Ellen B. Alden is a former elementary teacher who turned her love for history, education and family into an award-winning historical fiction novel. Ellen’s novel is based on 19 Civil War letters written from her Irish Immigrant great, great grandfather to his wife and children back home in West Springfield, MA. Ellen discovered these letters on a random trip to her attic. The letters revealed the extraordinary story of her first generation Irish immigrant ancestors. Ellen has worked tirelessly to retrace their steps and to bring their story to life through her debut novel, Yours Faithfully, Florence Burke. Ellen has travelled throughout New England (and to Irish festivals as far away as Milwaukee) to present her novel and to share her primary sources. Recently, Ellen has been awarded the Independent Publisher of New England’s Fiction Winner, and she’s been invited to Ireland to promote her book. While in Ireland Ellen appeared on the RTE News One television, and was interviewed by The Irish Examiner, The Irish Times and the Cork Evening Echo. She presented her book in West Cork and Dublin–and on Culture Night Ellen presented in a pub in Ballinhassig. Ellen’s book is receiving excellent reviews and praise for being both and American and Irish story. Irish times journalist, editor, and author Ronan McGreevy reviewed Ellen’s book and wrote, “I could not recommend it highly enough, a beautiful read.” Ellen and her family are pleased that their “family treasure” will be archived at the Burns Library at Boston College, and hope that future historians, educators and students will be inspired by their brave Irish immigrant relatives.
Ellen is a graduate of Saint Michael’s College in Vermont. She also attended Pepperdine University and Merrimack College Graduate School of Education. Ellen lives north of Boston with her husband, three children, two dogs, and a hedgehog named Pocahontas.