Maureen Gill
@maureengill
About
Maureen’s first novel, January Moon, launched what she named the Del Carter Calendar Series. January Moon is a fast-paced cop story that spins a tapestry of interwoven stories loaded with drama, humor and suspense. All of the stories come together in a breathtaking conclusion highlighted by a dramatic shoot out inside a religious cult.
March Storm, the second book in the series, fulfills the need to continue the story about the major characters inJanuary Moon, Chicago Detective Del Carter and feisty college professor Jessica Farrell, as well as the ornery Illinois State Police Inspector Fred Wiley and the remarkable woman he loves, Eleanora (Eliot) Ness, one of the nation’s most respected State’s Attorneys. March Storm will be published at the end of 2013.
January Moon is the first American detective story to situate female genital mutilation (FGM) within the context of a murder mystery; however it also explores religious fundamentalism, domestic terrorism, racism and other contemporary American issues. March Storm deals with dog fighting and other crimes, including hate crimes against gays, and like January Moon it also delivers humor, wit and a fair dose of love.
Maureen hopes to write at least 6 books in the Del Carter Calendar Series… making it necessary for her (perhaps) to rethink the name of the series (how about the Del Carter Half-A-Year Series? Naw, don’t think so…).
Upcoming Novel
Maureen is currently working on a third novel, Wingman, and hopes it will be finished in early 2014.Wingman is stylistically very different from January Moon and March Storm (and not a part of the Del Carter Calendar Series). Wingman is the story about the battle for America’s soul. It is set in an apocalyptic America torn apart by America’s Second Civil War.
More details about January Moon, March Storm, and Wingman can be read in special pages on this blog.
Short Stories
Pearls for Jimmy is an adult romance set in Chicago’s Greek Town. It explores themes about sexual frustration, loneliness, and finding love in middle age — long after the average man or woman has ceased to believe The Great Love of One’s Life can still be found. When five women, all old high school friends, decide to dine in one of Chicago’s most famous Greek restaurants, no one could begin to imagine how the sensual delights of Greek food and wine, a remarkable man, a catastrophic storm, and a pair of pearls were going to rock two people to their core – and create new legends about the power of live, lightning and, yes, even pearls. Opaah!
Fondue, Enchiladas & Love… Chicago Style continues the exploration of adult sexual frustration, discouragement and renewal of passion seen in Maureen’s other two stories, Pearls for Jimmy and Chain Reaction. Fondue, Enchiladas & Love… Chicago Style is a sweet and spicy adult story about two people who first “met” on Facebook and then, several years later, take advantage of a sudden opportunity to finally meet face-to-face for a casual dinner in Chicago… an encounter that alters their lives with stunning fury. When one of them realizes no relationship is worth having unless it includes the “whole enchilada” some very tough decisions need to be made by both lovers.
Chain Reaction couples themes about sexual frustration and loneliness with family lies and small town secrets. Maris is the frustrated wife of a Chicago attorney who flees to her husband’s family’s summer home on a Chain of Lakes in the far North Woods of Wisconsin in order to try to save her marriage, put her priorities in order, and count her many blessings. The wild beauty of the Chain of Lakes, the mysterious charm and primal sexuality of a guy named Chance, and the discovery of her mother-in-law’s old diariesthrow all of Maris’ summer goals up for grabs and force her to decide how she is going to paint the coming Autumn and Winter of her own life.
More About Maureen
Maureen is known for her insightful historical analyses, biting political commentaries and classy wit. She has been a guest writer and OpEd columnist at numerous print and online sources (York County Maine Journal Tribune, LGBTQ.Nation.com, OpEd News Online, OutServe Magazine and elsewhere). Maureen hasover 100 articles published under her name and her articles have been reprinted and referenced in countless on-line and print papers and blogs, including Daily Kos and the Huffington Post.
The same bold style of writing that is her hallmark when writing history and political commentary, and which won her prestigious awards while still in college, is now carried over into her powerful fiction. A superb story teller compared to giants like Michael Connolly and Lee Childe, Maureen has been nicknamed the “Windy City Author” and the moniker fits: her writing style has been compared to the gale force winds off Lake Michigan that hammer her hometown, Chicago.
Maureen trained in history at Loyola University Chicago and taught modern European and U.S. history, philosophy and medical ethics. She has been a guest speaker at universities, libraries, churches, and various civic, religious and private groups. Maureen is a committed social activist whose many areas of interest include LGBT rights, animal rights, economic justice and issues relating to the equitable and just delivery of modern healthcare, including social and medical issues concerning at-risk populations such as the mentally ill. Maureen has special expertise in German fascism, the Holocaust, eugenics, and religious and political extremism. She is a dynamic and entertaining speaker recognized for her passion and clarity.
Maureen is currently enjoying life in southern coastal Maine; however, she will always be a Midwesterner, most especially a Chicagoan and if you need proof of that, ask her about hot dogs and pizza.
Please follow Maureen on Twitter and Facebook.
