You had to start with a hard one. The last book I had published was FORCE OF HABIT (Echelon Press). FORCE OF HABIT is a science fiction crime farce, with aliens from at least four planets in a cops-and-kidnappers caper that ends in a courtroom drama. With tea. I currently have another book under contract with Echelon, a series shopped to Hydra and a paranormal mystery with Blackwyrm. I just sold a story to one anthology and had one accepted into another. And I’m working on a third collection of my short stories, which I’ll self-publish.
Where would Louisville & Southern Indiana readers know you from?
I’ve done signings and appearances with the Southern Indiana Writers at RiverCon, ConGlomeration, Fandom Fest, and the Howard Steamboat Museum Chautauqua. We’ve done readings at libraries, bookstores, coffee houses, restaurants, and art galleries. Our last appearance was in an invitational exhibit presented by the Arts Council of Southern Indiana called The Animals In Us, where we read from our book of animal stories, BEASTLY TALES. Fellow member Joanna Foreman and I were interviewed by Sheri Wright on her Crescent Hill radio show, From the Inkwell.
Michael Williams, who now lives in the same town I do, which makes me feel all biggity. All the poets of the Green River Writers. All the members of the Southern Indiana Writers. Leslea Tash. Frank Bill, another guy from around here, is a fantastic writer — he writes grim and gritty, and he’s so good, I can’t read his stuff. Sara Deurell.
Isn’t it amazing how many talented authors we have in the area? You’re too kind. Tell me about your favorite bookstores. What makes them special?
Arlston’s in Corydon, Destinations in New Albany, and That Book Place in Madison are my favorites in Indiana. Carmichael’s is my favorite in Louisville. I know there are more fantastic indie bookstores in Louisville, but Carmichael’s is the only one I’ve been to. As you can see, what makes these places special is that they’re independently owned and operated. The owners balance stocking the titles that pay their bills with titles they love and that their patrons want. They’re excited about and supportive of local writers. They’re involved with their communities.
Oh, yes, of course. There hasn’t been an unsolved crime in the southern Indiana area since I moved here. (You are so silly!) 🙂
Hey, c’mon. A little Murder, She Wrote humor never hurt anyone. 😉 What’s next on the writing slate?
I need to get this collection out, then it’ll be time to edit the book Echelon has, then I hope the other books in submission are green-lighted. I have a series of cozy mysteries roughed out, and I’d like to do some sequels to FORCE OF HABIT, because I had such fun with it. Oh, and I’m in a Race to the Hugo Award with Holly Jahangiri and Mitchell Allen (no relation). They’re writing long, I’m writing short stories. I have the first one up at http://race2hugo.net and I’m half-way through the second.
Marian, as always, thanks for your time, your humor, and your inspiration!
Check out more from Marian, who blogs every single day at http://MarianAllen.com.
Leslea Tash is a Louisville area journalist-turned-novelist, now publishing dark fantasy under the nom de plume Red Tash. If you, or a local author you know would made a great feature here on LouisvilleKY.com, contact Leslea at Leslea.Tash@gmail.com with the subject line “LouisvilleKY.com Author Spotlight.”
