Dr. Ellen Spain worked for the United States government for over twenty-five years in investigations and management before taking a retirement package. Her work in the educational field prior to joining the government, and her subsequent teaching experience, including as an ESL (English as a Second Language) instructor provided Ellen a good transition to professional writing.
Ellen earned a B.A. in Political Science/Pre-Law, a M.A. in Writing, a Ph.D. in Psychology, and completed graduate studies in Business, Information Science, Law and Complementary Medicine. As a licensed professional she was asked to use hypnosis techniques to help patients with pain management in a clinical setting. For more information on hypnosis, click here. She uses vibrational tuning forks' tones & art for stress reduction therapy and serves as the Vice President of the East Suburban Art League. Dr. Spain also holds a Doctor of Divinity degree. In 2019, Ellen joined Regent Unversity's School of Law.
Dr. Spain is affiliated with the Association for Transpersonal Psychology, the Institute of Noetic Science (1983 to present: Partner level member), the National Guild of Hypnotists, Silva International, the Association for Research and Enlightenment/Edgar Cayce Foundation (1991 to present, having served as the five state Regional Secretary/Treasurer, Regional Editor, and Regional Outreach Coordinator), the Nature Conservancy, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the National Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation, St. David's (Welsh) Society, the Carnegie, WQED public radio/TV, and a life member of the Murrysville Historical Preservation Society. Ellen joined the U.S. Air Force - Civil Air Patrol in 1967, and proudly served the Wing as a Public Affairs Officer.
In her current writing career, Dr. Spain is a member of Romance Writers of America; PennWriters; the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators; the Secretary for EPIC™, the Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition an international membership professional organization that includes all facets of the electronic publishing industry: authors, publishers, editors, artists, and other professionals; the Supporters of the College of the Atlantic; and was the founder/coordinator of the Pittsburgh East Writer's Group at the Monroeville Public Library (Jan. 2004 - 2013). Over three decades ago ago, she joined PARSEC, organized to promote literary Science-Fiction, Fantasy, Horror and other Speculative Fiction, where she met and studied the basics of science fiction writing under William Tenn (Philip Klass) and Hal Clement (Harry C. Stubbs). She is a member of the International Thriller Writers, studying thrill writing in ITL's online school.,
In December 2007, Ellen completed Seton Hill University's Writing Popular Fiction Master of Arts program. While in that graduate program, she studied under authors: James Morrow (Towing Jehovah) ; Lawrence C. Connolly (Veins); Victoria Thompson (Murder on Bank Street); horror writer, Dr. Mike Arnzen, a multiple Bram Stoker Award winner; novelist David Bischoff (The Tawdry Yellow Road); Intl. Thrillers Writers' President, David Morrell (Creepers & The Successful Novelist); Literary Agent, Donald Maas (Writing the Breakout Novel): and YA author, Dr. Lee McClain; in addition to Ellen's two mentors who proofread, edited, and approved her thesis Secrets in the Fog: YA and romantic suspense author, Leslie Davis Guccione, and historical romance and mystery author, RITA award nominee Barbara Miller (Laurel Ames).
Ellen writes short stories, magazine articles, and novels set around Duck Island and Acadia National Park, stories about paranormal events set around Maine, Nova Scotia or anywhere in the world, as well as romance with mystery set in Nova Scotia and Europe, along with her non-fiction books about local history, pirate treasure on Duck Island, Near Death Experiences (NDE), and previous non-fiction publications in computer science, civil rights, and holistic health. Ellen was asked to be a Judge for the Young Voices Foundation, a 501(c)3 educational organization, 2009 and 2010 awards. The Young Voices Foundation wants to recognize published books that inspire and educate parents, or are dedicated to teaching their children lasting values in a positive environment. Ellen was also a judge for the EPIC 2012 and 2013 eBook Awards Competition. In 2011, Ellen joined a publishing company's editorial staff and in the Winter 2012, she transferred to Acquisitions Editor-in-Chief, where she reviews hundreds of new submissions and writes contracts for the publishing house.
Dr. Spain is a volunteer for the Westmoreland County Historical Society and the Literacy Council as well as a life member of the University of Pittsburgh Alumni Association, and the Founders' Society of Seton Hill University. In 2005, Ellen was appointed by the Council of the Municipality of Murrysville to serve as a Trustee-Board Director to the Murrysville Community Library Board, a position she held through 2009. She is also a member of the Pennsylvania Library Association, and was the alternate liaison to the Westmoreland County Federated Library System. She also served on Murrysville Parks identifying potential hiking trails and relics remaining from Colonial George Washington's old Forbes Road. In 1969, Ellen joined the Appalachian Redevelopment Foundation as a volunteer teacher and enjoyed working her free weekends in Kentucky & Tennessee.
Ellen loves dogs and cats and is a "Patron" member of Action for Animals Humane Society-Latrobe, was a dog walker volunteer with Animal Friends-New Kensington/Allegheny Valley, fund raiser for the Mt.Pleasent cat committee, on the Board of Directors of True Companion Animal Rescue, and a member of Animal Friends-Lifesavers division-Alegheny County. She also supports the St. Joseph's Indian School for Lakota children in South Dakota, Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit ecumenical Christian organization that enables low-income people to own affordable, livable housing and AmeriCares which delivers medicine, relief supplies, and health care to the needy, going to extraordinary lengths to ensure that aid reaches individuals in need wherever they are.