Earlene Fowler

Greetings from a native Southern Californian. Yes, there are a few of us that exist!

I've been married 48 years to my high school sweetheart, Allen, who was born in Kansas. We met when we were fifteen. We don't have children, but are currently owned by a scruffy and adorable rescue terrier mix named Ivy. Though I'm a native Southern Californian, my parents are not. My father was born in Colorado and grew up in a migrant worker family. My mother's family were cotton share croppers in Arkansas. I've been writing since I was in my late-twenties. I published my first novel, Fool's Puzzle, when I was in my late thirties. I like to ride horses when I can (and luckily, have friends who own horses), walk my dog, travel with my husband and, of course, love to read. There are four girls in my family. I'm the number two sister.

I was named after my father and my grandfather. Both of them were named Earl. The first book I remember reading by myself was Curious George. I think it was the one where he went to the circus. My favorite fictional character is Old Yeller. He had courage and loyalty, two virtues I admire greatly. Back in the 1980's, for a year and a half, I taught a weekly craft class at a retirement home in Covina, California. My youngest member was in her late sixties; my oldest was ninety-eight. Those fifteen women taught me way more than I ever taught them. I love strawberry ice cream and fried tacos. Together or separately. Doesn't matter.