Ellen Fannon

Discover the books of Ellen Fannon, an author whose stories feature memorable characters, engaging plots, and themes that resonate with readers. Browse her titles and learn more about her writing journey at Winged Publications.

Ellen Fannon is an award-winning author, a retired veterinarian, a former missionary, and a church pianist/organist. She and her retired Air Force pilot-turned-pastor husband have fostered more than forty children and have two adopted sons. Ellen has published nine novels, and her stories have appeared in One Christian Voice, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Divine Moments, and Guideposts; her devotions have appeared in Open Windows, Guideposts God’s Creatures, and The Secret Place.

Ellen lives in the Panhandle of Florida with her husband, 2 dogs, 3 cats, and 2 birds. In addition to writing, Ellen loves reading, music, camping, and the beach.

About Me

My writing journey technically began at age three. Since I couldn’t actually write yet, I drew pictures and narrated stories to myself. Looking back, not much has changed. I still make things up for a living. Throughout school, I loved writing and eventually edited both my high school yearbook and literary magazine. This taught me two important lessons: deadlines matter, and other people are surprisingly bad at turning things in on time.

Then life happened. I graduated from veterinary school and spent the next 42 years practicing veterinary medicine. Along the way, I married Doug, an Air Force fighter pilot who later became a pastor, proving that God has a sense of humor and enjoys unexpected career changes. Believe me, being a pastor’s wife was never on my radar! We adopted two sons, served as missionaries in Indonesia from 1999 to 2001, and spent ten years as foster parents after returning home. Somewhere in all that chaos, my writing took a back seat. Frankly, I was doing well just to remember where I left my glasses.

More than forty years ago, I wrote my first novel, Honor Thy Father. In those days, aspiring authors printed manuscripts on actual paper, stuffed them into envelopes, and mailed them to publishers. I collected rejection letters the way some people collect baseball cards. Eventually, I tucked the manuscript away and moved on with life, although the desire to write never quite left me.

In 1993, I pitched the idea for a pet-care column called “Pet Peeves” to our local newspaper, The Playground Daily News. The editor said yes, and suddenly I was a published author! Granted, I was writing about ear infections, hairballs, and intestinal parasites, but publication is publication.

Years later, I attended my first Christian writers conference. On the drive there, I remember thinking, “What can they possibly teach me? Either you can write or you can’t.” It turns out they could teach me quite a lot, including humility. God used that conference and many generous writers to help me grow. He also led me to Destin Word Weavers, where writers gather monthly to fellowship, encourage one another, and gently explain why certain paragraphs should probably be deleted.

I’ve now been writing seriously for about ten years. After 42 years of veterinary medicine—a profession in which people actually sought me out— I retired to pursue writing full-time, proving that I obviously enjoy a profession where I type my fingers to the bone, only to realize that rejection, criticism, and skimpy royalty checks are all part of the job description.

After accumulating enough rejection letters to wallpaper a small room, I finally found a publisher who was willing to take a chance on me. Thank you, Cynthia Hickey! Since then, I’ve published nine novels, including Save the Date, winner of the 2022 Christian Indie Award; the Love in the Wind series, winner of the 2024 Living Water Award; two cozy mysteries, Dogged

by Murder and Hounded by Murder; and, after 35 years of numerous revisions, Honor Thy Father, Episodes One and Two. My genres range from light humor and drama to inspirational romance and cozy mysteries. Either I haven’t decided what I want to write when I grow up, or I’m that versatile of an author that I can write in multiple genres. I like to think it’s the latter.

People occasionally ask why I write. The answer is simple: writers don’t really get a choice. God planted this passion in my heart, and despite overwhelming evidence that writing is not the fastest path to financial success, I continue to do it. My writing expenses still exceed my writing income by an (un)comfortable margin. Nevertheless, I like to think of myself as a paper missionary. Nothing brings me greater joy than hearing from readers who were encouraged, challenged, or blessed by something I’ve written.

I’d love for you to follow my weekly humor blog, Good for a Laugh, at ellenfannonauthor.com. Laughter has been shown to be beneficial for overall well-being, improving physical and mental health, sleep, and social functioning. If you’re as weary as I am of the doom and gloom that permeates our society today and like to find humor in everyday life situations, join me as I poke fun at the mundane, the ridiculous, and most of all, myself.

