I recently had an interview request that requested a bio, a headshot, and … a picture of my cats. This was NOT for a pet-related blog, so I laughed out loud when I read the request.

It appears my cats are catching up with me on the social media racetrack.

I blame Loki, especially, for winning the popularity contest. Two of his pictures were voted to be in my 2026 Traveling with Ann calendar.

He’s a camera ham and comes running whenever he sees me taking pictures with my phone, including the photo above when he decided he wanted to be in one of the calendar promo shots.

Anyway, if I can train the cats to be my butler, I’ll be a go with playing second fiddle to a feline or two. And that’s a capital IF … ha ha ha ha ha.

In this newsletter …

**It’s time for another online booksigning with yours truly. We’re having the signing just before Thanksgiving this year so that we can beat the crazy times at the post office and get ahead of the mailing madness.

**Join my Review Crew and throw your hat in the ring to win some cool prizes.

**Head over to Zazzle.com and grab a beautiful 2026 Traveling with Ann wall calendar (see link in the One Liners section at the end of the newsletter).

I hope your November is full of fun fall festivities!

Ann

Join Ann’s Review Crew! PRIZES! PRIZES! PRIZES! To enter the drawing, leave a review for Chewed Up by the Jungle! HAVE YOU READ MY NEWEST BOOK, CHEWED UP BY THE JUNGLE? If so, I’d love you to join my review crew! It’s easy peasy (oh, and there are prizes to be won, too). WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL WITH REVIEWS? Over the years, I have been a fortunate author. Many kind readers have taken the time to write reviews for my books on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, etc. These reviews have lured new-to-me readers to give my books a try, which in turn makes each new release more exciting and keeps me typing away at my keyboard while new stories flow onto the pages. It’s a wonderful circle and I am so appreciative that I can keep telling stories about my characters’ adventures year after year. WHAT IS A REVIEW CREW? I decided to change things up this year and reward readers who leave reviews sprinkled here and there. HOW DOES THIS WORK? 1. Write and post a review for Chewed Up by the Jungle with Amazon, Goodreads, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Apple, the local newspaper, a truckstop bathroom stall door, mass fliers dropped from an airplane, etc–you get the picture. 2. Email me a link to your review (or send a copy of it) and your mailing address. Be sure to let me know where you left the review. Send it to: AnnCharlesAuthor@gmail.com with BOOK REVIEW in the Subject line. 3. Go out and share the review on another platform and send me that information, too. You can throw your hat into the ring multiple times for the drawing. (See the image above for some of the prizes to be won.) Review Crew

One Liners …

I’m reading back through the Jackrabbit Junction Mystery series this month…

My goal is to start writing Book 7 in that series by December (after I spend some time plotting and planning over the Thanksgiving holiday).

Grab a 2026 Traveling with Ann WALL calendar from Zazzle…

Click HERE to head over to Zazzle and buy your 2026 wall calendar.

YouTube is still growing…

I have plans for this next year to add some new content to my YouTube channel that will give you more insight to my writing life, but in the meantime, check out my latest HERE.

Patreon is also still growing…

Come on over to Patreon (you can join for FREE or as a PAYING member) as I keep finding different ways to entertain you at Ann Charles Alpha Club on Patreon, INCLUDING AN ONLINE BOOK CLUB CHAT THIS MONTH FOR ALL MEMBERS.

Stay tuned for another newsletter later this month with your monthly free ebook and tasty recipe!

Ann

October Newsletter PART 2 … a new book for you!

When I was prepping to write the third book in the Dig Site Mystery series, I thought I’d try to write a shorter book than usual.

(My usual is about 120,000 words.)

Yeah. Right. Sometimes I think that I sniffed too much paint as a kid.

(That would certainly help explain these character voices in my head that like to weave together multiple plotlines while telling their stories.)

It turned out that I did NOT write a shorter book. In fact, this latest in the Dig Site Mystery series is one of my longer tales, and I added some fun extras that I haven’t included before in my other books.

(Experimenting with different story elements and styles is what keeps writing exciting for me.)

You’ll see what I mean when you read Chewed Up by the Jungle.

Another book down … and a lot more to come!

Can you believe I’m almost 40-books-old in author age?

(Actually, if you count the other books I wrote prior to publishing my first, I’m over 40, but those were all practice runs.)

For a girl who didn’t want to be an archaeologist because there was too much writing involved, I seem to enjoy pecking away at a keyboard.

(Although these days, I am trying to spend more time with my family, too.)

I also enjoy drinking beverages while I write. For my birthday, I often line up various drinks to have throughout the day.

(This has become such a thing that my daughter made me a cool wooden drink carrier for Mother’s Day this year so that I can carry 4 drinks to my office at once. FOUR. Ha! I love the way her gift-making mind works.)

I’m always looking for fun new drinks

(Especially non-alcoholic ones so that I can write coherently while sipping, LOL.) 

When you finish reading through this short newsletter, I’d love it if you replied and let me know some drinks you enjoy (alcoholic or not).

