Bio: About Author Vicki Allen

April 29, 2009 - PRLog -- Novelist Vicki Allen’s writing career began and—almost ended—as a 15-year-old teenager.  Her first novel, For Molly—which was started in high school, tossed into a closet to hibernate, rediscovered and finished as an adult—took 20 years to complete.  In contrast, Allen’s fourth novel, Drink One to Me, Christian Bennett, was completed in only five months and 29 days, a personal best for the author!

“Drink One to Me, Christian Bennett came to me in a huge, inspirational wave on April 1, 2008 while I was sitting in my car, waiting for my husband: Storyline, characters, dialogue—everything. Boom! It was incredible. I went home and immediately began to write. Within two sleep-deprived weeks, I had written 150 pages.”    —Vicki Allen

Known for her ability to create poignant stories that speak to southern sentimentalities, Christian Bennett is a bit of a
deviation from Allen’s previous works.

“Christian Bennett is different and I’m very excited about that.  It is my personal favorite, and in my opinion, the best I’ve written to date.    —Vicki Allen

Hailing from the Heart of Dixie, this Birmingham, Al. native lived briefly in Virginia before settling in Central Louisiana at age eleven. She graduated from Pineville High School, studied journalism at Northeast Louisiana University and relocated to Oklahoma City in 1983, where she graduated from The University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy.

Allen is a co-owner and practicing pharmacist at Sentry Drug & Grill in Alexandria, La.  A little slice of “Mainstreet Americana,” Sentry—housed in an historic downtown building—is a nostalgic drugstore with a full-service breakfast and lunch counter.

For interviews with Vicki Allen, please contact Tracy Clement at 770/401-8753 or TClement@RobinTracy.com.

Additional media materials are available online at: http://pressroom.prlog.org/RobinTracyPR/  

High Resolution photos of Vicki Allen and graphics of Vicki Allen's books are available online at:  http://picasaweb.google.com/VickiAllenBooks

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QUICK FACTS: Vicki Allen

Successful Entrepreneur
  Practicing pharmacist
  Co-owner of the nostalgic Sentry Drug & Grill
  Magnolia Masks: custom Mardi Gras & Carnival Masks

Wife and Mother
  Married to retired attorney, Kent Allen since 1990
  Mother to Kelli, Chris and Sean

Author
  For Molly, a Southern coming-of-age story (1999)
  The Search for Shannon, a story of adoption (2000)
  The Return, Mystery/Suspense sequel to For Molly (2002)
  Drink One To Me, Christian Bennett (2009)
  Upcoming works: The Other Brother and Evie,  featuring characters from For Molly, an untitled suspense novel,  and  Remy, a prequel and final volume in the For Molly series

Mentor
  Gives freely of her time to speak at schools, libraries and book clubs.


Awards
  Fiction Finalist for the prestigious Oklahoma Book Award, The Search for Shannon (2001)

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About Magnolia Publishing: Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Pineville, Louisiana, Magnolia Publishing has emerged to become the largest and oldest independent book publisher in Central Louisiana. Now entering its second decade, Magnolia Publishing—a family-owned, specialty publisher—serves up nostalgic literary treats for Audiences Who Are Southern or Southern At Heart. This, coupled with author, Vicki Allen—and her ability to articulate southern ideals and sensibilities—has created a loyal following of multi-generational fans. In April 2009, Magnolia Publishing released Drink One To Me, Christian Bennett, the fourth novel by Allen, whose previous works include For Molly, a southern coming-of-age story (1999); The Search for Shannon, fiction finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award (2000); and The Return (2002). Allen’s books are available in select boutiques and specialty gift shops and online at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and more.