For new subscribers in the next 60 days, I will do a drawing for a free eBook or paperback of your choice.

You can also connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Email: ellenfannonauthor@gmail.com

Ellen Fannon Book Reviews

1. Dogged by Murder: I just loved this cozy mystery by Ellen Fannon! Fannon has such a way with words that brings humor to the scenes. As a former vet, Fannon understands the life of the vet in the book very well! If you like cozy mysteries, AND animals, you’ll love this book! Marilyn Turk

2. Hounded by Murder: A friend who knows my sense of humor gifted me with this book. And, it hits the mark as I chucked and even laughed out loud reading this clever writing by Ellen Fannon. Yes, murder is involved, but the story is lighthearted and includes adorable animals, tales of the challenges of veterinary practice, and even romance. An entertaining read. Alice Murray

3. Love in the Wind: Love in the Wind was a fun read for me. I also learned much about horses and vetting from reading it. Ellen Fannon’s excellent writing didn’t surprise me–I’d read another one of her books about her crazy experiences as a vet. I especially appreciate that I never knew what was going to happen next in the story. So NOT predictable. This is romance novel writing at its best. Jeanette E. Levellie

4. Honor Thy Father: The book is an excellently written book. I never wanted to put it down, even though I had to at times. The characters were so real to me, and I would say let me go check in on Charlotte (one of the characters) . I would recommend the book to anyone. Rickey

5. Don’t Bite the Doctor: What a great read this is! It’s charming and witty and romantic! It’s got everything. As a dog lover I was really able to relate to this. If there’s any thing wrong with it, it’s that it ends too soon, it could be 10 times longer and I would have enjoyed reading it! I like the authors style of writing so much that I’m off to see what else she’s written. Desert Gal53

6. Save the Date: Ellen Fannon is a woman of many talents; her biggest asset is compassion for her fellow man and animals. Her writing style reflects such in this humorous journey from teenage to adulthood and the many twists and turns our lives take along the way. It will make us all stop and laugh at what seemed to be life-ending calamities and the small impact they had in the long run. Highly recommend “Save the Date.” Margaret Gunter

🐾 At the local animal shelter, saving lives is the goal—until someone winds up dead.

When veterinarian Amanda Reynolds volunteers at the town’s struggling animal shelter, she expects chaos—barking dogs, opinionated cats, and volunteers who mean well but don’t always follow instructions. What she doesn’t expect is the arrival of a nasty new director whose iron-fisted management style sends morale and ethics into free fall.

As animals disappear, funds don’t add up, and tempers flare hotter than an overcrowded kennel, Amanda can’t ignore the feeling that something’s fishy. Then the director turns up murdered—and suddenly the shelter is crawling with secrets, suspects, and motives. Worse? Amanda had a run-in with the victim, she discovers the body, and the police suddenly have their sights set on her.

With Amanda’s reputation, career, and freedom on the line, she teams up with her quirky friends to sniff out the truth and clear her name. But digging into the director’s shadowy dealings could prove dangerous. Because in a place built to protect the innocent, someone has a very deadly agenda.

Hounded by Murder is a laugh-out-loud cozy mystery packed with lovable animals, sharp humor, small-town secrets, and a veterinarian sleuth who just can’t stay out of trouble. Perfect for fans of animal cozy mysteries, female amateur sleuths, and clean whodunits with heart. AMAZON

Veterinarian Amy Dixon thought she was just helping out at the county dog show. Instead, she ends up in a dog-eat-dog world of rival breeders, pampered pooches, and one very dead Chihuahua breeder.

All Amy wanted was a quiet day filling in for a sick colleague. What she got was a snarling confrontation with Mildred Blankenship, the queen of the Chihuahua circuit—followed by a front-row seat to a growing list of people who’d be just fine if Mildred took her last lap around the show ring.

Then Mildred drops dead, and it turns out someone wasn’t bluffing.

With Amy suddenly in the doghouse as a murder suspect, she teams up with charming snack-stand guy Nick Wyman to sniff out the real killer. But as they dig into the tangled leashes of show dog drama, they realize this mystery has more twists than a poodle’s perm.

Will Amy and Nick find the culprit before someone else gets collared—or are they about to be the next ones put down? AMAZON

Winner of the 2024 Living Water Award

Wyoming rancher, Ben Parish, is struggling to keep his ranch afloat.