(I learned about several new candy mixes after the last newsletter. Thank you to ALL who wrote to me and shared your favorites.)

Okay, enough from these two voices rambling on in my head.

(Yeah! On to the exciting stuff!)

In this newsletter …

**FINALLY! The brand-freaking-new ebook version of Chewed Up by the Jungle (Dig Site #3) is available to order from my store!

**REMEMBER … In case you haven’t bought the first ebook in the Dig Site series yet, Look What the Wind Blew In (Dig Site #1) is on sale THIS MONTH ONLY over on Amazon for US and Canadian folks.

**It’s 2026 calendar voting time over on my website!

Raise a glass of your favorite October drink with me to celebrate another new book!

Ann

AVAILABLE Now! “Quint and Angélica are back in another archaeology adventure! Don’t miss this spooky romp through the jungle with Ann Charles’ unique blend of humor, adventure, romance, and edge-of-your-seat excitement!”  ~Kristy McCaffrey, Award-winning Author of the Pathway Adventure Series Available NOW in Ann’s Store!  Buy Link for Ann’s Store: Chewed Up by the Jungle  Whatever lies in wait in the jungle isn’t just history … it’s hungry! Deep in the Yucatán Peninsula sits a long forgotten, mysterious site—lost to time, swallowed by the jungle, haunted by ancient secrets. Archaeologist Dr. Angélica García is chasing clues, and she will stop at nothing to uncover the site’s history. Was it a sacred center? A place of long-forgotten rituals? Or something far more sinister? Quint Parker, a sharp-eyed photojournalist, is chasing Angélica. He never signed up for old curses, creepy whispers in the shadows, or man-eating mosquitoes. He just wants to make sure his girlfriend makes it out of the jungle—alive. The deeper they dig into the past, the more they must confront a deadly truth: Some places should never be disturbed! OFFICIAL RELEASE DATE IN ALL RETAILERS: October 22, 2025 B&N pre-order KOBO: pre-order! Apple pre-order: COMING SOON! Amazon pre-order! Google: pre-order! BUY the Ebook from me NOW!

Help me pick out photos for my 2026 Traveling with Ann Calendar Head over to my website to vote for which of my photos will be included in my 2026 Traveling with Ann Calendar. You can choose TWO photos and leave the corresponding numbers of those photos in the comments for me to tally later. Click the button below to vote! GO VOTE!

One Liners …

Hip Deep in Bad Company (Deadwood Undertaker #5) is now available as an audiobook …

Purchase the audiobook via our Ann Charles online store and escape to the Old West for another exciting adventure narrated by Jason Culp.

Don’t forget I have a free ebook link in each month this year in my newsletter. from This month’s spotlight was author, Louisa West …

Click here to sign up for the monthy newsletter.

Ann’s Alpha Club on Patreon is growing…

Come on over to Patreon (you can join for FREE or as a PAYING member) as I keep finding different ways to entertain you at Ann Charles Alpha Club on Patreon,

Stay tuned for one more batch of treats to come this month, including October’s yummy recipe and my monthly prize drawing offer (prize drawing information available through newsletter only)!

Ann

Let the Treats Begin!

October Newsletter PART 1 …

I have to be honest with you about something that is often a tad controversial.

Something that I have been a fan of for as long as I can remember.

Something about which many (sadly) won’t agree.

But I’m going to share this with you anyway.

I LOVE candy corn. In particular, Brach’s candy corn made with real honey.

NOT those candy pumpkins though. Blah.

So, I know many of you are covering your eyes and shaking your heads, but I can’t help it.

When you finish reading through this short newsletter, reply and let me know your favorite Halloween candy.

In this newsletter …

**Hip Deep in Bad Company (Deadwood Undertaker #5) is now available as an audiobook narrated by Jason Culp (same as all of the previous books) through our Ann Charles online store! Grab your audiobook and escape to the wild and supernatural Old West this month!

**Look What the Wind Blew In (Dig Site #1) is on sale THIS MONTH ONLY over on Amazon for US and Canadian folks (SORRY, Amazon chose where to put it on sale, not me).

**Grab your FREE ebook (New Witch on the Block) from Louisa West.

**Check out the short video (over on my YouTube channel–see the LINK at the end of this email) that Sam and I made driving down Deadwood’s Main Street and up into Lead ending at the Open Cut near Prudence’s house.

Happy start of October!

Ann

The Audiobook is here! YAY!!! Grab the audiobook version of Undertaker Series Book 5–Hip Deep in Bad Company (narrated by Jason Culp) from my Ann Charles Online store today and escape with Rabbit, Boone, Clementine, Uncle Mort, and Hank! (Many thanks to the Kickstarter backers who made this Undertaker audiobook happen. You guys rock!) Click to grab the AUDIOBOOK now!

