Ellen Meeropol is an American author known for her novels that explore social justice and human rights. She writes literary fiction that delves into the complexities of political and personal turmoil.
Ellen Meeropol was born in Washington, D.C.. Her passion for writing was evident early on. When she was only twelve, she published an essay in a national magazine. She studied art at Earlham College and the University of Michigan, which laid a foundation for her richly detailed narrative style.
Transitioning from art to caregiving, Meeropol worked as a daycare teacher and a reproductive health counselor before entering the medical field. She spent over two decades as a registered nurse and nurse practitioner in western Massachusetts, writing numerous articles on pediatric healthcare and latex allergy.
In 2000, she shifted her focus to fiction, earning an MFA from the Stonecoast Program at the University of Southern Maine. She published her first novel after leaving her healthcare career in 2005 to devote herself to writing full-time.
Her novels, including Kinship of Clover, On Hurricane Island, and House Arrest, have been recognized for their poignant explorations of social issues. It has garnered accolades from the Sarton Women's Prize, The Women's National Book Association, and the Massachusetts Center for the Book.
Her fifth novel, The Lost Women of Azalea Court, was released in September 2022 by Red Hen Press. This story follows other successful works similar to Her Sister’s Tattoo (2020), which presents a gripping narrative of family and moral conflict set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War protests. This novel explores the lifelong ramifications of a single moment of violence that estranges two sisters, exploring themes of loyalty and political conviction through a deeply personal lens.
Meeropol was also a guest editor for the anthology Dreams for a Broken World (2022). An active participant in the literature community, Meeropol teaches fiction workshops and speaks at numerous book festivals and conferences.
Ellen Meeropol lives in western Massachusetts with her husband, Robert Meeropol. She is a founding board member of the Rosenberg Fund for Children, which supports children of targeted activists.
Photo credit: Danielle Tait (www.ellenmeeropol.com)