Persistence: What it takes to publish a book

Monday, June 7, 2021
5:00-6:00 p.m. PDT

Broadway Books thrilled to present multi-author reading and conversations with local Portland authors Ellen Michaelson, Joanna Rose, and Suzy Vitello. They discuss the topic “Persistence: What it Takes to Publish a Book.” Each of these authors had rather long and winding paths toward the publication of their novels. They also were all students of Tom Spanbauer in his original Dangerous Writing group.

Joanna Rose is the author of the award-winning novel Little Miss Strange, winner of the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Prize and finalist for the Oregon Book Award. Her new novel is A Small Crowd of Strangers, published by Forest Avenue Press

Suzy Vitello works as a book coach and editor through her company wordsinahurry.com. Her young adult novels include The Moment Before, The Empress Chronicles, and The Keepsake. Her new novel, Faultland, is written for adults and is published by Ooligan Press.

University of Massachusetts Medical School Alumni Event

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Join Ellen Michaelson, MD ‘82 in a Zoom discussion of The Care of Strangers with Hugh Silk.

Hugh Silk, MD, MPH is a Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at UMass Medical School. He is a Learning Communities Mentor and co-founder of the UMMS Humanities Lab where he has helped students start Med Moth (story telling), Murmurs (a podcast), and The Interstitium (a blog). He is the Humanities Co-Editor for the APA Journal of Family Systems and Health and has published stories and poems of his own work in various journals.

Stories on Stage/Sacramento

Friday, March 26, 2021

Join Stories on Stage/Sacramento for a live performance via Zoom of Ellen Michaelson's award-winning novella, The Care of Strangers, touching historically on the timely way medical support connects people in need.

Read Sue Staats’ interview with Ellen Michaelson, “Nearly three decades to overnight success, or, how a book gets made.”

Northwest Narrative Medicine Collaborative
Online Community of Practice

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Medical care is an undeniably intimate act. Patients are constantly being physically touched by doctors and nurses, and yet this intimacy and touching are between strangers. What makes this connection possible? What does it feel like for each of the individuals involved?

Together we will consider the intimacy of strangers. What does a stranger look like? Sound like? What does it feel like to be asked personal questions by someone you’ve never met? And what is the experience of being responsible for getting to know the other in order to be responsible for their care?

Co-Facilitator with Ellen Michaelson, Alexis Rehrmann is a board member of the NWNM Collaborative and recently completed her certificate in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Portland Monthly Magazine, and Intima. She works at the newly established Center for Community and Global Health at Lewis & Clark College.

In this workshop participants will be asked to read, write, and discuss.

Learn more about the Northwest Narrative Medicine Collaborative.

One Page Wednesday
Literary Arts

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Share or listen to one page of work in progress from talented writers from everywhere. Come with a single page of work and sign up to read - or come to listen and prepare to be inspired! Hosted by Natalie Serber. December’s featured reader is Ellen Michaelson, author of The Care of Strangers.

Read more about this Literary Arts event.

In Conversation:
MBF/de Groot Prize:
The Care of Strangers

November 15, 2020
Remains viewable online

Ellen Michaelson, 2019 winner of the Miami Book Fair/de Groot Prize for the Novella, has crafted a moving story about vulnerability and friendship in The Care of Strangers. Described by Publishers Weekly as an “affecting glimpse into the evolution of friendship between women facing difficult odds,” Michaelson’s protagonists learn that letting yourself care for another person can be the best way to find yourself. Fellow physician-writer Daniela Lamas, author of You Can Stop Humming Now: A Doctor’s Stories of Life, Death, and in Between, guides Michaelson’s discussion of those themes.

Learn more about the Miami Book Fair, November 15-22, 2020.

Livestream Book Launch at
Annie Bloom’s

Tuesday, November 10, 2020
Remains viewable online

Annie Bloom's welcomes Portland author Ellen Michaelson for a livestream reading from her debut novel, The Care of Strangers. She will be in conversation with fellow Portland writer Natalie Serber, author of Community Chest. Read more about The Care of Strangers book launch.

SOB Radio Interview
with Donna Kim-Brand

November 2, 2020
30 minutes

Listen as Donna Kim-Brand interviews the 2020 Miami Book Fair/de Groot winner, Ellen Michaelson, about her debut novel, The Care of Strangers, and explores what it means to really live.