Getting Ready for Fall with Anne Wolf

As we get ready to begin fall, I’ll be chatting with Anne Wolf, whose debut YA paranormal mystery/thriller, THE TELLING, came out in March of this year. I am fortunate to know Anne from two critique groups, and she is one talented, creative lady!

Welcome Anne, and thank you for taking the time to chat with me about your writing journey. I love how you decided to answer my first question with a poem. I always tell authors that I’m flexible when it comes to my questions, and it’s refreshing how you took some creative license with this interview.

When I asked Anne what her favorite season was, she shared this lovely poem.

Ode to Fall

Fall firelight casts eerie, ebony shadows

As we roast baking potatoes, chestnuts, and marshmallows

Huddled under woolen throws, sharing spooky stories

With my dad,

The Master Storyteller.

The season of the witch is my favorite.

The smokey scent of burning leaves,

The clip-clopping of majestic horses,

Crushing brittle leaves on rocky trails and

The excitement of Halloween preparations—

All made us wish that the fall would last forever.

Thanksgiving was a time when extended family

Arrived in hordes and the aromas of sweet potatoes and fruit pies

Wafted throughout the crowded rooms.

The cousins, the aunts, uncles, and grandparents

Stormed into our home as if it was the Bastille,

Spreading laughter and mischief throughout Mom’s house.

Uncle Henry planted himself under the dining room table

With a tape recorder, eager to spy on conversations and

Play them back after dinner, to the embarrassment

Of the featured performers.

Uncle Irving arrived in a sombrero with his glasses upside down—always a clown!

Yes, it was a great holiday, with the children falling asleep as the hour drew late,

Exhausted, wherever they passed out,

Often requiring a pre-dawn search for the missing troops.

This being, according to many, the “Dead Time” of the year,

I never understood why—

It was always the warmest season for the children in our family,

Cocooned in a house filled with life and laughter.

by Anne Wolf

Me: Fall is my favorite season too, and your heartwarming poem really made it come to life! So, how long have you been writing? Tell us about your journey.

Anne: I have been writing all my life, from the age of four, when I started my journey with a purple Crayola crayon. I took the crayon into the dining room with its clean white surfaces and wrote the only words I could spell on one very large wall. “A TOE” went up on one huge wall, approaching the size of a Broadway billboard, while my parents were drinking coffee in the kitchen. I stepped back and looked at my handiwork. I was impressed! My mother, when she spied it, not so much!

I kept on writing and eventually was awarded a mini-grant from the New York State English Council for my multicultural unit on short stories. In March, 2026, my debut YA paranormal mystery/thriller, THE TELLING, was published by Rowan Prose Publishing and the eBook was named Amazon’s #1 New Release in its Teen &Young Adult Visionary & Metaphysical Fiction category. Thank you, Kelly Rowan!

Me: What was the biggest obstacle you had to deal with in your writing journey?

Anne: Some writers are plagued with writer’s block; others have plotting difficulties. For some writers, developing characters is very challenging. My greatest challenge is technology. The changes in technology never stop coming. This is an area that young people take to like ducks to water. For me, I have to work at learning the vocabulary, the little tricks and how each program works. —Whatever challenges you, work through it. Persevere. You’ll have a great feeling of accomplishment when you experience progress. Take advantage of webinars, courses, etc. if you are just starting out and choose your supporters with care.

Me: What is one piece of advice you can give to writers who are just starting out, or who are still in the query trenches?

Anne: Be sure to join a critique group. You can’t imagine how helpful the input of others in the group can be. When it’s your turn to critique, always start with what you liked about a piece. Be kind but truthful when you offer suggestions. Also, don’t overlook contests. You’d be surprised how many writers got their start through a contest. Don’t give up! It’s not an easy journey but it’s a very rewarding one!

Me: What are your plans for the future? Writing or otherwise, traveling, hobbies, etc.

Anne: I plan to finish my YA novel in progress, create a collection of dark short stories, publish a picture book (in progress), and teach a mask-making workshop. Additionally, I’d like to see more of my friends (writing can be very isolating) and be healthy enough to travel with friends. I’d also like to spend more time with my family, get back to painting, and visit family in Israel. I love to try new things. I’m always up for new challenges!

Me: I’d love for you to share a recipe with me, I have a collection of recipes from friends and family that goes back many years. I would love to include yours, as well as share it with my readers.

Anne: This is a delicious side dish for Thanksgiving and I usually double it. Everyone loves it! Enjoy!

Corn Pudding (From TasteofHome.com)

Total Time: Prep:20 min. Bake: 45 min. Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream

1 package (8 ½ ounces) corn bread/muffin mix

1/2 cup 2% milk

1 can (15 ¼ ounces) whole kernel corn, drained

1 can (14 ¾ ounces) cream-style corn

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325ᵒ. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in sour cream. Gradually add muffin mix alternately with milk. Fold in corn.

2. Pour into a greased 3-quart baking dish. Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes or until set or lightly brown.

*Note: For a Tex-Mex side, add a can of diced green chilies to the corn mixture and top with 1 Cup of shredded Monterey Jack.

I substitute light sour cream for regular sour cream to cut the amount of saturated fat.

Thank you, Anne, it’s always a pleasure chatting with you. The recipe you shared is the perfect fall recipe, and I look forward to making it!