Ann Charles Brings Humor, Mystery, And Paranormal Mayhem To Life With Her Bestselling Books

Photo: USA Today Bestselling Author Ann Charles, crafting thrilling tales packed with adventure, humor, romance, and supernatural surprises.

Exploring The Wit, Wisdom And Supernatural Secrets Of Ann Charles

Ann Charles discusses blending humor, suspense, and paranormal elements in her bestselling mysteries, shares insights on biology-inspired stories, and encourages aspiring writers to chase their storytelling dreams without fear.

Ann Charles, a storytelling powerhouse, is everything a reader could hope for in an author. With her unique blend of humor, suspense, romance, and just the right dose of supernatural chaos, Ann has carved out her niche in the world of fiction, captivating audiences across the globe. Her books are not merely stories; they are immersive experiences filled with quirky characters, unforgettable adventures, and small-town charm that feels anything but small. As a USA Today Bestselling Author, she’s not only mastered the art of entertaining but also the craft of leaving her audience eagerly awaiting the next twist, laugh, or chilling moment.

One of the hallmarks of Ann’s writing is her ability to make the intricate interplay of life, death, and survival come alive—whether through ghostly encounters or villainous schemes—drawing readers into worlds that are both enchanting and eerie. Her Deadwood Mystery series, set in the famously haunted town of Deadwood, South Dakota, is a testament to her skill at weaving local history and legends into compelling narratives. But Ann doesn’t stop at the supernatural; her stories often explore deeper themes, even biological mysteries, where science seems to tiptoe into the realm of the bizarre.

Ann Charles isn’t just an author—she’s a storyteller unafraid to delve into the humorous, the dark, and the downright extraordinary. In this exclusive interview, we explore the mind behind the page-turning plots, quirky characters, and paranormal puzzles that have won the hearts of readers everywhere. From biology-inspired thrills to crafting moments of levity amidst suspense, Ann masterfully shows us how science, mystery, and humanity collide. Prepare to be inspired, entertained, and delighted as Ann offers a behind-the-scenes look into the world of her storytelling.

Ann Charles is a gifted storyteller whose signature blend of humor, suspense, and paranormal adventures captivates readers everywhere.

Many of your books feature supernatural or mysterious elements—if you could weave a real biological phenomenon (like bioluminescence, genetic mutations, or animal behavior) into one of your Deadwood mysteries, which would you pick and why? 

Bioluminescence is amazing. I was fortunate to witness it myself at the ocean once and will never forget splashing around in the neon blue waves. However, being that the supernatural mysteries I enjoy writing tend to have a sinister edge, I would lean toward genetic mutations caused by a malevolent lifeform from another realm that enters our natural world through a mystical gate or wormhole between worlds.

Biology and mystery both deal with solving puzzles—how do you think the process of unraveling a scientific mystery compares to solving a fictional crime in your books? 

A mystery is a mystery, and as with any puzzle, you start with the evidence available. After that, it’s one patient step at a time: 1. Gather information. 2. Lay it all out before you. 3. Analyze it. 4. Step away to clear your head so you can return and see patterns. 5. Solve the mystery. That being said, not all mysteries are easily solved. Sometimes the answers lead to further mysteries to solve, giving both the scientist and writer a greater purpose.

Some biological processes can seem stranger than the supernatural (like parasites taking over hosts). Have you ever been inspired by bizarre aspects of biology to create eerie or funny moments in your stories? 

It’s interesting that you mention parasites and hosts, because that is exactly what happened in one of the books in my Deadwood Mystery series, Never Say Sever in Deadwood. The parasite was delivered via a creature that would crawl through the host’s ear canal to reach the brain, where it would begin its new life and slowly take over the host, causing drastic mutations on both mental and physical levels.

If Violet Parker were faced with a villain who used knowledge of biology to commit a crime, what kind of biological twist would you imagine? (Poison, viruses, rare plants, animal behavior, etc.) 

Definitely animal behavior. That offers a lot of opportunities to a writer’s imagination.

Your books are full of humor alongside suspense. Do you think humor can help readers better digest complex subjects, even in science, much like it eases the darker elements in your mysteries? 

I see it this way. When a storyteller uses suspense or darkness to tell a tale, those elements are better contrasted when humor or a smidgen of lightness are interjected periodically. Those elements punctuate the prose, so to speak. If the story doesn’t give the reader a break now and then, they’ll be exhausted by the end of it all.

Biology often deals with themes of life, death, and survival—core elements in your stories. How consciously do you tie these natural cycles into your plots? 

The key to good storytelling is creating a strong plot frame underlying the written scenes and sequels, and then seamlessly weaving the theme and premise (such as those you mentioned and/or others) throughout the narrative and dialogue on the pages. All of this is done in a way that the readers cannot see the story’s structure, but they sense it as the tale takes them on an adventure through the pages.

If you had to team up one of your quirky characters with a real scientist or biologist, who would it be and what kind of case would they work on? 

I actually have “real” scientists in my stories—I have a geomorphologist in my Jackrabbit Junction series and multiple archaeologists in my Dig Site series. These characters solve mysteries using their scientific knowledge. I love researching for these books because reading through scientific articles is usually fun and always educational.

The town of Deadwood and its environment play a strong role in your books. Have you ever drawn inspiration from local plants, animals, or landscapes in a biological sense to heighten the mystery or atmosphere? 

I actually use the real-life town of Deadwood for the setting in my Deadwood Mystery series, so the place itself is part of the inspiration for the stories, including not only its past, but also the many ghosts that live there and their corresponding stories.

Aside from the supernatural, biology has its own “mysteries” that remain unsolved. Is there a biological mystery you personally find fascinating that you’d love to explore in fiction? 

I am waiting to hear or read that something biologically intriguing has emerged from the melting ice near the Earth’s poles. I think that the change in climate will offer many opportunities for those fiction writers who enjoy writing mysteries, thrillers, and horror.

Stepping away from biology—what has been the most rewarding (and most challenging) part of your journey as a bestselling author, and what advice would you give aspiring authors who want to blend their passions (whether for science, humor, or mystery) into their writing?

It’s definitely meeting all of the interesting and kind readers and writers along the way on my continued journey to provide fun stories full of mystery, adventure, and joy (along with a few cringes). When I think back through the highlights so far, it always comes back to the people who I’ve met and experienced shared moments of laughter and smiles. The most challenging is keeping up on the marketing front in this everchanging world of technology and AI.

As for advice for aspiring authors—it’s just this: Don’t give up. People need stories. They feed our souls and give life more meaning.

Ann Charles, a USA Today bestselling author, is celebrated for her witty, suspenseful mysteries filled with humour, romance, and the paranormal. Her engaging storytelling keeps readers hooked from start to finish.

In Chewed Up By The Jungle, archaeologist Dr. Angélica Garcia and photojournalist Quint Parker venture deep into the Yucatán, where ancient secrets, curses, and supernatural dangers lurk. As they unearth long-buried mysteries, they face chilling forces that refuse to stay hidden. Action, romance, and eerie suspense blend in this thrilling supernatural adventure.