On Sale! On Sale! On Sale! Look What the Wind Blew In is on sale this month! “Witty dialogue, ancient curses, deadly secrets, and a steamy romance make this non-stop action mystery a knockout!” ~Chanticleer Book Reviews From a USA TODAY Bestselling and multi-award-winning author comes a captivating, rousing, and lively trip to the land of the Maya in Mexico … Welcome to the jungle! When a tall, dark, and unwelcome photojournalist walks onto Dr. Angélica García’s dig site, she’s ready to send him packing. But Quint Parker isn’t leaving until he finds the answer to a deadly mystery from his past. Neither are prepared to deal with the ancient Maya curse threatening them both. Can they learn to trust each other enough to make it out of the jungle alive? ON SPECIAL! THIS MONTH ON AMAZON (US AND CANADA only) BUY the EBOOK now!

Louisa West Hello… is it me you’re looking for? I can see it in your eyes—you need to know more about the crazy girl behind the books, right? I’ve been telling stories as soon as I could talk and writing them down once I could hold a pen. I started writing ‘seriously’ in my late twenties and became a full-time author in 2020. I’ve written over twenty books, and they all hold a special piece of my heart.

Louisa’s Facebook Page

One Liners …

Chewed Up by the Jungle (Dig Site Book 3) is almost ready for your eyes…

I’ll be sending a newsletter with ebook links VERY SOON!

YouTube Trip through Deadwood and up to Lead…

Head on over to YouTube and join Sam and me for a quick trip through Violet’s stomping grounds.

Patreon is getting rolling…

Come on over to Patreon (you can join for FREE or as a PAYING member) as I keep finding different ways to entertain you at Ann Charles Alpha Club on Patreon. 

Stay tuned for more treats to come!
Ann

I’m going to keep this puppy short and sweet, because I’m almost to the big exciting moment near the end of Chewed Up by the Jungle (Book 3 in the Dig Site Mystery series), and I want to get back to the jungle with the Dig Site crew before I miss out on what happens next.

Want to keep up on what’s going on here in my writing land in just a few minutes each week?

One of the easiest ways to find out what I’m doing in story-writing and story-marketing land is to “Subscribe” to my Ann Charles YouTube page and watch for my weekly Write-On! check-ins that are only 3 minutes long (or less).

There is NO COST to subscribe to my YouTube page and watch my videos. You only pay for YouTube IF you want to watch videos without commercials.

Me? I just use those commercial breaks to do what we used to in the old days when we had just 3 channels to watch … run to the kitchen and grab some chips from the cupboard.

Below is one of my latest Write-On! videos (only about 3 minutes long) where I show you some of the books I’m reading/using for research for the third book in the Dig Site Mystery series. Oh, and one of our cats makes an appearance.

Click on the video below to watch.

My video is here!

Anyway … onto July’s lowdown:

I have some great free stuff in store for you this month.

Next month, I am thinking I’ll split the newsletters in two, sending one in early August and another in late August, diving up the content so that the newsletters are shorter and quicker to read through.

If you have any thoughts on that, feel free to reply to this newsletter and let me know.

• Ann’s & Sam’s schedule for Deadwood in August 2025
• A FREE Ebook from the hilarious Robyn Peterman
• A chance to win one of TWO prizes this month
• And … another recipe from Moon the Cook

Happy Jungle-filled July!

Ann

Congratulations to last month’s winners of the audiobook copies (CD-Rom) of Book 2 and 3 of the Deadwood Undertaker series: Karen Evans and Kaite Rian!

All the details for my prize drawings are included in my monthly newsletter: https://anncharles.com/connect/

July’s recipe:

Pumpkin Bars

Another recipe from the Ann Charles MOON THE COOK cookbook, with recipes compiled by Mark and Michelle Davis.

Enjoy this recipe courtesy of Mark Davis himself!

*****

More recipes are available in my past newsletters…

This cookbook sold out in 2020, but you can access some of the recipes via my newsletters.

“What now, Ann?” you ask yet again.

Well, it all started last year when I began getting frustrated because I couldn’t reach those on Facebook and Instagram who’d signed up to “Follow” me there or hit “Like” on my author page. I’d write and share a post, but then behind the scenes, I’d receive a message from the Facebook “gods” that they had allowed only 50 of my “Followers” to see the post. HOWEVER, if I’d pay $100, $200, sometimes even $300 to “boost” the post, then they would show it to another 500 followers, maybe even 1000 of them.

Grrrr.

On top of that baloney sandwich, pile on the messages from the Facebook overlord saying things like, “Good job, Ann! You have been putting up quality posts. We’re going to reward you by showing the posts to another 50 of your followers for FREE!”

Double grrrr!

Then, about a month ago, news came out that Facebook had paid a book pirating site for millions of already stolen books, wanting to use them to build their AI model. They had decided that paying authors would cost too much. Now, I know there isn’t much you can do to stop the AI monster these days, but…

Triple grrrr!!!

The final pickle on the top of this crap sandwich? They want me to start using their little AI “Purple Pal” robot as a moderator in my groups to answer any questions readers/followers ask me and to interact more than I do. It will be my helper buddy, using the AI they built off stolen books.

