100 Indie Books to Read Before You Die

So honored to have STUTTER CREEK included on this list of 100 Indie Books to read before you die. Thank you, Caleb and Linda! https://calebandlindapirtle.com/100-indie-books-read-die-3/

http://tinyurl.com/Amazon-AnnSwann

Stutter Creek Trilogy Winner

Congratulations to Sharon E. 

You are the winner of the STUTTER CREEK TRILOGY!

I've sent your email telling you how to claim your books. Of course I wouldn't mind a review after you've read them 

(hint, hint). 

And for the rest of you who may be thinking of starting NaNoWriMo today . . . carry on. The best writing advice I ever read was short and simple:

Put your butt in the chair and your fingers on the keys and start writing. It doesn't matter what, just write. Don't stop until your eyes blur and your fingers seize into talons.

You can always edit later. In fact, you must, so just let go and write. Go where the Muse takes you.

And when you're done, tell me how it felt.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Goodbye 2015

To all my friends, family, and loyal readers - may you have the happiest New Year ever!

https://youtu.be/wPnhaGWBnys

Did you know this song was from a Scottish poem written by Robert Burns in 1788?

A Little Inspiration

On my evening constitutional with Dude -- my hubby -- this old Evanescence song came up on my iPod playlist. It's always been one of my faves, and it seems to fit what my character, Detective Kendra Dean, is going through in this scene from my Work in Progress, COPPER LAKE, the third book in the Stutter Creek suspense series from 5 Prince Books.

This scene is where Kendra and her younger partner, Woodrow, find themselves in a small bar far from home while wrapping up a prisoner transport job. Kendra is a career detective who always tried to keep her job related horror stories away from her home life. She'd thought she was doing the right thing until recently when her husband, Bill, told her he was leaving, he was tired of being in their marriage alone.

Bring Me to Life is the name of the song ...



https://youtu.be/i3MKTm-49uI

Scene:

           After ordering their drinks—beer for him, White Russian for her—Woody excused himself to the men’s room.

            When he returned, his path led directly behind her chair. He must have noticed her rubbing at her neck and shoulders because he stopped and gave her a thirty-second massage.

            “Ahh,” she said. “Everything’s in knots.”

            “I hear ya." He rolled his own head around slowly. “Not used to riding fourteen hours with a perp sitting behind me. Even if he was behind wire and asleep most of the time.” He took his seat across from her again.

            Kendra shrugged and met his grin with a tired one of her own. “The things we do for the job.” She took another sip of her drink and inspected the nearly deserted bar. “Thank God there’s not much going on.”

            Woody nodded. “I’ll be ready to hit the sack after this.” He glanced around. “It’d be our luck for a fight to break out. Guess we’re taking quite a chance having a drink when we’re technically still on-the-job.”

            Kendra raised her short glass. “Here’s to taking chances.”

            “Amen.” Woody clinked his beer bottle against her glass.

            When a slow song came on the jukebox, he stood and held out his hand. “Take another chance?”

            She took one more sip of her drink and then placed her hand in his. It’s only one song, she remembered telling herself. But a flame of longing grew in her belly as she allowed him to pull her in close. He didn’t press her body to his; he simply curled his large hand around hers and held it against his chest while the music led them around the tiny dance floor. When she chanced a glance at his face, she was surprised to find his eyes were closed.

            She relaxed and rested her temple against the shelf of his chin. Even now, chained to the floor in this nightmarish bunker, she could still recall the way she felt in his arms, as if she’d just arrived home from a long, arduous, journey. Kendra also remembered wondering how long it had been since she and Bill had gone dancing. How long it had been since they had held each other so tenderly and carefully.

            When the music stopped, they both opened their eyes. What the hell am I doing? She stepped back, head down, not looking at him until they paid their bill and left.

A Bit of Lilac Lane

Lilac Lane is the follow up book to Stutter Creek, my bestselling Suspense novel from 5 Prince Publishing. In Lilac Lane, Ella and her ten year old son, Nick, flee their hometown of Albuquerque, NM to start a new life in a small town. Her ex-husband is in jail for abuse, and they just want to start a new life without him.

Within days they meet local wildlife biologist, Chet Boone. This is what happens after the three of them share pizza and a song together:

*

         “You’re humming that Brown Eyed Girl song aren’t you?” Nick asked.

         “Hmm. So I was. It’s an old song from way back. I’ve always liked it.” She pulled into the carport and engaged the Jeep’s parking brake. The pine trees were fragrant. Several branches touched the metal roof of the carport. They made a shushing sound when the wind blew. It also sent their tangy green fragrance into the Jeep’s open windows. “We may regret not having a garage when it snows this winter,” she said.

         “I think he likes you,” Nick replied.

         Ella stopped with her finger on the automatic window button. The windows stopped halfway up. “Chet Boone?”

         Nick rolled his eyes. “No. The Incredible Hulk.”

Amazon    http://tinyurl.com/qf2makb

iTunes   http://bit.ly/1z7ArgW

Barnes and Noble   http://bit.ly/WJt2H1

5 Prince Books   http://www.5Princebooks.com

Smashwords   http://bit.ly/WJt8yf

ARe  http://bit.ly/1lzgV4S

New Release ~ LILAC LANE ~ It's Finally Here!

I'm so excited! Today is the release day for LILAC LANE -- Romantic Suspense from 5 Prince Publishing.

Available on 

Amazon    http://amzn.to/1qChT8c

iTunes   http://bit.ly/1z7ArgW

Barnes and Noble   http://bit.ly/WJt2H1

Smashwords   http://bit.ly/WJt8yf

AllRomance Ebooks  http://bit.ly/1lzgV4S

Publisher's website http://www.5Princebooks.com

 Here's an excerpt:

“You’re humming that Brown Eyed Girl song aren’t you?” Nick (her ten year old son) asked.

“Hmm. So I was. It’s an old song from way back. I’ve always liked it.” She pulled into the carport and engaged the Jeep’s parking brake. The pine trees were fragrant. Several branches touched the metal roof of the carport. They made a shushing sound when the wind blew. It also sent their tangy green fragrance into the Jeep’s open windows. “We may regret not having a garage when it snows this winter,” she said.
“I think he likes you,” Nick replied.
Ella stopped with her finger on the automatic window button. The windows stopped halfway up. “Chet Boone?”
Nick rolled his eyes. “No. The Incredible Hulk.”

Early Reviews:

Alexa Verde's review 

Jul 13, 14

5 of 5 stars

Read from July 04 to 13, 2014

I love reading romantic suspense, so I had a feeling I was going to enjoy Lilac Lane by Ann Swann. And I liked reading the suspenseful parts of noises in the attic, lights going out at night, and the unusual and scary surprises. The romance between Ella and Chet was sweet and promising, and author's sense of humor made me smile. But what made this book an even a better read for me was the great relationship between Ella and her son. It was very endearing, and also showed the growth of both of them toward the end of the book. All in all, Lilac Lane is a very enjoyable read.

Joyce Shaughnessy rated it 5 of 5 stars

LILAC LANE s a captivating, great book by an even more amazing author! It’s a must-read for every reader who enjoys a good mystery book, and it has a romantic twist that makes it even better. I knew that Ann Swann was an amazing talent, but this book took my breath away. The author’s talent was really showcased in this novel. I started it one morning and literally couldn’t put it down until I finished it. Absolutely fantastic book!

Jun 29, 2014Kimball Lee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Very enjoyable read! Well written and entertaining,lovely relationship between the mother and her young son. Suspense and also romance. Would definitely recommend this book and the author. Can't wait to read more of Ms. Swann's work. I was sent an ARC for an honest review. KL

Jun 28, 2014Sue1958 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Oh I so wish I would have read the first book before this one, I had it too and didn't realize!! So when I offered to read and review this for Ann Swann and give my honest opinion, I wish I had remembered, but, I will be going back and reading the first book in this series.

Ella and her son move into their new home. Its a safe place for them and they are just beginning to relax a bit.

The trouble is, not long after moving in, Nick her son hears some disturbance in the attic, which alarming he wakens Ella.

Both go in search of the source but find nothing.

After a couple of times of this happening Ella calls for the Police to come out and investigate, but it looks like its the wild life that are getting in. Even that didn't stop the antics in the attic though.

This was a gripping read, what with the husband now out, it could be him? Or could it?

Throw in a bit of romance too and you have a winner! I really did enjoy this book, so much so I have to go read the first book as it will tie up some loose thoughts in my head.

I don't know why I didn't read this authors book before, she has an absolutely lovely way of writing.

Highly recommended.

AFTERTHOUGHT: You can still pick up STUTTER CREEK for only .99 until the end of July!

http://smarturl.it/stuttercreek