The writings of
Avril Maria Serene

I spend the best of sunny days in brightened, safe, and open spaces.
But with the night, I'd rather wander secret, dark, and spidered places.
- Avril

7/23/2025: As some of you have noticed and commented, I've recently become a victim of the hateful politics of the times.

Thanks entirely to a literate and appreciative audience, my books tend to draw 4.8 to 5 stars in reviews from those wonderful readers on Amazon who've spent hard-earned money to buy and then read them. They've given me my first real success as a writer, and I am beyond grateful.

Unfortunately, the same books have suddenly come under vicious attack en masse on Goodreads. In the space of a few hours, members of an alt-right echo chamber have dumped hundreds of anonymous one-star "reviews" attacking my work on that website, which famously has no guardrails for such bullying behaviors.

Still, the quality of my writing speaks for itself (as does theirs).

It's truly a shame we've come to this point as a society. Vbi crvdvs et stvltvs imperat, malvm regit, indeed. Regardless, Debra Ann wouldn't be happy with me if I let it affect how I write or what I have to say, so I won't (those who've suffered similar assaults are going to love Nero's Fiddle when it comes out!)

I wanted those who have supported me and my work to know what was going on, and I won't address it any further, other than in my novels.

But otherwise, exciting times! Two major events to announce, both of which you'll see reflected in changes to this website...

...

Check out our new video for Aunt Tik's: The Killer App:

"Aunt Tik's: The Killer App" on Amazon

And here's the new Facebook ad for The Hodin Cabal: Choices:

"The Hodin Cabal: Choices" on Amazon

And here's the new ad for Six Degrees from Killing Brian:

"Six Degrees from Killing Brian" on Amazon

 

...from the Debra Ann Wynn mystery series

Debra Ann Wynn is the dauntless redhead and investigative reporter driving the most fascinating stories you'll ever read. Persistent, intelligent, and sometimes pugnacious, Debra Ann spent nearly ten years honing her talents and climbing the ranks at the Union-Tribune, once a respected newspaper serving San Diego and its Navy base. Her stories exposing corruption and mismanagement in the city's police department, taxpayer fraud in the funding of Petco Park, and scandals around the office building at 101 Ash propelled her to the top of the paper's food chain. But in the Union-Tribune's death throes, advertising revenue became more important than truth.

When Debra Ann's seminal piece on what later became become an international scandal around Fat Leonard's bribery of the Navy's top brass gets pushed to the back burner, the ensuing confrontation frees Debra Ann from her ties to the paper. With her father succumbing to cancer, she grieves even as she worries for her own survival.

But opportunity emerges from the chaos and change, and her freelance career produces the raft of compelling, unusual, and timely stories captured in the books below.

Welcome to Debra Ann's world:

Six Degrees from Killing Brian

Debra Ann Wynn’s life is placed in mortal danger as she honors her father’s dying request that she return secretive letters to their rightful owner.

$4.99
View Book

The Hodin Cabal: Choices

Suddenly, it seems people are dropping like flies everywhere San Diego investigative journalist Debra Ann Wynn looks; unexplainable loss, suffering, and misery consume far more of the survivors’ lives than they should. She’s willing to push the boundaries of common sense to understand why. As inexplicable tragedies entangle her and haunt friends and loved ones, the enormity of the bloodletting becomes obvious, the diabolical reasons for it innumerable, inescapable, terrifying… and undeniably real.

*Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

$4.99
View Book

Aunt Tik’s: The Killer App

A series of twisted homicides is exposed when a teenager attempts to murder a sitting judge in the belief it was all a joke. Websites can cheat you, embarrass you, and trick you into believing things that aren’t true… but can they kill you? Debra Ann learns the shocking reality as a devious and vicious criminal seeks deadly revenge exploiting startling new technologies.

$4.99
View Book

NEW BOOKS ARRIVING SOON:

About eManuscripts and eAudioBooks

eManuscripts The books and other writings posted on this website will eventually become available through outside vendors. I'll be relying...
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About eManuscripts and eAudioBooks

The Cross Streets Killer

The Cross Streets Killer by Avril Maria Serene ... a Debra Ann Wynn mystery SAN DIEGO The firefighters’ favorite diner...
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The Cross Streets Killer
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Expressing gratitude and respect for my readers means putting everything I have into a story before they ever see it on a shelf. Those feelings come back to me a hundred times over when they enjoy my work.

Avril

Avril Maria Serene

Genre-Bending Creator of Imaginative Stories

My name is Avril Serene and I've been writing as a hobby for many years. I've recently begun working on mysteries - I've put up this website so my audience can find me and help improve my books. I hope eventually to sell my work.

I've made a conscious decision to follow my unique path as an author - hopefully the differences in my writing will stand out and appeal to the reader looking for something new and refreshing.


"The Mourning Mail," the opening novel in the Debra Ann Wynn series, was my first fictional work to seek publication (it's been re-written since as "Six Degrees from Killing Brian"). Despite its imperfections, I am proud of my inaugural effort. The next book in the series, entitled "The Hodin Cabal: Choices," is also available on this website along with the third book, "Aunt Tik's: The Killer App." The fourth book, "Three-Murder Monte," is midway through initial production, and will be posted soon.

I have just begun researching "Nero’s Fiddle," and I'm well into the first draft. "Tellers of Terrible Tales: Writer's Block" and "Hack No Mercy: Disassembled" will then follow.

Oh, and just so you know - every so often, someone will ask me if I rendered Debra Ann's image under the "Features" heading. Oh, if only it had been that easy! ...

 

To reach out to Avril:


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