After the life-altering experience of the loss of Francis, her spouse, Elaine McGillicuddy knew her calling as a poet and writer had become an imperative. Amazed over Francis' remarkable request of her when he would die, SING TO ME AND I WILL HEAR YOU, Elaine chose his words for the primary title of all three of her books and for a CD of her reading The Poems of the first book. The second book, in prose, A Love Story is a memoir . The third book, New Poems, marks the completion of the author's trilogy. Reflecting over five years of the author's experience as a widow, it tracks her progression through the crucible of the death of her spouse.
Elaine G. McGillicuddy, a native Mainer, is a retired high school teacher of English composition. She lived in Missouri, New York, Massachusetts, and Waterville, Maine, during the 15 years she was an Ursuline nun. In 1968, while Campus Minister at Colby College, during the heady anti-Vietnam war years, she met and later married Francis A. McGillicuddy after he left the clerical priesthood.
After a nine-week period of yoga study in India, Elaine, a certified Iyengar yoga teacher, cofounded with Francis in 1989, the Portland Yoga Studio which they directed for sixteen years.
Elaine is also certified as a leader of the Dances of Universal Peace and as a permaculture designer. She continues to lead the "Dances" (body prayers) once a month. Engaged with writing and maintaining the permaculture garden which she and Francis created on their 8,000 square foot lot before he died, Elaine lives a largely monastic life at home in Portland.
Elaine will be interviewed by the author and his wife at click here on Thursday August 20th at 7:00pm Eastern time.
