A Life Came Calling by Ann Howard Creel
Ann Howard Creel was born to write. By the age of ten she was writing daily in a diary, and by the age of twelve she had written an entire novel on a typewriter her father was throwing away. She now writes full-time. Ann’s main characters are always strong women facing high-stakes situations and having to make life-changing decisions. Her historical settings have ranged from Victorian-era Galveston to World War II in New York City. Ann’s favorite time period is WW II, inspired by her parents. Due to the courage and unity of their time, they have been called “the greatest generation,” and WWII has also been called “the last good war.” Her latest novel, A LIFE CAME CALLING, coming in August 2025, takes readers to the Smoky Mountains near the end of World War II.
A Life Came Calling Blurb
It’s 1945, and Janey Nichol’s new engagement should be a dream, but memories of Cole haunt her. The sailor she pledged to marry, lost at sea, left only letters and unanswered questions. To find peace, Janey travels to his Gatlinburg home. There, she discovers his secrets, and a chance encounter with his cousin Luke ignites unexpected passion. Trapped by circumstance, Janey finds herself drawn to Luke, even as doubts arise. Can she trust him, or is history repeating itself? Torn between a safe future in the city with her Philadelphia fiancé and a love fraught with uncertainty in a totally different environment, Janey must make an impossible choice. Which life will she choose, and which heart will she break?
This is a spotlight on “A Life Came Calling” by Ann Howard Creel
Inspiration to write A Life Came Calling…
My biggest inspiration has been my parents, who lived the war. Due to the courage and unity of their time, they have been called “the greatest generation,” and WWII has also been called “the last good war.”
Ann’s favourite scene from A Life Came Calling…
It happened because of the dancing. In the dream, she’s on the street
in a one-main-street type of town surrounded by mountains crossed by
long, drifting clouds. Music and revelry float in the air. Blue-Smoke
Mountains, a place she has never heard of, whispers in her ear.
How is she here? Around her, people she doesn’t know are on the
streets celebrating in a frenzy, almost recklessly, as if the world has
suddenly been set free of something.
in a one-main-street type of town surrounded by mountains crossed by
long, drifting clouds. Music and revelry float in the air. Blue-Smoke
Mountains, a place she has never heard of, whispers in her ear.
How is she here? Around her, people she doesn’t know are on the
streets celebrating in a frenzy, almost recklessly, as if the world has
suddenly been set free of something.
And there’s a man. She’s never seen him before either, but
something about him feels familiar, as though she should know him. His
face joyful, his body slides through dance moves with abandon, as if no
one’s looking and even if they were, he wouldn’t care that this was no
dance floor. The man spins her around till she’s dizzy, and his hands on
her are solid and warm and feel like they are meant to be there—she
doesn’t want him to let go. They dance on, and it’s as if life is wrapped
up in this one moment, and the moment is all about wonder.
The night sprays millions of diamonds onto the darker-than-black
satin sky. Later she doesn’t remember the beginning or the end of the
dream. She will not even remember if it really happened, but
somewhere in the dream time, she and the lovely man are kissing,
kissing deeply, exploring each other’s mouths as if exploring their minds.
something about him feels familiar, as though she should know him. His
face joyful, his body slides through dance moves with abandon, as if no
one’s looking and even if they were, he wouldn’t care that this was no
dance floor. The man spins her around till she’s dizzy, and his hands on
her are solid and warm and feel like they are meant to be there—she
doesn’t want him to let go. They dance on, and it’s as if life is wrapped
up in this one moment, and the moment is all about wonder.
The night sprays millions of diamonds onto the darker-than-black
satin sky. Later she doesn’t remember the beginning or the end of the
dream. She will not even remember if it really happened, but
somewhere in the dream time, she and the lovely man are kissing,
kissing deeply, exploring each other’s mouths as if exploring their minds.