Enough!

Now you know why I suddenly began building more on my Ann Charles YouTube channel. But I wanted to interact with those who were interested in more than just watching videos, so I started building over on Patreon, creating Ann’s Alpha Club. This will be a place where I can post fun stuff for fans of my books without having a middleman (aka Facebook, Instagram, etc) and their algorithm bouncers blocking the posts.

Below is a video (click to watch it) explaining a little more for those interested in joining me in Ann’s Alpha Club on Patreon, which you can access from your computer, tablet, or phone. There are different tiers available there–you can join for free and interact on general posts, like how Facebook used to be. Or, you can join one of the paid tier levels, which cost either $5/month or $7/month. In the paid tiers, I’ll be sharing things from behind the scenes, like my books before they are published and more. I’m not out to get rich here, just build a place where I have more control.

To join: Ann Charles Alpha Club on Patreon

Welcome video: Welcome to Ann Charles Patreon

April Must-Have Prickly Pear Posse Glass Drink from this beautiful glass while reading/listening to Ann’s Jackrabbit Junction books. (Art by CS Kunkle) $17.00 US Buy at Ann’s Zazzle Store

This month’s recipe: Margarita Bars Another recipe from the Ann Charles MOON THE COOK cookbook, with recipes compiled by Mark and Michelle Davis.

“What now, Ann?” you ask, shaking your head.

Happy March! I’m trying something new over on my Ann Charles YouTube channel. A way to interact with you in a new way that doesn’t require me to pay Facebook and Instagram bunches of money just to reach you. Also, several of my friends have had their Facebook accounts hacked and locked up, losing the ability to reach their friends and readers there, so I want to open another path for you and me to connect in case this happens to me.

For starters, I’m doing short check-ins each week, filling you in on what I’ve been up to and what I might be up to next. But this is just the beginning of what I’m planning. I’m going to be adding more and more over here, so please head over and SUBSCRIBE to my channel.

Below is an example of a check in I recently shared. Click the red button to see it for yourself on YouTube.

The Audiobook is AVAILABLE NOW! So much fun for your ears! Cops & Clobbers in Deadwood (Book 14) ORDER the audiobook today

Fun with Ann & Sam: Deadwood 2025 August 20th-23rd Sam and I have been busy planning some fun for our visit to Deadwood this August. We hope that you can join us there for good food, book talk, cool classic cars, delicious chocolate, and more! Here is what we have so far: Wednesday, August 20th–(We’re still planning this day’s event) Thursday, August 21st–Rapid City Library (A one hour book talk/book signing) Friday, August 22nd–History on the Lawn at the Historic Adams House in Deadwood (one hour talk) Saturday, August 23rd–Book signing and chocolates galore at Chubby Chipmunk Hand-dipped Chocolates (on Ann’s birthday–yay!) “Kool Deadwood Nites” will be going on this week in Deadwood with daily free bands in town, classic cars, and so much more. Come celebrate with us during our first free August in almost two decades (now that both of our kids are finally high school graduates and we are free of school schedules). Note: You don’t have to stay in Deadwood if hotels are hard to land. You can stay in neighboring towns and drive in for the events in Deadwood. ALSO NOTE: I will be back in western South Dakota at the end of September for the 2025 South Dakota Festival of Books (set in Spearfish this year). So, if August doesn’t work out for your visit, September is a beautiful time to visit the Black Hills!

Nearly Departed in Deadwood: HARDCOVER Collector’s Edition Includes a cool bookmark crafted by Ann herself. This will make your bookshelf look so spiffy! (for non-US shipping, email Ann for price)  $36 (includes shipping)   Order from Ann’s Online Store today!

March Must-Have Maya Sun Mug Drink from this gorgeous mug while reading/listening to Ann’s Dig Site Series books as you wait for her to hurry up and finish book 3. (Art by CS Kunkle) $15.70 US Buy at Ann’s Zazzle Store

BUNDLE LOVE 1: The Deadwood Undertaker Series Books 1-5 plus the Catawampus Christmas novella $90 $120 Deadwood Undertaker Bundle BUNDLE LOVE 2: The Jackrabbit Junction Series Books 1-6 plus the Thanksgiving and Christmas novellas $110 $155 Jackrabbit Junction Bundle BUNDLE LOVE 3: The Deadwood Mystery Series Books 1-14 plus the five Deadwood Shorts books $245 $330 Deadwood Mystery Bundle

This month’s recipe: Cheesy Hash Browns Another recipe from the Ann Charles MOON THE COOK cookbook, with recipes compiled by Mark and Michelle Davis. Enjoy this recipe offered by Natalie from the Deadwood Mystery series. ***** More recipes available in my past monthly newsletters… This cookbook sold out in 2020, but you have access to some of the fun recipes via my monthly newsletters. Wrap Up  And on the writing front … Type-type-sweat-curse-type … this is me pretending to be in the jungle as I write book 3 of the Dig Site series. It’s so much fun to be back with this crew, even though the bugs are annoying and I don’t love sleeping in tents in the jungle. Deadwood Undertaker #6 is coming. Mr. Lucky is also busy taking care of work around our property now that spring has sprung here. I hope to see you over on YouTube as I keep growing my online channel. Happy 2nd Half of March! Ann Ann Charles, Author

