Anna Dunworth

Author & Founder

Twisted Tide Press

Anna Dunworth is a history teacher turned author who writes mysteries, short fiction, and young adult fantasy.

Seeking a balance between the comfortable familiarity of the human spirit and the next best edge-of-your-seat twist, her work incorporates meaningful themes into lighthearted stories that keep you wanting more.

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personal blog

Get to know me...

Personal experiences are the cornerstones of my writing.

I am a mom to three wonderful kids: James, Ellie Jo, and Sophie.

When I'm not chasing them around or asking them kindly to please go the eff to sleep, you can find me typing away on my computer, working on one of my many writing projects.

My husband and I love to drag the little ones around, whether its a visit to my small seaside hometown or just a long drive to see some part of our region we've never been before.

Like many writers, I find few things in life as satisfying as a good book, especially when it comes with a peaceful place to read. I also love to race against myself on the treadmill and explore new activities that keep me moving.

I am an author first, and a history teacher second.

Before becoming a writer, I taught high school history - primarily AP World and 10th grade Global History & Geography in the NYC public schools. Over the years, I taught everything social studies from 7th-12th grade (and even did a short stint in middle school ELA).

I loved teaching and look back on those years fondly. My husband and I left the city for the suburbs (thanks, covid), where I continued teaching remotely before calling it quits to stay home full-time with my own kids.

I miss the classroom sometimes, but wouldn't change it if I could, as leaving it behind brought me back into the writing world. I'm happiest here.

I wasn't always a teacher... I managed small businesses (in retail and financial services) before returning to school for my teaching certifications in my mid-twenties.

Writing was a big part of management for me - email campaigns, social media posts, website copy, training materials... You name it; I probably wrote it. I even once drafted a 150-page employee manual to standardize operations across five designer consignment stores in the Hamptons and NYC. That was a big project for 19-year-old me.

My first passion in the writing world was research writing. I won a conference-wide Top Paper Award during my undergraduate years and presented research in my field (communication) in cities throughout the Northeast. I continued following my research passions throughout grad school, eventually earning my Masters in teaching Social Studies.

Even now, I can't resist the research bug. You'll find plenty of research-supported articles on my author blog and or sporadically in the weekly newsletter. I also blog about motherhood and transitions throughout life.

For the most part, I've now returned to fiction writing, which I abandoned in youth for more "sensible" pursuits. But, I mean... who needs "sensible," anyway?

I started Twisted Tide Press to publish my favorite stories, the name an ode to my upbringing alongside the ocean and the plot twists you'll find throughout my writing. It is, without question, my favorite project yet.

Stay tuned (and subscribe) to see what comes next!

I created Twisted Tide Press to give my stories a home.

When I first set out on the self-publishing path, I hoped to create a place where my stories could live, and where you could find them. As a cross-genre author, developing one umbrella for everything wasn't as simple as it first seemed. Upon reflection, I realized that each one of my stories, from the shortest microfiction to the longest novel, have one thing in common: I could never resist a good plot twist.

Literature does not need a plot twist to be great - In fact, much of the most influential works hardly strive for a "gotcha" moment. Tolkien told us the hobbits must destroy the ring, Dickens never pretended that Scrooge wasn't a jerk, and Salinger's Holden Caulfield was always troubled. The journey is often infinitely valuable even when you know the destination.

My stories, on the other hand, will always give you a twist. I'll drop the breadcrumbs and nudge you along the path, but I can't resist a surprise or two before we reach the final page. It's just how I like to write (and read).

And thus, Twisted Tide Press was born. Where will it go? Who can say? But I would love to one day expand the platform to include other writers, bloggers, and stories that jive well with my own.