Ava Dunne

Ava Dunne's light, witty, somewhat sarcastic tone is perfect for romantic comedy.

Just Jump in and Fly:  A Holiday Tale by Ava Dunne

Excerpt:

“Hey, what’s happened at the foot of our driveway?”  Liam leaned forward.  “It looks like an accident.”
    I pulled into the lip of the driveway to the red Colonial I’d bought in the summer.  Snow was stacked up against the fence.  In the snowbank was what looked like an overturned sleigh and a bunch of livestock.  I pulled out my phone to call 9-1-1.  Nothing.  No signal.
    “Are those reindeer?”  Liam’s mouth dropped open.
    “I’m not sure.”  I got out of the car on my side.  Liam got out on his side, and Simon shouldered his way over the seats and out of Liam’s door.  As we got closer to the livestock, I saw they had antlers and large, liquid brown eyes.  Some of the harnesses broke, and they stepped through the snow, the bells on the remaining strips jingling.  None of them looked as though they were hurt, thank goodness.
    I turned to Liam.  “I think they are reindeer.”
    “Cool,” Liam responded.
    I wasn’t so sure it was cool.  Yes, I had a barn.  I even had a trio of rescued horses in it and supplies.  I counted -- eight -- where the heck could I put EIGHT reindeer?
    Eight.  Reindeer.  I was getting a really bad feeling about this.
    “Mom! Simon’s trying to get under the sleigh!”  Liam struggled through the snow towards the overturned heap.  Simon lifted his head to give out a series of thundering barks and he scrabbled at a particular spot.
    I struggled to join him.  The sled was enormous, much bigger than it initially looked, out of what felt to be some sort of wood, painted a dark red, with gold and dark green trim.
    “I think someone’s trapped under it,” said Liam, “and he might be hurt.”
    Oh, please do NOT be a big, fat man in a red suit.  I could not cope.

This story was only available during the 2009 holiday season.  Stay tuned for more adventures with these characters!

"Holiday Wish List" was available as a free download from December 24, 2008 - January 6, 2009.  The story featured Aunt Doris and Cassio as they spent their first Christmas together in Paris, while back in Congress Corners, Liza dealt with the appearance of shady relatives who claimed Lucifer.  This story is no longer available.  I will post here if it is re-issued.

"Impressions" was published by Emerging Women Writers in April 2005.  It's the tale of a grant writer who escapes her life in Manhattan, with her dogs, for a new life on the salt marshes of Cape Cod.

Glamorous Hearts, set in New York and Newport in 1921, was commissioned by Hereafter, a Canadian Company, in 2004.

"Driven to Change", about a woman facing divorce, was published by Emerging Women Writers in December 2004.

"Dream Layers" was published by Emerging Women Writers in November 2004.

Contact Ava Dunne here.