Mary Vermillion is the author of three lesbian mystery novels—all set in Iowa and all featuring the plucky and neurotic radio personality, Mara Gilgannon. Mary's third novel, Seminal Murder, will be published by Regal Crest Books in May 2012. It features a murder in a sperm bank, and explores the differences between lesbians who want to parent and lesbians who don't. Her first novel, Death by Discount, a finalist for two Lambda awards, portrays Walmart's impact on small-town America. Her second, Murder by Mascot, provides a darkly comic look at homophobia and sexual violence in the world of Division I basketball. Vermillion is a Professor of English at Mount Mercy University. She lives in Iowa City with her partner and three cats.
Seminal Murder is now available!
When Dr. Grace Everest is murdered in her own sperm bank, Mara Gilgannon attempts to find the killer and to protect a beloved ex who is desperately seeking motherhood. So what if Mara herself has 858 reasons (and counting) never to have children? She didn't let that stop her when she and Grace launched a radio series on artificial insemination. And she won't let anyone stop her from completing the series and discovering the truth about her friend's murder. Not the thief who trashes her office. Not her flamboyant housemate who invites a top suspect to crash with them. Not the 15-year-old who wants Mara to help find her donor dad. And especially not conservative Christian activist Reverend Leo Spires. As he heightens his campaign against the radio station where Mara works and the sperm bank where the murder occurred, Mara discovers a new mystery at the bank itself—an unusually low pregnancy rate for lesbians.
eBooks
Mary's first two novels, Death by Discount and Murder by Mascot, are now available as eBooks.
Upcoming Classes
Summer 2012: Mary will return to the Iowa Summer Writing Festival, where she will teach two courses: Writing Your First Novel (July 15-20) and Creating Novel Characters (July 21-22).
© Mary Vermillion. Web site by interbridge.