Queer love in the South
Mary Liza Hartong’s first novel draws from her own experiences MELISSA WHITLER | Contributing Writer editor@dallasvoice.com Looking for some southern comfort?
Looking no further than Mary Liza Hartong’s new novel Love and Hot Chicken. It’s the perfect heartwarming story for spring. Love and Hot Chicken follows PJ’s life in her hometown of Pennywhistle, Tenn., where, after her father’s death, PJ returns, after leaving Vanderbilt, to work at The Chickie Shak.
Things are relatively simple while PJ keeps her coworkers, Linda and Boof, at arm’s length, but everything begins to change with the announcement of the Hot Chicken Pageant.
Working through her grief, PJ has to decide if she’s willing to take the risk to fall in love and follow her dream. The author sat down with Dallas Voice to discuss her art and her experiences growing up queer in the South. Dallas Voice: When did you know you wanted to be a writer? Mary Liza Hartong: I always wanted to be a writer.
