Arts Around Redmond: Local Author Finds Satisfaction as a Working Artist

When telling her last name to an acquaintance recently, Louise Marley ran into what’s probably a familiar association.

“Oh, like Bob Marley?”

“No, like Louise Marley, the famous writer,” went the retort.

Marley, a longtime Redmond resident, may not exactly be a household name, but she’s been nothing if not prolific over her decade-and-a-half-long career as an author. Formerly a concert and opera singer, Marley had her first novel published in 1995, and her 15th was released earlier this month.

“Sometimes it sort of stuns me when I look at the stack (of my books) and see the body of work,” she said.

Marley primarily works in the genres of historical fiction and fantasy. Her latest novel, The Brahms Deception, tells the story of two music scholars who must travel back in time to investigate a mystery involving Brahms and fellow composer Clara Schumann.

As many published authors will tell you, writing a novel is difficult and getting it published can be even harder. For Marley, her previous career as a singer informed her of what it takes to make it in the arts—persistence, talent, a thick skin and a healthy dose of luck.

“(Starting out), I didn’t have any expectations,” she said. “Turns out, I had a knack for it.”

Beginning her foray into the world of writing, Marley took classes at Bellevue Community College and received support from the . Now, after more than 15 years, the process of writing a novel has become easier—partly because you learn how to recognize just what you need, she said.

“I don’t throw away a lot,” Marley said. “I hate throwing words away.”

For The Brahms Deception, which began its life as a short story, that was especially true.

“I had to expand it,” Marley said. “It was like blowing up a balloon.”

The Brahms Deception also allowed Marley to explore a favorite approach—feminist fiction—in the character of Schumann, a 19th-century woman who made her way in the professional world despite the social and practical barriers, she said.

Sure, the name Louise Marley may not set off immediate bells of widespread recognition, but she’s been able to build a career as a working artist, and for that, Marley said she is grateful.

“I wouldn’t trade that for anything,” she said. “Not even making the New York Times Best Seller list—although that would be tempting.”

Editor's note: Louise Marley has also signed up to be a blogger for Redmond Patch. You can read her .