Liu, Marjorie M. 1978(?)-

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LIU, Marjorie M. 1978(?)-

PERSONAL:

Born c. 1978, in PA. Education: Studied at Lawrence University; University of Wisconsin, J.D.

ADDRESSES:

Home—French Lick, IN. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Writer.

WRITINGS:

NOVELS

Tiger Eye, Love Spell (New York, NY), 2005.

A Taste of Crimson, Love Spell (New York, NY), 2005.

Shadow Touch, Dorchester (New York, NY), 2006.

Dark Mirror, Pocket Star Books (New York, NY), 2006.

Also author of poetry and short stories. Author of Web Petals Blog.

SIDELIGHTS:

Marjorie M. Liu literally went to China and back and earned a law degree before deciding that she wanted to be a professional writer. After publishing some poems and short stories, Liu published her first novel, Tiger Eye, at the age of twenty-six. Supported by her experience during an internship at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and her undergraduate studies in East Asian languages and cultures, Tiger Eye opens in a Chinese market where tourist Dela buys a small puzzle box containing an ancient warrior-cum-genie. This tale mixes modern with ancient as she is pursued by both the Chinese Mafia and her genie's ancient nemesis, the Magi. Reviews of Tiger Eye were mostly positive. A critic writing in Publishers Weekly noted Liu's repetitive mentioning of the warrior-genie's greatness, but wrote that Tiger Eye is a "first-rate debut." Nina C. Davis, writing in Booklist, noting the book's sensuality, described Liu's debut as "a marriage of modern fantasy and ancient mysticism" with an additional "touch of humor."

In 2006 Liu published Shadow Touch, what Davis proposed as an "X-Men meets James Bond" style of book in her review in Booklist. A group of people with unique abilities, including healing through touch and shape-shifting, find themselves held hostage by a group with sinister plans for them. The hostages work to free themselves and foil the plot while a relationship develops among two of them in the process. Davis conceded, however, that even her own description does not do justice to the book's "lyricism and emotional sophistication." A critic writing in Publishers Weekly concluded: "Liu's screenplay-worthy dialogue, vivid action, and gift for the punchy, unexpected metaphor rockets her tale high above the pack."