Earlene Fowler
Born	1954 (age 70–71)[1] California, U.S.[1]
Occupation	Novelist
Genre	Mystery
Notable awards	Agatha Award 1999Best Novel –Mariner's Compass Nominated for Agatha Award 2006Best Novel –The Saddlemaker's Wife
Spouse	Allen[2]
Website
www.earlenefowler.com
Literature portal

Earlene Fowler (born 1954) is an American novelist and the author of a number ofmystery novels set in thefictional Californian city of San Celina. She was raised inLa Puente, California.^[2]

Earlene has written 15 books in theBenni Harper series of mysteries. The sixth book,Mariner's Compass, won theAgatha 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 traditionalquiltblock 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 ofSan Luis Obispo, California.^[3][4] The books include many local landmarks and recognizable places from throughoutSan Luis Obispo County, although many of the names have been altered slightly.^[3] The name "San Celina" is improperSpanish (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.^[5]

In November, 2004Benni Harper's Quilt Album was published. Co-written withMargrit 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 atOrange Coast College inCosta 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 theBenni Harper series, was nominated for the 2006Agatha Award for Best Novel. Ms. Fowler was nominated along with authorsNancy Pickard (winner),L. C. Hayden,Julia Spencer-Fleming, andJacqueline Winspear.

Benni Harper Mysteries

• Fool's Puzzle (1994)ISBN 978-0-425-14545-6
• Irish Chain (1995)ISBN 978-0-425-15137-2
• Kansas Troubles (1996)ISBN 978-0-425-15696-4
• Goose in the Pond (1997)ISBN 978-0-425-16239-2
• Dove in the Window (1998)ISBN 978-0-425-16894-3
• Mariner's Compass (1999)ISBN 978-0-425-17408-1
• Seven Sisters (2000)ISBN 978-0-425-17917-8
• Arkansas Traveler (2001)ISBN 978-0-425-18428-8
• Steps to the Altar (2002)ISBN 978-0-425-18944-3
• Sunshine and Shadow (2003)ISBN 978-0-425-19528-4
• Broken Dishes (2004)ISBN 978-0-425-20197-8
• Delectable Mountains (2005)ISBN 978-0-425-20652-2
• Tumbling Blocks (2007)ISBN 978-0-425-22123-5
• State Fair (2010)ISBN 978-0-425-23422-8
• Spider Web (2011)ISBN 978-0-425-24098-4

Ruby McGavin series

• The Saddlemaker's Wife (2006)ISBN 978-0-425-21578-4
• The Road to Cardinal Valley (2011)

Other works

• Love Mercy (2009)ISBN 978-0-425-22597-4, connected with Benny Harper Mysteries

• Official website

• 20th-century American novelists
• 21st-century American novelists
• American women novelists
• Agatha Award winners
• 1954 births
• Living people
• Novelists from California
• American women mystery writers
• 20th-century American women writers
• 21st-century American women writers
• 20th-century American short story writers
• American women short story writers

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata