Ann Minnett, Author

I'm not one to sit and watch TV of an evening without a project. Certainly can't write or even edit because those activities require 100% focus. Usually I knit articles of clothing that none of my kids will wear. This summer when we weren't enjoying the outdoors, I used up embroidery floss left over from countless projects (finished and not) and abused an old hat of mine. My totally hideous creation will function as a NaNoWriMo Thinking Cap--a reminder that when it's on head, writing happens. Bring on the mojo! (Selfies to follow.)

Here we go! Burden of Breath is on sale for 99 cents today and tomorrow. I have no idea how it will do. Never done this before! Rather than waiting for Amazon sales numbers to sky-rocket on this gorgeous day, I took these photos in our woods. (Some will see right through my procrastination from NaNoWriMo planning.) Neighbor Cliff used his tractor's grapple to move a slash pile to our burn pile. What took us weeks to cut down, trim and gather took him 30 minutes and two trips to move. Truth to tell, Car Guy worked his tail off, and I occasionally pitched in. For three years, Car Guy lusted after a grapple for our tractor, but we couldn't justify spending the $3,000+! After seeing Cliff's magnificent grapple in action this past spring, I caved and was willing to make the investment. Lucky for us he's a wonderful neighbor and willing to trade slash removal for chocolate truffles. Life is good.

  I had intended for the $.99 download of Burden of Breath to take place on Thursday and Friday, but Amazon has already changed the price. If you want a bargain, check it out by clicking on the cover at right. Thanks!

Here you see the road from the north into our beautiful NW Montana town. Our only access to town is a mess and will be a work in progress for the next two years. I'll take it any day over my former commute through Dallas. I drove 37 miles one way , from the northern countryside, through suburbs and downtown, and south into Oak Cliff. One night in a rainstorm it took me 3 1/2 hours to get home. My bottom numbed. I cried. I can handle the 5-minute wait for traffic and equipment to clear the single dirt path through construction.

I read every book review as it lists on Amazon. I now have 60 and feel so grateful to the readers who take the time to rate and review Burden of Breath. To think that words I wrote have touched/infuriated/surprised/spoken to an unknown reader... it all takes my breath away. I cherry-picked a very favorable review to share below. She and I don't know one another, but somehow we do. 5.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected, but well done , September 24, 2013 Sally Youngblood (Kentucky) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)      This review is from: Burden of Breath (Kindle Edition) I just finished reading this on my husband's Kindle. I don't know what I expected, but this was not it, this was so much more than I expected. It is very well written, quite honest, raw, and insightful into the complexities of relationships effected by mental illness and abuse. Not a happy book, very disturbing at times, but rang true despite being...

Good grief. I'm making progress on this edit (here page 126/341), but my heart isn't in it. I have to complete Book #2's edits before I start the NaNoWriNo challenge, or it will haunt my sleep. Naturally, the new project is all I can think about.

The current draft of my second novel (pictured below) takes up more space in my head than it does on my desk. Honestly, this novel needs to simmer unattended in a file drawer for a few weeks while I regroup. We’re a little sick of each other. Two luxury problems fill the void almost immediately: 1) Autumn is my favorite time of year in NW Montana, and 2) a dream of my third novel, the fresh promise of ‘the not yet written.’ (Pause here to stroll outside, take some photos, breathe clean mountain air, and talk to my husband working on an old MGB in the shop.) Luxury problem #2 is not so easily handled.   Lucky for me, there’s no better time for a new project than NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) which takes place in November. I’m taking the challenge for the first time. This declaration is my way of holding feet to the fire in hopes of following through. Our own Kathy Dunnehoff spoke about NaNoWriMo at the Flathead River Writers’ Conference last month...