Anyone who's ever read our personal blogs knows that we both like Marian Allen. She has one of the most inventive minds I know, and a sweet personality to boot. She writes fantasy, science fiction, mysteries, and characters that defy genre. Rather than interview her about one of her previous novels, I interviewed my favorite character, Uncle Phineas.

This is a special double interview. We are interviewing both Marian Allen and Mr. Sugar, the hero of "Mr. Sugar vs. the Cake Thief". Mr. Sugar is a white Persian cat.

To Mr. Sugar: You repelled an alien invasion? Tell us more about that. Did you do it single-pawed?

I must give credit where credit is due. I couldn’t have done it without Mrs. DiMarco and the unwitting help of my ex-beloved Stallone. You can read all about it in “Mr. Sugar v the Martians” in Marian Allen’s short story collection, LONNIE, ME AND THE HOUND OF HELL. It wasn’t an invasion, really; they were taking samples. I didn’t mind their taking people, but they started taking cats, and I couldn’t stand for that.

To Marian: Your writing skills appear to be cross-genre and species. Very impressive. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Plots are very difficult. There are always so many possible stories, given any situation and any collection of characters, it’s always hard to choose the one that works best.

To Marian: What is your current project? Tell us about it.

I’m currently working on a couple of short stories. One is a Middle Grade story for the Southern Indiana Writers’ 2014 anthology. In my story, a boy buys and hides a graphic novel of the book of Genesis from the Bible (nudity, violence) in some luggage in the attic, only to come home from school to find his maiden aunt visiting so she can borrow some … you guessed it: luggage. The other is for an upcoming anthology from Three Fates Press with the theme of silver screen monsters. I called dibs on The Creature From The Black Lagoon. I haven’t begun it yet, but I’m looking forward to it.

To Mr. Sugar: What makes you so sexy?

I think it’s my having been neutered. Sex without procreational responsibility is very liberating.

To Marian: Castle or Firefly?

Firefly, no question. Young Nathan Fillion, Jayne, six-guns on spaceships, the crew, the ever-present possibility that Simon Tan will get spaced or, alternatively, grow a sense of humor....

To Mr. Sugar: Grumpy Cat or Simon's Cat?

Oh, Grumpy Cat, dear! Simon’s Cat cuts much too close to the bone!

To Marian: Tell us about Three Fates Press.

We began when our former press had to cut back. Several people we knew were being “liberated” from good small presses at the same time, and we had been doing various bits of publishing ourselves, so we said, “Hey, gang! Let’s do a press right here in the barn! Sure, we can do it!” So far, we and our authors are pleased. As you know from starting Mystery and Horror LLC, it takes a while to get going, but we’re on track.

We’re presenting our first Author’s Fair on March 1:

Saturday, March 1, 2014
4:30pm
Big Woods Brewery SR135 North, Nashville, IN

This is the first annual Author's Fair to be held at Big Woods Village, hosted by Big Woods Brewery, 3 Fates Press, and Line By Lion Publications. Come, drink great microbrews and sample some wares by micropresses!

Special message from Mr. Sugar:

Stallone, if you’re reading this, I want you to know I don’t blame you for your disappearance. I understand a cat needs to go where his family takes him. I do wish you had taken the time to tell me they were moving, perhaps to say goodbye, but you didn’t, and that’s that. I do miss you, but that will pass. There are plenty of fish in the sea. Mmm, fish! Excuse me, I think I hear the can opener.

Thank you both for visiting with us!

"Mr. Sugar vs. the Cake Thief" is featured in Mardi Gras Murder, MAHLLC's latest anthology. Thirteen tales of crime inspired by Mardi Gras - its celebration, traditions, and, of course, the food.

Now available in print or Kindle format at Amazon.com! If you are a Kindle Prime member, you can also borrow the book. 

To learn more about Marian and her wonderful writings, check out her page at MarianAllen.com . Her blog entries are a treat all in themselves.

Our first 2014 anthology, Mardi Gras Murder, is already up at Amazon. Have no fear, authors, we have at least three more planned.
The first is Strangely Funny II, this year's collection of humorous paranormal stories. The guidelines are available on our Submissions page, and we hope to have the cover shortly.
The other two will be:

• History and Horror, Oh My!
  
• History and Mystery, Oh My!
  

We haven't set the guidelines for these yet, but one will be a collection of historical horror stories and the other will be a collection of historical mysteries.
In this case, 'historical' means your story should be set in a time at least fifty years ago. You know how they're celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Beatles playing the Ed Sullivan show? Yeah, your story should be set during that time or before.
Let us not discuss members of the MAHLLC staff who qualify as historical under these standards... please. Just warm up those keyboards!