Well, I’ve made it to the top of the mountain. No, I didn’t actually physically go out and climb a mountain. I respect my 50+ year old knees too much for that, not to mention that I prefer to snuggle under a blanket when it gets below 45 degrees. What I did climb was another BOOK mountain. This one is called Mt. Deadwood Mystery 14, and I am currently enjoying the view from high on the peak. Climbing a mountain is what I feel like I’m doing when writing a book. Many people believe reaching a mountain’s peak is the end of the climb, but that is far from true. In the real mountaineering world, making it to the top is only the halfway point. To claim success, a climber has to make it back to base camp ALIVE. Here’s the tricky thing about mountain climbing—people usually have great motivation to make it to the top and they will give that goal every bit of energy they have. Unfortunately, they often burn through too much of their stamina and resources, leaving them with wobbly legs and very little endurance to make the climb down. That is where the danger lies. This is why the majority of mountain climbing accidents and deaths happen on the way down. Climbers are tired, get sloppy, and fall. Sitting here at the peak of this book mountain, I’m thinking about the descent to base camp. What does climbing down a book mountain entail for me? Ugh!—That’s what. Now the editing process kicks into high gear, and that becomes grueling pretty quickly. The joy of creating the story was like a warm ray of sunshine in the fresh mountain air compared to the frigid, toe-freezing, body-aching editing and marketing phase. (I chuckled as I wrote that, but seriously, sometimes being edited feels like being pecked to death by wonderfully, intelligent, sharp-beaked, eagle-eyed birds.) I truly appreciate the editing help, but that doesn’t mean it’s a fun party. In addition to the editing woes, I also now have to put the time and energy into preparing to market the book. (Back cover copy, promotional social media copy, ad copy, etc.) This task involves different writing muscles than those used for story creation. By the time I return to base camp, I’ll be ready for a week of staring blankly at the clouds with a warm drink in my hand. I’ll definitely want some cake, too. But I can’t sit there too long or my writing muscles will suffer from apathy. I also need to make sure my lounge chair faces the next book mountain, so that I can be planning how to ascend to that peak. I’ll be considering things like: What will be the next story question to answer? How will I show character growth? What plotlines will I follow? How will the story advance the overall series’ plotline? And most importantly, do I have the gumption to gear up and write another 100,000+ word story? But back to the here and now… While I’m sitting here on the top of Mt. Deadwood Mystery 14, I’m feeling pretty cocky. I think I have this. I’m pretty sure I can make the descent without falling off the mountain. Once I’m back down to base camp, I’ll rest for a week or two, and then I’ll pack up what I need for the next and start climbing again. What mountain comes after this one? Check out the end of my newsletter and you’ll see what book mountains I’m planning to climb during the next year. In the meantime, enjoy this month’s newsletter, which include a 99 cent sale, a free ebook, a peek at the cover of the upcoming collector’s version of Nearly Departed in Deadwood (in HARDBACK), a new prize for two lu cky winners, and a delicious recipe! Happy October! Ann SALE! SALE!  SALE! OPTICAL DELUSIONS IN DEADWOOD (Book 2 in the Deadwood Mystery Series) ~~~ Someone is spreading rumors around Deadwood that Violet Parker likes to chat with dead folks. With her reputation endangered, her bank account on the verge of extinction, and her career at risk of going up in flames, Violet is desperate. When the opportunity to sell another vintage home materializes, she grabs it, even though this “haunted” house was recently the stage for a two-act, murder-suicide tragedy. Ghost or no ghost, Violet knows this can’t be as bad as the last house of horrors she tried to sell, but sexy Doc Nyce has serious doubts. Her only hope of hanging on to her job is to prove that the so-called, ghostly sightings are merely the eccentric owner’s optical delusions. But someone—or something—in the house wants Violet stopped… dead. On sale until the end of November 2024 for just $.99! CLICK TO BUY THE EBOOK

