Taught to read at the age of three, words have been central to Marian’s life for as long as she can remember. A novelist, poet, and essayist, Marian has several degrees, none of which are related to writing. After two careers as a research scientist and an educator, she retired from salaried work and returned to writing things that weren’t research papers or reports.
Her first published work was poetry, in small journals; her first novel was released in 2015. Empire’s Daughter is the first in the Empire’s Legacy series: second-world historical fiction, devoid of magic or other-worldly creatures and based to some extent on northern Europe after the decline of Rome. In addition to her novels, Marian has read poetry, short stories, and non-fiction work at writers’ festivals and other juried venues.
Marian’s other two passions in life are birding and landscape history, both of which are reflected in her books. Birding has taken her and her husband to all seven continents, but these days she's mostly content to move between Canada and the UK.
Books:
Empire's Daughter: Queer Indie Gold Medal 2023; Discovered Diamond Award; Eric Hoffer Award Finalist, 2021; B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree, 2021; BBNYA Semi-Finalist, 2021; Readers' Favorite 5 star award, 2021 & Coffee Pot Book Club Historical Fantasy Book of the Year Silver Medal, 2019 (both as part of Empire's Legacy: The Complete First Trilogy)
Empire's Hostage: Readers' Favorite 5 star award, 2021 & Coffee Pot Book Club Historical Fantasy Book of the Year Silver Medal, 2019 (both as part of Empire's Legacy: The Complete First Trilogy); Discovered Diamond Award
Empire's Exile: Readers' Favorite 5 star award, 2021 & Coffee Pot Book Club Historical Fiction Silver Medal, 2019 (both as part of Empire's Legacy: The Complete First Trilogy); Gold Medal, Coffee Pot Book Club Historical Fantasy Book of the Year, 2019; Discovered Diamond Award
Empire's Reckoning: Gold Medal, Coffee Pot Book Club Historical Fantasy Book of the Year, 2020; Discovered Diamond Award This title and Oraiáphon are also available as the omnibus Empire's Bard
Empire's Heir: Eric Hoffer Award Finalist, 2022; Discovered Diamond Award; Historical Fiction Company 5-Star Award, 2021; IndieInk Awards finalist 2022
Queer Indie 2022 Bronze Medal, Queer Fiction/Non-Fiction - for body of work.
Empress & Soldier - December 2022
Empire's Passing - February 2024
In An Absent Dream: read at The Eden Mills Writers' Festival Fringe juried competition, 2016; published by Vocamus Offcuts, 2018
'On Shining Wings' in Historical Stories of Exile, Taw River Press, November 2023
Regular contributor to A Muse Bouche Review, June 2022 - ongoing