Earlene Fowler

{{short description|American novelist}}

{{Infobox writer

| name = Earlene Fowler

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| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1954}}page 82, Great Women Mystery Writers, 2nd Ed. by Elizabeth Blakesley Lindsay, 2007, publ. Greenwood Press, {{ISBN|0-313-33428-5}}

| birth_place = California, U.S.

| occupation = Novelist

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| genre = Mystery

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| spouse = Allen

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| awards = {{awd|Agatha Award|1999|Best Novel|Mariner's Compass}}

Nominated for {{awd|Agatha Award|2006|Best Novel|The Saddlemaker's Wife}}

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| website = {{URL|http://www.earlenefowler.com/}}

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Earlene Fowler (born 1954) is an American novelist and the author of a number of mystery novels set in the fictional Californian city of San Celina. She was raised in La Puente, California.{{Citation |last=Banse |first=Gregg |title="Who Dunnit: Earlene Fowler" biography |url=http://www.who-dunnit.com/authors/180/ |access-date=2008-08-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071130212427/http://www.who-dunnit.com/authors/180/ |archive-date=2007-11-30 }}

Earlene has written 15 books in the Benni Harper series of mysteries. The sixth book, Mariner's Compass, won the Agatha Award for Best Novel in 1999. The lead character, Benni Harper, is curator of a folk art museum and quilting figures prominently in many of the storylines. Each book in the series has been given the name of a traditional quilt block pattern. Recurring characters include Police Chief Gabe Ortiz, Benni's friend Elvia Aragon, Grandma Dove, Aunt Garnet, and cousin Emory.

San Celina is a fictionalized and slightly modified version of San Luis Obispo, California.{{Citation|last=Fowler |first=Earlene |title=FAQs: Why, if San Celina is based on San Luis Obispo, didn't you just name the town in your books by its real name? |url=http://www.earlenefowler.com/FAQs.html#15 |access-date=2008-08-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612103303/http://www.earlenefowler.com/FAQs.html#15 |archive-date=2008-06-12 |url-status=dead }}{{Citation|last=McDonald |first=C. |title=Earlene Fowler: An Exclusive Interview |url=http://www.modestyarbor.com/earlene_fowler.html |access-date=2008-08-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705092517/http://www.modestyarbor.com/earlene_fowler.html |archive-date=July 5, 2008 }} The books include many local landmarks and recognizable places from throughout San Luis Obispo County, although many of the names have been altered slightly. The name "San Celina" is improper Spanish (improper gender agreement between the subject and article) and was meant as a joke, but is now a decision the author regrets due to the large number of letters she receives about it.{{Citation|last=Fowler |first=Earlene |title=FAQs: Why is the town in your series called San Celina? Isn't that improper Spanish? Shouldn't it be Santa Celina? |url=http://www.earlenefowler.com/FAQs.html#24 |access-date=2008-08-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612103303/http://www.earlenefowler.com/FAQs.html#24 |archive-date=2008-06-12 |url-status=dead }}

In November, 2004 Benni Harper's Quilt Album was published. Co-written with Margrit Hall, this book features quilt patterns inspired by early books in the series. The book includes photographs and new stories to fill in some missing plot details from the book series.

Earlene was a short story writer for more than ten years before her first novel was published. Writing classes at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California led to the submission of her first book to a publisher. Within a week, a three-book contract was signed.

The Saddlemaker's Wife, not a part of the Benni Harper series, was nominated for the 2006 Agatha Award for Best Novel. Ms. Fowler was nominated along with authors Nancy Pickard (winner), L. C. Hayden, Julia Spencer-Fleming, and Jacqueline Winspear.