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. This month’s FREE ebook was from Mandy Roth. Don’t Stop Bewitching  (Bewitchingly Ever After Series Book #1) Coming Soon! Nearly Departed in Deadwood A New Collector’s Edition HARDBACK   This December, grab the perfect gift for yourself or someone you really, REALLY like! For the first time, Nearly Departed in Deadwood will be available as a hardback book! The original book has gone through some minor updating, but don’t worry, the story is the same one that you love. In addition, there are some fun extras in this hardback edition to make it even more special. The new hardback version will be for sale through my website, as well as the usual retail locations. I’ll have more details on how to get your hands on a copy of it as we move closer to the December 3rd release date. Monthly prize to WIN WIN WIN! Every month, I’ll be offering a chance to win a fun-filled gift pack or two containing different books and goodies. PRIZE 1: Autographed copy of Devil Days in Deadwood (Book 11) Autographed copy of the Deadwood Reader Notebook (for help keeping track of what happens through the series) A Peace, Love, & Hippie-ness letter opener thanks to Violet’s mom Day of the Dead tea towel One full set of autographed Deadwood Mystery Series book magnets PRIZE 2: Autographed copy of Never Say Sever in Deadwood (Book 12) Autographed copy of the Deadwood Reader Notebook (for help keeping track of what happens through the series) A Peace, Love, & Hippie-ness letter opener thanks to Violet’s mom Day of the Dead tea towel One full set of autographed Deadwood Mystery Series book magnets   CONGRATULATIONS to the September Prize winner! The Deadwood Book pack winner was: Laura Stockman from Douglasville, GA. I hope you enjoyed the goodies. ~Ann This month’s recipe: Breakfast Burrito   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 Breakfast Burrito recipe from María Cruz, who is part of the Dig Site Mystery series crew.

Wrap Up 

And on the writing front …

Mt. Deadwood Mystery 14—Here’s what has to happen yet on my climb down from the peak…

Deadwood Mystery series Book 14, Cops & Clobbers in Deadwood, will spend a month going through a rigorous editing process, while CS Kunkle finishes with the cover art and draws the illustrations. Sam Lucky, my husband, will be working on taking the cover art original pieces and creating a cover using graphic art software. Sam will also be formating the ebook and the print book for release. As soon as the final edits are finished, the book will be sent to the audiobook publisher to start that project.

I have no idea when I’ll have a Pre-order button ready, an actual release date for the ebook and print book, or the release date for the audiobook. Stay tuned, and you’ll know as soon as I know. (I’m really looking forward to my week at base camp after this book mountain!)

Mt. Dig Site 3—I’ve been eyeing the 3rd mountain in the Dig Site series for years! It’s a crazy difficult climb with a lot of places for possible falls along the way, but I’m finally ready to go for it. I’ll start preparing for this book climb in November, researching the landscape and planning the route. My hope is to reach the peak by sometime in March. Wish me luck and stay tuned for news on my progress on my way up.

Mt. Undertaker 6—Sam and I are in the early stages of climbing this 6th book mountain in the Deadwood Undertaker series. We’re already at the first camp and slowly making our way up. We don’t have a set release date for this book, but we hope to reach the peak by mid-spring and then we’ll know more.

Mt. Jackrabbit Junction 7—From my view up here on the top of Mt. Deadwood Mystery 14, I can clearly see the 7th book mountain in the Jackrabbit series through my binoculars. It’s a big, burly mountain, and it appears to be a stormy mess all the way up to the peak. I can already tell that the next Morgan sisters book mountain is going to be an ass kicker, requiring the need for some additional climbing equipment, along with extra food and plenty of liquor to celebrate at each camp along the way. It will be a rough and rowdy adventure, but isn’t that always the case with the Morgan sisters? I don’t know when I’ll reach the peak on this book, but I would love to have it out in Fall 2025.

And all those other mountains in the distance—There are many more book mountains to climb, but let’s focus on those listed above for the time being.

“Getting to the top is optional, getting down is mandatory.” 

~Ed Viesturs

(A mountaineer who summited the tallest mountains in the world and made it back down each time to tell the tale.)

Happy Climbing!
Ann

It is Monsoon Season here in the desert Southwest which means glorious water from the sky on an arid landscape. Yay! The rain brings happiness for our plants and wildlife, but unhappiness for us humans in the form of high humidity, tons of beetles and mosquitos, worries about hail and lightning, and pop-up “yards” that can drive a weed-puller to madness.

Here are 8 facts about Arizona and Monsoon season that I found [online](https://wheninyourstate.com/arizona/8-facts-about-arizonas-monsoon-season-you-probably-never-knew/) from the When In Your State website:

* The monsoon season officially runs from June 15 to September 30. (JULY AND AUGUST SEEM TO BE THE BUSIEST MONTHS UP HERE IN THE PRESCOTT AREA.)

* Arizona receives approximately 31.5% of its total annual rainfall during the monsoon season, which is crucial for the region’s water supply and ecosystem. (SO FAR THIS YEAR WE’VE RECEIVED ABOUT 5 INCHES OF RAIN DUE TO MONSOON SEASON STORMS.)

* Nearly 500,000 lightning strikes occur during a typical monsoon season in Arizona. (A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, SEVERAL HOMES AROUND US WERE HIT BY LIGHTNING STRIKES, AND ONE SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL FIRE DAMAGE DUE TO THE LIGHTNING HIT.)

* Monsoons can trigger massive dust storms known as “haboobs,” which can create walls of dust hundreds of feet high. (I HAVEN’T WITNESSED ONE OF THESE SINCE THEY HAPPEN DOWN IN THE DESERT AND WE ARE UP IN THE MOUNTAINS ABOUT A MILE ABOVE SEA LEVEL.)

