With more affordable home prices, Apex gave her the opportunity to own a horse, a lifelong dream. The result of her other lifelong dream - writing - was sitting in a drawer.

The novel that took her three years to write, "Finding Felicity," had been rejected by major publishing houses, and Marlowe had given up on it.

But after four years of gathering dust, the book got a second life. Marlowe received an email from her writing workshop leader: A friend's publishing company, Eternal Press, may be a good fit for her story about a woman from Manhattan finding love when she travels to a Benedictine monastery in Italy.

Fast forward eight months, and Marlowe is looking forward to Aug. 7, the release date for her first book.

Q: How would you describe the book? Is it literary fiction or a romance?

A: When I set out to write "Finding Felicity," I wanted to write literary fiction with a romantic element. I accomplished that by creating a novel that straddled the two worlds.

That was part of the reason it was rejected by the major publishing houses the first time around. The commercial fiction houses thought it was too literary, and the literary houses said it was too commercial. It is a love story with a happy ending, but it covers more territory, too.

I think over time, the genre divisions will become less defined.

Q: The publishing world is definitely changing. What do you think about the growing importance of e-books and fewer mass printings?

A: I think the changes affect each author in a different way. If an author can get out and market herself, it's a great way to go. I like to see e-books, because it means fewer paper books end up in landfills.

So, in that way, the more books published electronically, the better. E-books also help level the playing field because the books are offered on Amazon, and books from smaller publishers are offered alongside ones from the major houses.

I will go the traditional route first and then evaluate. Eternal Press, which is publishing "Finding Felicity," was exclusively an electronic publisher first, then expanded out. In my mind, there will always be a place for a paper book; but in saying that, I am buying myself an e-reader for my birthday.

Q: You have a master's in spiritual psychology. Does your job or writing still deal with that subject?

A: No, I work in an office now, which pays the bills and leaves evenings and weekends free to write. While I was studying psychology, we did discuss "finding your bliss," and I realized that psychology was not my bliss ... writing was.

I set about making my life what I wanted it to be. Now, after getting the horse I always wanted, it has turned into my muse. I'm working on a memoir, "The Gift Horse," about getting my horse and finding myself on an unexpected path. I hope to have a manuscript ready for my agent by the end of the year.

Q: You are from Toronto, lived in Los Angeles, now live in Apex and wrote about Italy. How much research did you have to do when you went to write the book?

A: I did visit Rome years ago, and there was a general vibe that I used when I set the book there. When I had to find small details like choosing a hotel for the character to stay in, I found them online.

Q: How do so many writers and artists end up in Apex?

A: The historic downtown is so beautiful - I have a cute writer's cottage near downtown. There is a very vibrant arts council, and I belong to the Apex Writing Council. There is a quaintness about the area, and the longer I'm here, the happier I am.