In How Did This Love Happen? our heroine, Nellie, tells us in her own words, how she, an octogenarian, falls in love with a much younger man. She writes poetry about him, and frequently sends him love letters in the form of e-mails. More often than not, he is unresponsive. As time passes, and the pressures of family losses, and family feuds, are surmounted by unrequited love, she loses touch with reality, and eventually retreats into her personal fantasy for solutions. How easy the ultimate fantasy was—to die, happy and contented, in the arms of her lover. But, that was all it was, for Nellie is still here, telling us that nothing is resolved. Will we ever know?

Today's Writing Member: Peg

Paperback: 199 pages
Publisher: PublishAmerica (October 26, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1448979838
ISBN-13: 978-1448979837
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches

Editorial Reviews

Collin Kelley writes with the heart of a saint and the horns of a satyr. Conquering Venus poetic, personal and proud goes off like a starter s gun to announce a fine new writer of fiction. --Charles McNair, Land O Goshen and Book Editor of Paste Magazine

From Memphis to London and to Paris, Martin Paige seeks redemption after a terrible and violent loss. The wonder is that he still believes in love, even when it appears like an apparition in an elusive and conflicted young man. Collin Kelley takes you on a sometimes frolicsome, sometimes tragic tour of the heart in this engaging first novel. --Gary Zebrun, Only the Lonely

Unflinching and mysterious, Conquering Venus is that rare combination of poetic and page-turner. Collin Kelley who refreshingly faces taboos head-on has packed his cinematic debut novel with compelling characters, meaty plot twists and satisfying surprises. This novel is freshly contemporary as well as, in its own fashion, a love letter to Paris. --Kate Evans, For the May Queen and Complementary Colors

About the Author

Collin Kelley is a novelist, poet and playwright from Atlanta, Georgia. His poetry collections include After the Poison, Slow To Burn and Better To Travel, which was nominated for the 2003 Georgia Author of the Year Award, Kate Tufts Discovery Award and Lambda Literary Award. He is a multiple Pushcart Prize nominee and a recipient of the 2007 Georgia Author of the Year/Taran Memorial Award from the Georgia Writers Association at Kennesaw State University for poetic excellence and his work as co-editor of the Java Monkey Speaks Anthology series from Poetry Atlanta Press. His poetry, essays and interviews have appeared in magazines, journals and anthologies around the world. His play, The Dark Horse, was the recipient of the 1994 Deep South Festival of Writer's Award for Best Play from the University of Louisiana and the Georgia Theatre Conference Award in 1997. Kelley has been a journalist for more than 20 years. Conquering Venus is his first novel.

Paperback: 388 pages
Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (July 18, 2003)
Language: English
List Price: $16.99
Author:John Sammon
Member: Gregan