Novelist Anne A. Wilson knows about what she writes.

Her debut book, “Hover,” tells the story of a female helicopter pilot who learns to navigate a male-dominated world.

The story parallels Wilson’s career path of attending the U.S. Naval Academy to major in ocean engineering before being based in San Diego on sea duty in the western Pacific.

Her second recently published novel, “Clear to Lift,” continues the story of helicopter pilot Lt. Alison Malone. Wilson’s publisher pushed for a second book about a woman pilot. In her latest story, Lt. Malone is assigned to a search and rescue team at the Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada, about 60 miles east of Reno. Top Gun is located there.

Lt. Malone is a rule follower who becomes exasperated when she flies with her mission commander for whom military procedures are a suggestion and anything goes.

Malone is desperate to be transferred back to San Diego to be close to her finance. A series of rescues makes her reassess herself and who she is.

“I wanted to start out with someone who thought she had it wired, but she didn’t,” Wilson said.

Wilson flew search and rescue missions for three years in Fallon and mastered the trials of the rugged peaks. Twenty percent of the missions were military-based; 80 percent was for civilian authorities, performing high altitude civilian mountain rescues.

“It was crazy, risky,” said Wilson, during an interview about her latest adventure/romance book, a composite of her adventures.

The Naval Helicopter Association named Wilson

and her crew Helicopter Aircrew of the Year (non-embarked) in 1997 for rescuing 13 people in a 100-acre flood that affected the area surrounding Reno and Yosemite. An above normal snow year and back-to-back weather systems dropped tremendous amount of rain. The Reno airport was under water.

Her team was called to rescue a family of three in the middle of the Walker River. A water rescue team got stuck and had to be rescued by air.

Running low on fuel and ice buildup on the helicopter added to the stress as the crew ferried individuals to safety.

Several rescue scenarios and composite of actual events add suspense to the story.

Writing process

Wilson finds writing as an escape. She carries a notebook wherever she goes to jot down thoughts. She lets her characters guide her.

“You just never know what’s going to flow out of your brain and through your fingers on the day,” said Wilson.

She doesn’t outline the plot and characters in advance.

“Actually I start writing,” said Wilson. “I’m still surprised that I write that way.”

Frequently she writes a chapter in longhand and out of sequence, and later slides the completed chapter into the proper order of the novel.

Wilson wishes that she could transition into a full-time writer, but said it won’t be happening anytime soon. She’s currently raising twin 14-year-old sons and operating a triathlon coaching company, Camelback Coaching, with her husband, Bill. They met at the Naval Academy; he also was a Navy helicopter pilot.

After their military careers, they became operations managers at an Intel semi-conductor manufacturing plant in Hillsboro, Oregon, for four years before coaching triathletes.

They have lived in Fountain Hills for 10 years. Wilson coaches swim technique to mostly adults. She has several clients who want to participate in triathlons and need to swim more efficiently.

Another area of her business involves swimmers who are afraid of the water or have experience a near downing.

3rd novel in progress

Surprisingly, the subject of her third novel is a different genre: fantasy.

“I’m doing something completely different,” said Wilson. “We’re talking about angels and a medieval feel to it.”

“Not quite ‘Game of Thrones’ but something like ‘Lord of the Rings.’ It’s totally, totally different.”

The main characters are an ensemble cast rather than a single female. She has completed five chapters so far.

“On this one, I actually have a very good idea of where I’m going,” said Wilson. “I definitely have a path.”