Veterinarian, Darcy Fuller has moved to Wyoming to start a new life but is struggling to become established in a new area.

Both have been badly burned by past relationships and are not looking to become involved in another. When their paths cross, Darcy has an idea to bring extra income to the ranch, as well as provide her with an outlet for her passion for working with horses.

But can their growing attraction coexist with a business partnership? AMAZON

Biology professor, Kendra Clark, is an independent, competent, intelligent woman of faith—that is, until she is around cowboy, Ricky Gaither. Then she becomes a babbling klutz.

For his part, Ricky doesn’t have much use for intellectuals or God. But when they keep running into each other, they can’t deny their growing attraction.

Can a relationship work between two people who seem to have nothing in common? Or does the secret Ricky harbors make them more alike than Kendra realizes?

And will that secret derail any hope for a relationship? AMAZON

Cam Ellis and Olivia Anderson have worked at Whispering Winds Ranch for two years without paying much attention to each other—until suddenly, things change. They are a perfect match in every way, except for the one challenge neither of them expected to enter their lives.

Will an event from Cam’s past hold him hostage to moving forward, or can he overcome his deepest fear to risk everything for love? AMAZON

Why should Adam’s daughters, with whom he hasn’t had contact for twenty-five years, honor him now when he needs a life-saving bone marrow transplant?

Why should his son, who was kicked out of the house, honor his father? Is there any hope of reconciliation when twenty-five years of anger, bitterness, and divergent pathways have led family members down different roads of life?

Honor Thy Father is the compelling story of loss and redemption and how God can turn tragedy into triumph.

How does a family survive after being torn apart? Adam Wallace copes with the heartbreaking loss of his wife and daughters by immersing himself in his work. Charlotte withdraws from everyone and everything around her. Dana, living a life of privilege, does not even realize her loss. Katrina copes by trying to make everyone else happy. Scott copes by rebellion. Ultimately, they all come to realize that God can work through every situation to make beauty out of ashes. AMAZON

Why should Adam’s daughters, with whom he hasn’t had contact for twenty-five years, honor him now when he needs a life-saving bone marrow transplant? Why should his son, who was kicked out of the house, honor his father? Is there any hope of reconciliation when twenty-five years of anger, bitterness, and divergent pathways have led family members down different roads of life?

Honor Thy Father is the compelling story of loss and redemption and how God can turn tragedy into triumph.

Real doctors treat more than one species.

At least that’s what veterinarian, Jill Bennet tells herself.

On any given day, she may find herself doctoring dogs, cats, bunnies, birds, horses, pigs, or any other furry or feathered patient who crosses her path—striving daily to deliver compassion and competence to all God’s creatures, in accordance with Colossians 3:23. Now, with over forty years of practice under her belt, Jill reflects back to her time as a new, young veterinarian in the early eighties—a time when women veterinarians were just beginning to become a presence among the previously male-dominated profession.

Out in the real world, Jill finds herself in situations never covered in veterinary school. It is a journey of learning and laughter, as Jill contends with a variety of animal patients and their eclectic humans attached to the other end of the leash (and the checkbook), as well as less-than-helpful co-workers. Interwoven into this mix of new experiences is her budding romance with the owner of the sock-eating Labrador Retriever. Don’t Bite the Doctor promises to bring smiles and tears to anyone who has ever been owned by an animal. AMAZON

Winner of the 2022 Christian Indie Award

What if you were given the chance to rekindle the flame with your first love? What happened to all those girls who were mean to you in school? Should Hannah Jensen take the chance of attending her high school reunion to find out?

Hannah hasn’t been back to her hometown in more than twenty years. Now, a widow, raising a teenaged daughter, she has the opportunity to go home for her twenty-fifth high school reunion. The invitation to the reunion stirs up a lot of old memories at the same time she is dealing with loneliness, the challenges of single-parenting a teenager, people who want to “set her up” with eligible men, her own insecurities, and her eccentric family.

The story interweaves the present with scenes from Hannah’s past and her fantasy of “happily ever after” with her high school boyfriend in a humorous and entertaining manner. Her feelings from being “shunned” by the cool kids resurface as she reflects back on her time as a teenager. There are several roadblocks on Hannah’s journey from a teenager through her present. The growing pains and amusing situations in which she finds herself are ones to which we all can relate. As she walks the path of self-discovery, she also discovers the most important life lesson of all–her relationship to God. AMAZON