Born and raised in New York, Ellen grew up wanting her classmates to share in her joy of reading. At a young age, she decided to train to become an English teacher and attempt to instill in her students a love for the written word.

Of course, master plans such as hers are oftentimes altered as life  proceeds, and one calling lost is another found. Although she did  receive a degree in English  Secondary Education, she decided to use her teaching and writing skills in a less formal atmosphere than originally planned. However, Ellen remains a teacher in her every endeavor.

Quite a researcher and still a library lover, every time Ellen encountered questions or issues, she would head to the stacks. What she found was that she was able to digest enormous amounts of information and succinctly write a short essay on a topic and come to a well thought out conclusion. She became the "go-to" person for her friends, for they all knew that she investigated all issues thoroughly before deciding on how to proceed.

When Ellen became suddenly single at the age of 39 due to the death of her late husband, this investigative trait and her love of writing served her well. 

To move through her grief, she often jotted down her feelings. Additionally, having been married at the age of twenty, there were lots of things she had never done by herself about which she needed to learn. Thus, she began her exploration into the practical, spiritual, physical, and emotional aspects of moving through widowhood in a graceful and  successful manner. And she began to write about her findings in an effort to help herself figure out how to emerge from her bereavement. You could say that Ellen was a pioneer blogger on coping with grief!

After working on her grief for many years, which included training as a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist and receiving her coaching certification, she decided it was time to start living again. She started to date via the Internet. Having met her husband when she was fifteen, dating was a unique and new experience for her. Surprisingly, what she found was that most everyone was in the same boat as she was; they didn't have a clue either! A good many were also doubly handicapped by not  understanding what it took to forge a healthy and long lasting  relationship. So, of course, she felt obligated to write a "how-to" book: Surfing For Love In All The Right Ways. Matter of fact, she would give it to her prospective suitors as a primer! Ellen did find her happy ending. The story has been published in the newest edition of  Thin Threads Anthology, and you can read about it here.

In 2010, Ellen wrote Love After Loss: Writing The Rest of Your Story, which greatly expands on the information first presented in Surfing For Love. For those men and women who have lost a mate/partner through death, divorce or break-up, "Love After Loss" provides a framework for redesigning a future that can include a new love connection.

Ellen continues to write, focusing on events in her life that move her deeply and putting words to her heartfelt emotions. Currently, she is focusing on spreading the word about finding "Love After Loss" through interviews and  workshops.

Ellen invites you to join in the conversation about finding love on Facebook where the discussion revolves around everything to do with relationships.

Ellen has also served as the co-editor of a special volume of Thin Threads Stories, which focus on grief and renewal. The anthology of stories that recounts real life changing moments of those who experienced great loss and went on to find personal renewal is now available for purchase here. Click to read the Introduction to Thin Threads of Grief and Renewal.

WHAT THE EXPERTS
ARE SAYING ABOUT:

A Practical Guide to Widow/erhood

"Having been a psychiatrist for over twenty years, I have had numerous occasions to work with people who have experienced the death of a loved one. I have seen people try to work through their grief in many different ways. I am particularly impressed by the method Ellen Gerst chose in her book, A Practical Guide to Widow/erhood. She has written a straightforward and straight-shooting compendium of knowledge that validates and educates about every part of the grief process. When someone dies most of us are totally unprepared to face things such as the funeral service or how to explain to children what has happened. If one is widowed, the whole prospect of reestablishing norms in the family and dating become an issue. There are so many changes including how to deal with money, writing a will, dealing with holidays, perhaps buying a home. Ms. Gerst deals with all of these issues and more. She even includes a discussion on safe sex. Despite years in the counseling field, I feel that I gained some terrific ideas from reading her book, and I highly recommend it as a "Bible" to guide a new widow or widower through the process of their grief to not only survive their loss, but thrive in their life. Her book is a treasure."

      --Judith C. Engleman, M.D.

Diplomate of the American Board of

Psychiatry & Neurology;