My name is Ann Edall-Robson. The Edall part is pronounced with a long ē. It’s a name that reminds me of where I am from and how I was raised; with morals, respect, honesty, integrity and always a firm handshake. This name guides me on the journey to where I am drawn.
I was raised near the community of 100 Mile House, in the Cariboo country of British Columbia, migrating east of the Rockies in my early 20s.
I did not plan to be a published author; I don’t think it was even a dream. I wrote for the love of writing. A time capsule of my stories, poems and notes from my teenage years and beyond. The this-would-be-a-good-idea-for-something box of capturing moments made every home move that I did.
The rural life I once took for granted eventually brought me full circle, opening doors to express my passion — keeping my heritage, the western lifestyle and traditions alive.
In the late 1990s, I wrote a cookbook for our daughters, a compilation of family-favourite recipes and anecdotes. It sparked the idea for the From Our Home to Yours cookbook series. However, it wasn’t until 2013 that Cookies was released, followed by Cakes & Squares in 2014, both as e-books. It would be another five years before Homestead Vegetables: Rhubarb made its debut.
A full-time job runs a river of chaos through the mind of someone who wants to write. Rather than lose inspiring thoughts, I kept a journal with me to make notes. This habit evolved to a consistent practice today where the majority of my initial writing is done in longhand.
I hired a young lady to create typed files on the computer from the five-plus decades of handwritten bits and pieces from the well-travelled box.
A path deviating away from the e-cookbooks came from those files. My first in-print book, Moon Rising: A Collection of Eclectic Works, is filled with new and old pieces I have written. I was honoured to be nominated, and then becoming one of four finalists in the Emerging Artist Award category at the 2016 Airdrie Mayor’s Night of the Arts for Moon Rising.
I have published two novels in a cozy mystery series. The first, The Quiet Spirits, was published in 2017. The second book in the Brandi Westeron Mystery series, Bloodlines, was released in 2024.
A manuscript for a book with the working title The Ranch awaits my attention. My late husband, Steve, was instrumental in my research for this book. He was a strong advocate of my work, and still inspires me on my writing journey.
Since 2019, I have published six children’s books as part of my Barn Cat Buttons series. It’s a lot of fun creating ranch animals into characters, and a rancher into a spirit.
I am an indie author. In other words, the chief cook and bottle washer of 90 per cent of my book-publishing process — thus far, fourteen are in print. I enjoy sharing my knowledge through workshops and one-on-one visits. I sit on the Board for Women Writing the West (Colorado). My work is found in international and Canadian anthologies, including the Airdrie Voice and Vision project.
My books are available on my website: annedallrobson.com and on Amazon. They can also be found at Ground Press Coffee and Books (Airdrie), The Hive (Nanton), Buck Brush Farmhouse (Hanna), and PaSu Farms (Carstairs).
Follow me on social media: Facebook (/EdallRobson), Instagram (@a.e.robson), Pinterest (@aedall).
