Ann Charles’ April Updates
Sometimes things don’t go as planned …
When I started this year, I had a lot of plans involving writing, writing, and more writing. But in early January, I received a text. My father had been badly burned in an accident and life-flighted to a hospital specializing in burn injuries. I flew back home to be with him and my family. He ended up staying in the hospital for nine weeks. During that time, he almost died twice. For five of those weeks, my stepmother and I sat in his hospital room with him daily for hours on end. I took my laptop computer with me, thinking I’d be able to write while I sat next to his bed. I thought wrong. The good news is, he is home now and recovering well. The bad news is I made very little progress on writing books during that time.
In March, after returning to Arizona, I found I still couldn’t focus on writing. For weeks, I read books, watched movies, and helped Sam Lucky work outside, cleaning up our yard after a snowy winter. Finally, at the beginning of April, the characters in my head started talking again. It was slow going at first, but I’m gaining momentum. The goal is to have the next Deadwood Mystery series Book 13 available in late summer. In the meantime, Sam Lucky is also working on Deadwood Undertaker Book 5, which we hope to release in the fall. So, more stories are coming your way. We were just delayed a little in the process.
In other news, Sam and I have figured out the dates for this year’s Deadwood get-together and our kids are almost done with school for another year. Our son (the oldest) graduates next month and has college plans in process. Our daughter is just looking forward to a mellow summer with some cruising involved since she’ll have her driver’s license by then.
On to highlights from this newsletter …
- THE BACKSIDE OF HADES (Book 4 of the Deadwood Undertaker series) is available as an audiobook now, as well as ebook and print.
- A LONG WAY FROM ORDINARY (Book 2 of the Deadwood Undertaker series) is FREE from April 23-27th, 2023 on AMAZON ONLY).
- Initial information about the upcoming 11th annual Deadwood Rendezvous with Ann and Sam (September 18-21, 2023).
- Free fun stickers to share with you.
- A yummy cookie recipe from Old Man Harvey.
Check out the details below!
Ann
THE BACKSIDE OF HADES Is Now Available in Audiobook Format
GREAT NEWS! Sam and I have a new audiobook available this month. The fifth book in the Deadwood Undertaker series, THE BACKSIDE OF HADES, is now out there for your listening entertainment! Jason Culp has done an amazing job once again bringing the Undertaker crew to life. Grab your copy now and enjoy more action-packed fun with the Santa Fe Sidewinders, Clementine, Hank, and more of their friends (and a few enemies).
“This here place? Worse than the backside of Hades.” ~Hank Varney
Back Cover Copy:
First let me say, a trip to Slagton weren’t my idea. This place is chock full of bad company done helped itself to a double dose of bad medicine.
Slagton needs cleanin’, accordin’ to Miss Clem, and I know the crew to do it. I’m one of ’em. Hank Varney’s the name. Miss Clem and me, along with the two Sidewinders from Santa Fe—we’ll get the sharp-toothed, knife-clawed vermin done cleared out.
Now some people say I’m lucky, but I don’t know if’n it’ll do me any good, what with the army of trouble me an’ the crew are facin’. If’n we don’t live through it, well, there goes Deadwood. Maybe even the whole of the Black Hills.
We’ll all be down the privy hole, lookin’ up at the Backside of Hades.
ANN’S Store
Apple Audiobooks
Audible Audiobooks
Amazon Audiobooks
Audibooks.com
Downpour
NOOK Audiobooks
Kobo
Chirp
Google Play
Scribd
Spotify
For a limited time—FREE Ebook on Amazon
Grab a free ebook copy of A LONG WAY FROM ORDINARY (Book 2 of the Deadwood Undertaker series) over on Amazon between April 23rd-April 27th, 2023!
Have this ebook already? Well then share the news with a friend or family member who you think might enjoy it. If you like to read books in order, the first one is out there for a great low price!
Don’t wait until April 28th, because you’ll be too late!
Here’s the link:
A LONG WAY FROM ORDINARY at Amazon
“There’s gold in them there hills!” … and something deadly, too.
Danger the likes Boone McCreery has never seen is brewing in the Black Hills. Fresh in from Santa Fe, he’s returned to Deadwood to seek justice for his uncle—and maybe to see about a girl. Little did he know his search for justice would have him stumbling into a hornets’ nest beyond his worst nightmare. One thing is for certain, the trouble he and his compadres chance upon deep in the trees is a LONG way from ordinary.
Kick up your spurs and enjoy another rip-roaring, wild ride with Boone, Rabbit, Clementine, and Hank through the pages of the second book in the Deadwood Undertaker series.
From the bestselling, multiple award-winning, humorous Deadwood Mystery series comes a new herd of tales set in the same Deadwood stomping grounds, only back in the days when the Old West town was young.
Free Sticker!
Sam and I have some fun stickers to mail you for free! You can choose between our hat and boots sticker or our Deadwood Undertaker Monsters sticker sheet. All you have to do is drop us an email at AnnCharlesAuthor@gmail.com with either “Hat and Boots” OR “Monsters” in the Subject line, your complete mailing address (in the email) and we’ll mail you a free sticker to jazz up your surroundings.
The Ann Charles & Sam Lucky Annual Deadwood Rendezvous 2023
Now that Sam and I are in the second decade of throwing yearly parties in Deadwood, we decided it’s time to change up a few things. First of all, the name of our get-together—It’s more of a “rendezvous” than a “party,” since we spend time sharing laughs and stories at multiple events. Secondly, we are changing things up this year, having several meet-and-greets instead of one big party. Many other aspects will stay the same, such as special reader events and multiple book signings at local realtors. Sam and I hope to see you this year for more great times in Deadwood and Lead!
DATE: September 18th-21st (Monday-Thursday)
We’ll have more details on my website in the next couple of months as we solidify plans. Stay tuned!
NOTE: The Friday through Sunday AFTER our Deadwood Rendezvous you can stay and attend the annual South Dakota Festival of Books in Deadwood (which I’ve been invited to attend as an author/speaker). Two great reader events in one week. It’s going to be a blast!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies
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 Old Man Harvey from DON’T LET IT SNOW IN DEADWOOD (Book 10).
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
Deadwood Mystery Series …
For all of you Violet Parker fans, there will be more crazy adventures coming in Book 13 (title TBA) in late Summer 2023. I’ll keep you updated in newsletters as the book is closer to being finished.
Deadwood Undertaker Series …
Book 5, HIP DEEP IN BAD COMPANY will be out in ebook and print this fall if all goes as Sam and I hope.
Dig Site Series …
I am still trying to get the 3rd Dig Site book into my schedule for 2023. I’m looking forward to heading back down to Mexico to see what’s happening in the jungle!
Jackrabbit Junction Series …
There will be more from the wild and wily Morgan sisters, but I have a couple of other books to write first. Stay tuned!
Happy Spring!
Ann
Oh Ann, I am so sorry to hear about your dad, but glad he is now home and mending. My heart goes out to you and your family, No worries about writing until you ate ready…not sure how anyone would be able to concentrate with all that!! Your fans are here keeping the home fires burning and you and yours in our hearts.