* The wettest monsoon on record in Phoenix occurred in 1984, with 9.56 inches of rain falling at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. (WE TYPICALLY RECEIVE ABOUT 10-12 INCHES OF RAIN DURING MONSOON SEASON UP HERE IN THE MOUNTAINS IN CENTRAL ARIZONA, WHICH IS QUITE A BIT MORE THAN THEY GET DOWN IN PHOENIX.)

* Monsoon storms can produce several hazards, including dust, wind damage, and flash flooding. (AND BIG BUGS AND SCORPIONS!)

* The monsoon season brings out unique desert wildlife, including Gila monsters and tarantulas, which become more active during periods of high humidity. (DID I MENTION THE HUGE BUGS THAT FLY AT YOUR HEAD IN THE DARK?)

* The distinctive “smell of rain” in the Sonoran Desert during monsoon season is primarily attributed to the creosote bush. (I MENTIONED THIS BUSH AND THE DESERT SMELLS IN MY JACKRABBIT JUNCTION SERIES, WHICH IS SET IN SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA.)

For more information about Monsoon Season, check out this Arizona State University website.

This month’s newsletter is short and sweet. Enjoy the free ebook and don’t forget to sign up for the July newsletter prize!

Hugs,
Ann

NOW IN PRINT!

Hip Deep in Bad Company (Deadwood Undertaker Book 5)

Grab your print book copy from our online store and we’ll not only autograph it, but we’ll also throw in some extra goodies!

Click here to go to Ann’s store.

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_

OTHER BUY LINKS:
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Barnes & Noble
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KOBO
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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.

The star in this month’s spotlight is … Elizabeth Hunter!

July’s Wonderful Author is …ELIZABETH HUNTER. She is a USA Today and international best-selling author of romance, contemporary fantasy, and paranormal mystery. Based in Central California, she travels extensively to write fantasy fiction exploring world mythologies, history, and the universal bonds of love, friendship, and family. She has published over thirty works of fiction and sold over a million books worldwide. She is the author of Love Stories on 7th and Main, the Elemental Legacy series, the Irin Chronicles, the Cambio Springs Mysteries, and other works of fiction.

Click **HERE** to head over to Elizabeth’s website so that you can learn more about her and her books!

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.

* An autographed copy of the PROOF version of Deadwood Undertaker series book 5, _Hip Deep in Bad Company_ (only 5 of these were printed).
* An autographed copy of the Rawhide (ear

This month, to celebrate the release of the PRINT version of HIP DEEP IN BAD COMPANY, we have another prize pack from the Deadwood Undertaker series to win. This pack of goodies contains:

* An autographed copy of the PROOF version of Deadwood Undertaker series book 5, Hip Deep in Bad Company (only 5 of these were printed).

* An autographed copy of the Rawhide (early) version of The Backside of Hades.

* An autographed set of Deadwood Undertaker series magnets and Hip Deep in Bad Company cup magnet.

* Several Deadwood Undertaker series coasters.

* An autographed Boots-N-Hat zippered tote bag.

**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 “July Drawing” in the Subject line.

CONGRATULATIONS TO CINDY KANE FROM WAIKOLOA, HI ON WINNING THE JUNE PRIZE PACKAGE! I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE BOOK AND PROMO GOODIES. ~ANN

Bacon and Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

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 Aunt Zoe (of the Deadwood Mystery series)–stuffed mushrooms. Yummmm, bacon!

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

I’m writing …

At the moment I’m almost halfway through Deadwood Mystery series Book 14, Clocks & Clobbers in Deadwood. Some days I write a lot, some days I write a little. The key thing is that I write something and keep moving forward.
Also at the moment Sam and I are plotting book 6 in the Deadwood Undertaker series.
ALSO at the moment I’m reading/researching for book 3 in the Dig Site series.
OH, and ALSO… The Morgan sisters are whispering ideas for Jackrabbit Junction series Book 7 in my ear while I sleep, because I keep thinking about them.

Have a great August!
Ann

My brain is mush today.

Our son has finished with spring semester, wrapping up his freshman year at a local junior college. Whew! You never know how college is going to turn out, but for Beaker all went well. So, Sam and I celebrated with a shot or two of tequila mixed with some lemon.

Our daughter has finished with her high school junior year and has signed up for some college-level classes for next year (Chicken Noodle surprised us with these classes because last year she’d said she wanted to skate through her final high school year—however, three college-level classes does NOT = “skating”). Double whew! Sam and I celebrated with a shot or two of tequila, mixed with some lemon and frozen blueberries.

We finished with the manuscript for book 5 of the Undertaker series, _Hip Deep in Bad Company_, and shipped that story off to our editor to work her magic. Triple WHEW! Sam and I celebrated with a shot or three (or maybe it was four, but who was counting by this point?) and mixed in some … nah, neither of us could taste much anymore, so straight up shots went down easily.

Where was I? Oh, yeah, my brain is mush today, so I’ll keep this short and … something.

