Ann Charles | Springtime Good Stuff–March 2021 Newsletter

Springtime Good Stuff–March 2021 Newsletter

Spring has sprung!

I don’t know about you, but I am very happy to see spring this year. Winter seemed to go on and on, making me want to hit my head on the keyboard repeatedly.

Where we live in Arizona, the arrival of spring means warm windy days and cold clear nights. I can’t tell you how many times the shade umbrella on my porch has ended up in the backyard thanks to a crazy blast of high desert air whipping through our yard. Our cats and kids are bursting at the seams to head outside and soak up some invigorating sunshine. Me? I’m trying to focus on getting more words on the page as Deadwood 12 fills my head.

In other news, we are busy nailing down details for this summer’s Ann Charles Fan Party in Deadwood at the end of June. For those of you who are considering hopping in a car or plane or train to come spend a long weekend in the Black Hills of South Dakota, please use the RSVP link below to let me know you are coming and how many other guests will be there with you. Due to the venue, we are limited on space this year.

For those of you who like to collect fun stuff, we will have a limited number of free new stickers for your newsletter treat this time–something I’ve not created before.

Don’t forget to check out the five minute video of Jason Culp’s reading of LIFE AT THE COFFIN JOINT (see the link below).

Thanks for reading along and I hope you enjoy a wonderful spring start!

Ann

2021 Deadwood Fan Party in the Works!

For those of you interested in coming to my 2021 Deadwood Fan Party this summer from June 24-27th, we are in the process of setting up times and dates and details.

Fan Party RSVP

We are asking for RSVPs this year for the Saturday evening fan party because space is limited. Please click here to make your reservation. You will receive a confirmation after you hit the Submit button.

So far, we have the following lined up:
* Thursday Evening: Meet and Greet at Java Joint in Lead from 6-8pm. (A fun place with lots of great food and drinks!)
* Friday: Book signing at Chubby Chipmunk Hand-dipped Chocolates from 11am-3pm. (Yummmm, so many chocolate delights!)
* Saturday: Book Signing at Lead/Deadwood Arts Center from 10am-1pm–inside the Historic Homestake Opera House (see the cover of BETTER OFF DEAD IN DEADWOOD) in Lead (A great place to see local art and enjoy the beautiful century-plus year-old Opera House.)
* Saturday Evening: Fan Party at the Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center (Lots of free parking available and just a short walk from downtown Deadwood.)
* Saturday Night: Deadwood Brothel Paranormal Investigations.
* Sunday: Book Signing at the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center 10am-12noon (A wonderful museum to explore and learn all about the Open Cut and the Homestake Gold Mine.)

Brothel Investigation:

Reserve your place on the Deadwood Brothel Paranormal Investigations. There are three tours (space is limited):
* 8pm
* 9:30pm
* 11:00pm
Call Rose Speirs at Deadwood History, Inc to purchase your tickets before the investigation spots fill up ($35 each). Phone: 605-722-4800. You can email her as well at: Rose@deadwoodhistory.com

*Brothel Paranormal Investigation on Saturday, June 26, 2021*

Hotels:

IF YOU NEED TO RESERVE A HOTEL ROOM, you should know that the All-School Reunion for Deadwood and Lead will be the same weekend as the fan party, so hotels are filling up. Call and make your reservation soon. For information on hotels and other lodging in the area, check out the Deadwood Visitor Center page.

NOTE: I have managed to reserve a small block of rooms at The Holiday Inn on Main Street, but there are only a few rooms left. If you’re interested in staying there, just let them know you are coming in for the Ann Charles Fan Party and if there are rooms left, they will let you know.

Deadwood Undertaker Series Audiobook

If you haven’t had the chance to listen to the audiobook versions of the first two books in the Deadwood Undertaker series narrated by Jason Culp, grab your copies now and add some listening fun to your walks, housecleaning, grocery shopping, road trips, and/or evenings on the back porch enjoying the warmth of spring.

Jason brings our story to life with his unique character voices. For a sampling of the audio version of Life at the Coffin Joint, check out his five-minute video over on my YouTube channel. Don’t forget to subscribe to my Youtube channel.

For the first three months of release, these audiobooks are available only in Amazon and Audible. This 3-month limited release is due to the contract Blackstone Audiobook publishing currently has with Amazon. By early May, the audiobooks will be available at all of the usual audiobook retailers.

Skillet Cornbread and Firehouse Chili from Reid of the Deadwood Mystery Series

Here is another fun recipe for you from my 2020 Ann Charles MOON THE COOK cookbook that Mark and Michelle Davis helped me create.

This month, Mark and Michelle chose to share the Firehouse Chili and Skillet Cornbread recipes from Reid Martin (from the Deadwood Mystery books).

NOTE: This cookbook sold out last fall, 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.

Free Jeopardy Sticker for Your Collection!

This spring, I have a fun sticker to share with you: The official Jeopardy show question starring the Deadwood Mystery series.

I had no idea I was going to be a question on Jeopardy. I was at my day job at the time (Technical Writing was my profession before I quit to write full-time) when my mom called late in the work day and said, “You’re on Jeopardy!” I said, “No, Mother, I’m at work. I think I would know if I were on Jeopardy.” We went back and forth a few times before she sighed in exasperation at my lack of intelligence and explained that her friends from over on Eastern Standard Time had called to tell her that “Ann” was on Jeopardy as a question. Needless to say, I spent the next few hours telling everyone I could to watch Jeopardy and had one friend take a picture of their television. This picture is what we used for the sticker, which explains why it’s a little crooked and you can see a reflection under the word “NOVELS.”

To receive your Ann’s-on-Jeopardy sticker in the mail, all you need to do is email me at DeadwoodDeputy@gmail.com with the Subject: Jeopardy Sticker. DON’T FORGET TO INCLUDE YOUR PHYSICAL MAILING ADDRESS.

Podcasts, Interviews, Articles, and Everything Else Under the Sun

If you’re looking to fill hours of time listening to my voice while I talk about writing, books, life, and much more, head over to my blog and check out my Interviews page for 2020 and 2021.

Fun Gifts at Ann Charles’ Zazzle Store

In addition to my Ann Charles Store accessible from my website, I also have some fun products available over on my Ann Charles Zazzle store. Posters, mugs, face masks, keychains, T-shirts, and more! We keep adding more and more great products with each book that is released, so stop over and check them out!

Wrap Up

More Deadwood Mystery Series …
I’m still plugging away on Deadwood Mystery Series Book 12 with the hopes of a late spring/early summer 2021 release. Violet is up to her neck in deadly trouble once again. That woman doesn’t know how to have a day off, I swear.

Dig Site and Jackrabbit Junction Series …
There will be more books in these two series to come and I’m excited to pay a visit to both the Mexican jungle and the Arizona desert again.

Deadwood Undertaker Series
Sam Lucky and I are working on Book 4, THE BACKSIDE OF HADES, this winter/spring and hope to have a summer 2021 release.

Thank you for your support and patience while I pound on the keys in between enjoying time with my family! Until next time …

Ann