Born in Toronto, Lou Allin grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where her Canadian parents had pursued employment. She received a PhD in English Renaissance Literature from Ohio State. In 1977, she returned to Canada and to Sudbury, Ontario at Cambrian College, where she was a Teaching Master (English Communications) until her retirement.
With a cottage on a gigantic meteor-crater lake as her inspiration, she published poetry and short stories and began her Belle Palmer series, featuring a realtor and her German shepherd, Freya: Northern Winters Are Murder, Blackflies Are Murder, Bush Poodles Are Murder, Murder, Eh? and Memories Are Murder.
Upon retirement, Lou moved to Sooke, BC. She is former BC/Yukon Vice President of the Crime Writers of Canada and received the Derrick Murdoch award in 2011 for her contributions to the organization as well as the Arthur Ellis Best Novella Award in 2013 for Contingency Plan.
Her newest series is set near Victoria in Fossil Bay and stars RCMP Corporal Holly Martin. And on the Surface Die and She Felt No Pain have been followed by Twilight is Not Good for Maidens.
In addition, Lou has two novels with an American setting both of which are available on Kindle : A Little Learning is a Murderous Thing and Man Corn Murders.
With an interest in advancing the cause of literacy everywhere, she published That Dog Won’t Hunt and Contingency Plan(Orca Books), two novellas designed to appeal to adults who are reluctant readers.
Her latest historical mystery, The Woman Who Did, set in 1896 Victoria, BC, is slated for publication soon.
By her fellow authors, Louise (Lou) Allin is greatly honoured for the time she spent, the sound advice she gave, and the labour of love with which she served in committee and regional work to further the activities and scope of the Crime Writers of Canada. Additionally, she saw a heartfelt obligation to serve as a friend and mentor to many fledgling crime writers.
Lou loved to walk and hike the wilderness, whether it was the boreal forests of northern Ontario or the coastal rainforests and wild beaches of Vancouver Island. Her hobby was to observe and identify plants and fungi and, of course, to incorporate her knowledge in her novels. She was always accompanied by a good dog, or two, or three — many of whom are by her side now.
She is survived by her partner of 34 years, Jan Warren, and by her little canine family(Friday, Zia, and Zodiac)
No service by request. Lou was able to spend her final days at home because of the many compassionate and efficient people at Sooke Hospice Society. Donations to Sooke Hospice Society would be gratefully appreciated: http://sookehospice.com
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My most sincere condolences to Jan in the loss of your dear partner Lou.
My thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of sorrow, may you find comfort in the many loving memories of times you shared together.
Lou has left her unique imprint upon our souls and will be greatly missed.
She will always be with us in spirit.
Sincerely,
Mary Honsberger.
My deepest sympathy to Jan in the loss of your dear partner Lou.
May you find comfort in the many warm memories you have.
My thoughts are with you.
Mary Honsberger.
Louise and I were very good friends in high school. I remember now how we talked and talked, laughed and laughed. I don’t know why we didn’t say in touch later on, but I sure wish we had. We had only a couple of telephone conversations as adults, one not too many years ago. But I never knew ‘Lou’ the woman, the author, although I hope to know her a bit better by reading her novels. I was told by a mutual friend that a character in “Memories are Murder” is based on me. and I do see that there’s a character, Gary, who Belle met in HS but drifted apart. I’m eager to find out what sort of a ‘character’ she imagined me to be. My condolences to Jan whom she spoke of on the phone, but whom I never met.
Lou was very special; I knew no one else like her. She was my English teacher when I was a senior in high school (1976), and we always kept in touch, exchanging many e-mails over the years; she was dear to me. I miss her terribly already, and always will. A big hug to you, Jan, for all that you are going through.
So sad to hear of the news. Louise and I were at “LHS and Emerson jr high. Always enjoyed her magnificent rusty red pony tail cut straight across the bottom, her expressive gorgeous eyes and her dynamic zest for life. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Again so very sorry for your loss. Blessings to you.
Jan thinking of you’ early’ …fond memories of Lou and you, hope we can keep in touch TS