About the Author

Ellen has been writing stories since grade school, starting out with single-page exercises in class, and continuing with staple-bound epics of seven or eight pages apiece — usually dedicated to her mom. Because it was Ellen’s mom and grandfather who instilled her love of children’s books.

Ellen is busy honing her first novel: Dream Worlds [and Open Systems] while she studies Galactic Astrology.

A Family Habit

Ellen’s Grandpa Carl, a humourist and writer at BBDO advertising agency in the 1930s, was wont to frequent used book stores in the Buffalo area. He would return home to his family carting a good many of the hardbound classics that are still in Ellen’s library today.

In the 1980s, while Ellen was still in high school, her mom, Anne (Carl’s daughter), returned to university for her masters in library science. Afterwards she headed “The Children’s Room” at their town’s extensive public library. Ellen has fond memories of browsing the stacks of “J Fic” fiction and fantasy as a child, which morphed into a nostalgic return while Anne was head of the department.

But First, A Career In Publishing

After Ellen received her undergraduate degree (in German!), she began a 30+ year career as a graphic and instructional designer. Starting in the standard B2B milieu, she eventually wound up creating for educational publishing, one of her first loves.

Ellen is delighted to explore her favourite genre from the other side: the writing desk.