Ellen M. Levy

Ellen Levy immerses herself daily in the 1910s, alongside her characters Deborah and Miriam, two young Jewish women in love. After receiving her M.S. and C.A.G.S. degrees in Special Education, Ellen began her career working with emotionally disturbed children and adults in mental health crises and individuals with medical needs. This background influenced the many special needs characters in her books. Subsequently, Ellen transitioned into volunteer management and workforce development, frequently engaging with immigrant populations. These experiences enriched her life and added depth to her writing. Ellen’s passion for writing started in childhood, but her struggles with spelling and vocabulary delayed her pursuit of a writing career. With the advent of spell check and her growing proficiency with a thesaurus, she changed her trajectory, beginning with her memoir, My First 65 Years, in 2014. The writing bug took hold, and what began as a short story about Stonegate—a Victorian mansion in Western Massachusetts where she often vacationed—evolved into four historical fiction books. Deborah and Miriam, who fell in love in this mansion, became Ellen’s closest companions. Their relationship, a product of turn-of-the-century values, defies the norms of post-Victorian America. While their passion binds them together, the world around them remains unprepared to accept their love. Ellen lives in Florida with 500 older women who celebrate the hard-earned freedom to be themselves. She is spirited, enthusiastic, and enjoys playing as hard as she works. Her passions include cooking ethnic foods, baking, playing Mah Jongg and Samba (a modern version of canasta), home decorating, and cherishing time with her friends. Ellen loves to conduct speaking engagements about her book series, dressing in period costume and serving mohn cookies, like those Bubbie (Miriam’s grandmother) and her own grandmother used to make.