Local writer to celebrate first novel with book signing
CARMICHAELS – Area readers may already know of Billie Allen of Carmichaels. The mother of four used to write a column for the Greene County Messenger on gardening for about a year sometime around 2000. Around 2005, she also wrote a gardening column for another publication.
“I’ve been a writer since high school,” said Allen, who currently works as a cashier at Gabler’s Pharmacy in Carmichaels.
Always fascinated by angels, she started to write a novel on the subject, but had to put the book on the back burner when doctors diagnosed her husband, Rich, with liver cancer. She subsequently devoted her time to caring for him, but resumed work on the book “a little at a time” after he passed in 2004.
As a theme, she often wondered if angels were sent back to earth to help someone, would they be able to recognize them. Her attempt to answer the question came in the form of her debut novel “Superstar,” a tale of Mark O’Hara, a rock star who seemingly has everything he wants, but has lost his faith. His deceased mother, Carlotta, has returned to Earth as an angel to help him find his way to happiness because it’s the only way to find her lost love, her deceased husband who she’s unable to find.
“The book isn’t about religion,” Allen said. “It’s about a love that’s everlasting, a love that never lets go. It’s the love of a mother for her child, of a husband for his wife, of brotherly love.”
Allen said that since her husband died, she believes he’s left signs that he’s still around and that much of the book is about personal experiences she’s had.
“Right after Rich passed, I thought about selling the house and even listed it with a realtor,” she said. “One night, while I was sleeping, I heard a noise, woke up and saw him sitting at the foot of my bed. After simply saying ‘Don’t do it,’ he vanished. I took his advice and am glad I did. Rich built the house, and I think that’s why he didn’t want me to sell it.”
Another time, when she came home from work on Valentine’s Day, she said she was very depressed. When she went into the room in her house where she keeps her computer, she saw a valentine lying on the floor that she had never seen before.
“I opened it and read the words ‘I will never leave you’ written in Rick’s handwriting,” she said.
The author finished the book in 2011 and queried three different publishers she found online who accepted manuscripts from authors who didn’t have an agent. The third publisher, Tate Publishing of Mustang, Oklahoma, a Christian-based, family-owned publishing house, offered her a contract.
The book has a Sept. 10 release date, but Allen received advance copies at the end of May that she’s been selling herself, at Gabler’s and online through the publisher at TatePublishing.com. In September the book will also be available at amazon.com and Barnes and Noble bookstores.
From 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, July 1, Allen will be at the Flenniken Memorial Library, located at 102 East George Street in Carmichaels, signing copies of her soft cover book, which will be available for purchase.
“The book has a very happy ending,” she said. “A couple of people who’ve already read it said it made them cry.”
At the moment, Allen is busy writing a sequel to her novel titled “Broken Wings.” She will be earning royalties on the first book but is expecting an advance on its sequel.
The author has taken a couple of writing classes at Point Park University where she earned an Associate’s Degree in psychology. She also has a paralegal degree from Webster University in Port Richie, Florida.
“I just want people to be glad they’ve read my book,” she said. “I want it to make them happy. It has a good message, and I’m glad I wrote it.”