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

 

 

   -Practicing pharmacist

   -Owner of the nostalgic Sentry Drug & Grill

   -Magnolia Masks: Custom Mardi Gras and carnival masks

 

   -Married to retired attorney, Kent Allen since 1990

   -Mother to Kelli, Chris and Sean

 

   -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 an untitled follow-up to Drink One to Me, Christian Bennett.

 

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

 

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

   -For Molly and The Return are required reading at two Louisiana high schools.

 

   -Pineville High School

   -Attended Northeast Louisiana University

   -Associate's Degree from Rose State College

   -University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy

   -Writing

   -Photography

   -Mask Making

   -Scrapbooking

   -John Grisham

   -Sidney Sheldon

   -Mary Higgins Clark

   -Sandra Brown

   -Phyllis Whitney

   -Belva Plain

   -Kathleen Woodiwiss

   -Margaret Mitchell

   -Harper Lee