Mystery & suspense
Shadows of the Sweetwater
A century-old mystery. A vengeful spirit. A truth that refuses to stay buried.
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Books · Family history · The writing life
Every family
Every family
has a story.
Let’s find yours.
Books that welcome, stories that stay with you, and thoughtful help with the histories and words you want to share.
From Annette’s bookshelf to your next chapter.
ON THE BOOKSHELF 01 — 06
A mystery beneath the surface.
A little mud. A lot of heart.
Different stories.
The same human connection.
For curious readers.
For family storytellers.
For writers finding their way.
A place to begin
Follow your curiosity.
A good question is often the beginning
of a very good story.
01 / READ
Find your next book.
Mystery, farm-life memoir, and children’s stories about belonging.
02 / DISCOVERExplore your roots.
Personalized genealogy research and practical ways to preserve your family’s history.
03 / CREATEMove your words forward.
Beta reading, copyediting, and help preparing a book for self-publishing.
Written with heart
Visit the full bookshelf ↗
Meet the books.
Farm-life memoir
Playing in the Mud
A warm, funny journey from the suburbs to the beautifully unpredictable life of a small farm.
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Kids Like Me · Picture book
Chromosome Kids Like Me
A playful comparison with socks makes a conversation about chromosomes more approachable.
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The resource library
Browse all 25 guides ↗
A little guidance goes a long way.
Start your family history with what you already have
Turn family papers, memories, and a single question into a manageable first research project.
2 min readPlan a writing goal around the days you can actually use
Calculate a words-per-session target using your remaining word count, deadline, and selected writing days.
2 min readTurn family-history notes into a readable story
Build a family narrative that separates documented facts, remembered experiences, and unanswered questions.
2 min read
Useful, simple, and free
Less staring at a blank page.
Less staring at a blank page.
More getting started.
Organize a research log, plan an interview, or turn a writing deadline into a daily goal. Six tools, ready when you are.
Open the toolkit ↗
A SMALL STEP TODAY
One question.
One scene.
One family story.
Hello, I’m Annette
A love of stories.
A love of stories.
A curiosity about people.
I write books that explore connection, belonging, and the unexpected turns of life. I also help people discover their family histories and bring their own manuscripts closer to readers.
A little more about me ↗Reading Playing In the Mud is like going on an adventure with good friends.
Nicole Mulloy · Author of Blacker House
Let’s begin with a conversation
A family question.
Tell me about your project
A family question.
A manuscript. A new chapter.
Tell Annette what you’re working on and the kind of help you have in mind.