Here’s a quick guide to this month’s newsletter:

* Another Author Spotlight (Renee George) and awesome free ebook.
* A new Deadwood Mystery series prize pack for April—sign up for your chance to win.
* A Lemon Meringue Pie recipe courtesy of Penelope Harrison.

Thank you for reading along,
Ann

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 authors lined up all year 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.

The star in this month’s spotlight is … Renee George!

May’s Wonderful Author is … Renee George.

USA Today Bestselling Author, Renee George writes paranormal mysteries and romances because she loves all things whodunit, Otherworldly, and weird. Also, she wishes her pittie, the adorable Kona, could talk. Or at least be more like Scooby-Doo and help her unmask villains at the haunted house up the street.

When she’s not writing about mystery-solving werecougars or the adventures of a hapless psychic living among shapeshifters, she dons her superhero cape and rescues kittens. Okay, the kitten totally showed up one day and suddenly she’s got a new pet named Simon.

She lives in Missouri with her family and spends her non-writing time doing really cool stuff…like watching TV and cleaning up dog poop.

Click HERE to head over to Renee’s website so that you can learn more about her and her books!

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 gift from the Deadwood Mystery Series. This pack of goodies contains the following items:

* An autographed print copy of _Optical Delusions in Deadwood_, Book 2 from the Deadwood Mystery Series.
* An audio book CD from _Optical Delusions in Deadwood_.
* An autographed set of Deadwood Mystery Series magnets.
* A Magic 8 Ball.

CONGRATULATIONS TO MARY ANN ARMENTROUT FROM FRANKINVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA ON WINNING THE APRIL PRIZE PACKAGE! I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE BOOK AND PROMO GOODIES. ~ANN

Lemon Meringue 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 Penelope Harrison, the owner of Mule Train Diner in the Jackrabbit Junction Mystery series: Lemon Meringue Pie.

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?

Sam and I are aiming to have the 5th book in the Deadwood Undertaker series available as ebook and print by the first of July. (The audiobook will take longer, as we have to work with our narrator on scheduling.)

I’m almost half way through Deadwood Mystery series #14 with a goal of having it available early this fall.

After that, Sam and I will be working on Deadwood Undertaker #6, and I’m going to write Dig Site Mystery #3 (FINALLY!!!).

For those who are wondering about the next Jackrabbit Junction series book, the Morgan sisters will be back in 2025 along with more fun with Violet & company.

Have a wonderful end of Spring!
Ann

Looking for some fresh, quick reads? Introducing 15 new novellas set in Robyn Peterman’s Magic & Mayhem Kindle World that will give you some smiles and chuckles.

What’s a Kindle World?

It’s a story world (such as my Deadwood world) in which the original author invites his or her friends to develop new stories that include the author’s character(s), setting, and/or other elements. It’s a bit like fan fiction, only the new stories are often written by other known authors and are put through a more rigorous editing process. The Kindle Worlds program is exclusive to Amazon US. Unfortunately, that means the stories written for a Kindle World can’t be purchased at other ebook retailers. However, they can be read on any tablet, computer, or smartphone using the FREE Kindle App.

Feral-LY Funny Freakshow by Ann Charles

STEP RIGHT UP and enjoy the Feral-LY Funny Freakshow!

Available now at Amazon! Buy Feral-LY Funny Freakshow on Amazon

Someone killed Clint the Clown.

Madam Electra’s crystal ball could help find the murderer, but she risks exposing her own secrets in the process. Secrets that could land her on the endangered species list.

Head security officer Bruno Maska has been ordered to enlist the help of the one person he suspects is hiding something—Electra. The same woman who’s been haunting his thoughts since their steamy night together.

With the killer still on the prowl, can Bruno and Electra get their act together before the Freakiest Show on Earth loses another clown? Or worse, its beloved psychic?

It’s all fun and games at the circus … until everyone’s favorite clown winds up dead.

From Robyn Peterman’s Magic & Mayhem World comes an Ann Charles’ paranormal romantic mystery novella starring shape-shifters from the AC Silly Circus Co. (You guessed it–AC stands for “Ann Charles.”)

NOTE: This Amazon-only ebook is part of Robyn Peterman’s Magic & Mayhem Kindle World. If you would like to read the first book in this series, Robyn has the ebook for FREE at her website: Robyn Peterman’s Website–Get a free ebook!

Give Them a Try!

Want to try an extended sample of Feral-LY Funny Freakshow along with several of the other books from the Magic & Mayhem world? Click here.

You can check out all of the other authors’ books at once by clicking this link: CHECK OUT ALL THE AUTHORS IN THE MAGIC AND MAYHEM WORLD!

Or visit each author individually by selecting from the list of names below:

Robyn Peterman

Michele Bardsley

Boone Brux

Mina Carter

Saranna DeWylde

Teresa Gabelman

Renee George

Mindy Klasky

Cate Lawley

Heather Long

Lissa Matthews

Isabel Micheals

Julia Mills

Kate Richards

DC Thome