest-running retailers. “Chip” originally contacted my mom many, many moons ago and asked if she could carry the Deadwood Mystery series books in her store. Since then, it’s been laughs, chocolate, hugs, more chocolate, book signings, and even more chocolate. Now Chip is retired and my mom is gone, but Chip’s son and daughter-in-law (Seth and Carolie) are still working with Sam and me, continuing to carry our books there. I love how small towns often work like that—one generation passing the torch to the next.
Note: This will be a shorter signing than usual, running from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2nd.
AUTHOR STAR SPOTLIGHT: FREE Ebook Every Month!!!
Each month in 2024 I’m going to showcase an author friend who I think is quite wonderful. I’m going to tell you a little about her, in case you haven’t heard of this particular author yet, and then I’m going to include a special link in my monthly newsletter where you can go to get a FREE ebook from her.
There are already 12 authors lined up for this fun monthly treat for you newsletter subscribers, and they are each ready to share a FREE ebook to give you a chance to escape on the virtual pages with some of their favorite characters.
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The star in this month’s spotlight is … Jane Hinchey!
June’s Wonderful Author is …Jane Hinchey. Jane enjoys crafting tales of paranormal cozy mysteries sprinkled with urban fantasy romance. Between sips of coffee and dodging her mischievous cats, she immerses herself in stories where magic meets everyday life.
Once known as Zahra Stone in the world of urban fantasy, she has now merged those fiery tales under the Jane Hinchey banner. Off the page you’ll find her binging on true crime documentaries or sneaking in a power nap.
Snuggle in to your favorite reading spot, grab a cup of something delicious and join Jane. Escape into a world where the extraordinary is just around the corner.
Click HERE to head over to Jane’s website so that you can learn more about her and her books!
YOU can become a DEADWOOD PROSPECTOR!
If you’d like to join the Deadwood Prospector team and help us in telling everyone from your fellow hardware store shoppers to your favorite camping buddies about our newest book, sign up to become a Deadwood Prospector by sending an email to DeadwoodProspector@gmail.com with your full name and mailing address with HIP DEEP PROSPECTOR in the Subject line.
NOTE—If you have any trouble with emailing the gmail account, send us a message with all the information via the CONNECT page on the Ann Charles website (anncharles.com/connect). We will make sure you are added to the list.
As usual for our promotional superstars, we will have a drawing for some fun prizes for those who help us get the word out about HIP DEEP IN BAD COMPANY and the Deadwood Undertaker series.
Detailed instructions will be emailed by July 6th. However, you don’t need to wait until that date to start promoting HIP DEEP IN BAD COMPANY. If you’ve already shared on Facebook or another social media venue (or left us a book review), just let us know about it by emailing DeadwoodProspector@gmail.com
Now back to enjoying the rowdy ruckus of the Old West!
Ann & Sam
Sign Up to WIN WIN WIN!
Every month, I’ll be offering a chance to win a fun-filled gift pack containing different books and goodies.
This month, you can enter a drawing to win a Deadwood Undertaker gift from us. This pack of goodies contains:
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An autographed, limited edition “Rawhide” copy of the Deadwood Undertaker series book 4, The Backside of Hades. (This book was released early for the Deadwood Fan Party in 2022 and contains a few errors since it hadn’t gone through the official final editing phase yet.) |
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An audio book CD of Life at the Coffin Joint (Book 1 of the Deadwood Undertaker series). |
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An autographed set of Deadwood Undertaker series magnets. |
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Several Deadwood Undertaker series stickers and patches. |
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Set of 4 Wood Coasters from Deadwood Undertaker Series. |
To enter your name in the drawing for this gift pack: Send me an email with your full name and mailing address to AnnCharlesAuthor@gmail.com with “June Drawing” in the Subject line.
CONGRATULATIONS TO TARA BEUTOW FROM WATERTOWN, SOUTH DAKOTA ON WINNING THE MAY PRIZE PACKAGE! I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE BOOK AND PROMO GOODIES. ~ANN
Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
Here is another yummy recipe from the out-of-print 2020 Ann Charles MOON THE COOK cookbook, which Mark and Michelle Davis helped put together.
This month, Mark, Michelle and I decided to share a recipe from Bighorn Billy’s, a favorite diner in the Deadwood Mystery series.
NOTE: This cookbook sold out in 2020, so for those of you who were unable to buy a copy from my Ann Charles online store before it was gone, now you’ll have access to some of the great recipes via my monthly newsletters.
Wrap Up
What comes next?
I’m going to keep this short. The current release plan (insert the old saying here: “God willin’ and the creek don’t rise”) is as follows:
First—Deadwood Mystery series Book 14.
Then—(depending on which book reaches “The End … for now” first) Either Deadwood Undertaker #6 OR Dig Site Mystery #3 (FINALLY!!!), followed by the other one that reaches the end second.
AND Then (in 2025)—Jackrabbit Junction series Book 7.