Alexene Farol Follmuth /
Olivie Blake
ABOUT ME
BIO
Novelist and screenwriter,
Purveyor of internet romance,
Village witch.
Alexene Farol Follmuth, also known under the pen name Olivie Blake, is a lover and writer of stories, many of which involve the fantastic, the paranormal, or the supernatural, but not always. More often, her works revolve around the collective experience, what it means to be human (or not), and the endlessly interesting complexities of life and love.
Alexene tripped and fell into writing after abandoning her long-premeditated track for Optimum Life Achievement while attending law school, and now focuses primarily on the craft and occasional headache of creating fiction. As Olivie, she has been published as the featured fiction contributor for Witch Way Magazine, as well as the writer for the self-published graphic series Alpha and a variety of other books. As Alexene, her debut YA novel, My Mechanical Romance, is coming summer 2022 from Holiday House.
Alexene lives and works in Los Angeles, where she is generally tolerated by her rescue pit bull. She can be loosely defined as the sort of person who picked up sparring as a means to improve writing fight scenes.
CURRENTLY WRITING
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UNTITLED HOLLYWOOD GOTHIC, a young adult romance featuring the noble sport of pigeon seduction and some demonic Santa Ana winds.
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THE ACADEMY COMES TO LIFE, my current story in installments for Witch Way Magazine! Emmeline Taylor, Victorian vampiress and spinster, has been headmistress of the most prestigious school for supernatural career rehabilitation since the turn of the twentieth century. In this inconvenient reverse murder mystery, Headmistress Taylor's undead students have begun turning up mysteriously alive.
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THE ATLAS PARADOX, Book II of The Atlas Series. The sequel to The Atlas Six is forthcoming! As the new Society initiates prepare for their final year in residence, outside forces conspire; alliances shift; somebody lost gets found.
UNPUBLISHED WORKS
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TWELFTH KNIGHT, a YA homage to Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Another dual POV rom-com, this one features the gender politics of fandom, RPGs, and gaming. Currently under revision.
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MY MECHANICAL ROMANCE, previously UNTITLED S.T.E.M. YA, in which I strive to convince young women everywhere that nerds are hot and being true to your own nerdy self is even hotter. Competitive robotics, AP Physics, enemies-to-lovers, and a lot of me consulting Mr Blake's science curriculum. Currently under revision for May 31, 2022 release.
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BOYS WILL BE BOYS, a short film written for Phineas Productions about two hyper-competitive college friends who are dared into a kiss. A playful exploration of what it means to love and be loved. Currently awaiting production.
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AWE OF THE NIGHT APPROACHING, a high fantasy about women in a War of the Roses-type conflict. THE WHITE QUEEN or GAME OF THRONES, but MOANA-ed.
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STARGAZING IS NECROPHILIA, a nonlinear exploration of love, sex, and the female experience. You can check out some excerpts here.
CURRENTLY READING
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TRICK MIRROR by Jia Tolentino. This month's S.P.E.L.L. read! Jia Tolentino is a fellow Fil-Am writer (Canadian born) referred to as the "philosopher of the internet era." She's been praised by Zadie Smith and Patricia Lockwood, two authors I've recently come to idolize, for this book of essays exploring the effect of internet culture on contemporary feminism.
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YOLK by Mary H.K. Choi. I can't say I've ever read a book that put into words the many microaggressions and anxieties I experience as the daughter of a Southeast Asian immigrant. While the MC here is Korean in origin (and neurotic in very different ways), it's astonishing to see so many glimpses of my own interiority in her observations of the world.
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HELGOLAND by Carlo Rovelli. What can I say? I love Carlo. He is my favorite poet, even when (especially when?) he is discussing quantum theory.
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OF WOMEN AND SALT by Gabriela Garcia. I am always a fan of family dramas, and this one promises to be an epic that also centers on the stories of female migrants. It contains so-called "brutal events," but I am also promised rich Victor Hugo-esque scenes. Fingers crossed!
CURRENTLY LISTENING
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Vacation Manor by Vacation Manor. Where did this band come from? No idea but they're very good at establishing an auditory aesthetic that feels like a lovely coastal breeze. A little more chill than my usual as a whole, but also compellingly summery—I recommend "Can't Run Forever" or "Parachute."
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XOXO: From Love and Anxiety by The Maine. Maybe it's the eternal emo teen in me, but in my heartfelt opinion The Maine never misses. They have a knack for creating cohesive albums (Lovely Little Lonely is a perfect example) and with the additional appeal of "Sticky" (a true summer jam, though I can't get enough of "Lips" or "April 7th" either) I can't imagine this one will be any different.
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Deadpan Love by Cautious Clay. I previously raved about some of Cautious Clay's lead singles ("Dying in the Subtlety" and "Agreeable," still a fave) but the album as a whole is perfect crossover R&B with a lush, soulful vibe.
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The Movie by Nasty Cherry. According to their Apple Music bio (I know, I know) Nasty Cherry is an all-girl rock band signed to Charli XCX's label, and everything about their aesthetic feels right—including the Spice Girls as a musical influence. This EP caught me by surprise, but I can't get enough of "Lucky" or "Her Body."