Author of historical fiction visits MPL

From left, Paulette Jiles and local author Carol Raynor. (Contributed photo by Chris Nelson)

Novelist and poet Paulette Jiles recently visited the Marshall Public Library to speak about her historical fiction novel Enemy Women.

A southeast Missouri native, Jiles lived in Canada for many years and currently resides in Texas.

Local writer Carol Raynor invited Jiles to Marshall after reading and discussing Enemy Women with members of her book club. Raynor considers the Civil War-era novel "a Missouri classic."

The audience of approximately 40 people included members of several area book clubs and writers' groups.

Jiles spoke in an informal style, answering many questions and engaging in conversation with readers who were impressed by the vivid depictions of Missouri's landscapes and her obvious experience with horses.

The author explained that while writing Enemy Women, she drew upon a variety of source material such as letters and documents from Missouri's Civil War history, as well as her own experiences riding her horse "Whiskey" on the Ozark Trail in the southeast part of the state.

Enemy Women is available at the Marshall Public Library.