FSU Graduate Student and great-grandmother will publish first novel in June

Avalon Books will publish Silver Creek, an old fashioned western by A. H. Holt. ISBN 0803496001 Silver Creek offers a little mystery, a little romance, lots of fast-paced action, and a handsome cowboy.

CONTACT: Anne Haw Holt

2636 W. Mission Road # 146

Tallahassee, Florida 32304

Phone 850-576-0721,

http://www.ahholt.com

ahholt@garnet.acns.fsu.edu

Silver Creek, by A.H.Holt (ISBN# 0-8034-9600-1), Publisher: Avalon Books

Tallahassee, Florida -- Anne Holt says, "Becoming a published novelist at sixty-eight is like a dream. Just think of it in a few months I'll be in Helena, Montana starting a reading and/or book signing tour. The best part of this is---I'm a little bit of a celebrity to my children, my grandchildren, my great-grandchildren, and my friends. In a world that often seems to prefer that people over sixty-five be neither seen nor heard, that's beyond exciting."

Anne Haw Holt is a Ph.D. candidate in history at Florida State University. She is about one-third through her research and writing. Her thesis asks how the opinion and involvement of Florida citizens shaped the establishment of the Florida Prison System. "Studying and writing are what I do. I might as well seek a degree," she says.

"SILVER CREEK is an old fashioned western, the kind I love to read," Anne says. The story is set in Arizona. It's fast moving, with lots of action, a mystery and a little romance."

According to retired FSU professor of Western American History Richard A. Bartlett, "the author knows the land, horses, weaponry, terminology of ranchland people, and even the characters, so realistic do they seem. This Western is a substantial cut above the average, a real page turner."

Reviewer Amanda Killgore says "This wholesome and spirited read is hopefully the start of a promising career for a talented writer. Her settings are realistic and the action non stop. The writing is both original and pays homage to classic devices."

Two men are dead and John Garrett's father is suspected of ordering their murder. John travels through the Arizona Mountains, returning to Silver Creek. He must clear his father's name. Passing through Ellison Grove, he is challenged to a gunfight. John out-draws and shoots the bully and escapes, chased by a posse. He eventually eludes the posse, but he's wounded. Andrea Blaine discovers his horse running free, follows his back trail and finds John lying unconscious in a clearing in the forest. Groggy, John isn't sure whom to trust, so he gives "Andy" his middle name and his mother's family name, Kyle Turner. John joins Deputy Sheriff Del Ketchum to investigate the killings. Del warns him that two gunfighters are planning to ambush the last Double G riders Willis, the new foreman, hasn't driven away. Finally, John faces the man he now knows is the brains behind the killings.

When asked why she chose to write a western, Anne answered, "That's easy. My heroes are still cowboys. They represent basic American ideals such as right vs. might, the strong protecting the weak, etc. My favorite part of history is the settlement of the North American, Canadian and South American West. Cowboys bring that history to life."

For information: Contact Anne: aholt@garnet.acns.fsu.edu , Phone: 850-576-0721