About the Author

Ellen Gerst is a grief and relationship coach, author and workshop leader who helps her clients and readers to change their perspective in order to move gracefully through life circumstances to find renewal. 

Growing up in New York, Ellen wanted her classmates to share in her joy of reading. At a young age, she decided to train to become an English teacher and attempt to instill in her students a love for the written word. 

Of course, master plans such as hers are oftentimes altered as life proceeds, and one calling lost is another found. Although she did receive a degree in English Secondary Education, she decided to use her teaching and writing skills in a less formal atmosphere than originally planned. However, Ellen remains a teacher in her every endeavor. 

Quite a researcher and still a library lover, every time Ellen encountered questions or issues, she would head to the stacks. What she found was that she was able to digest enormous amounts of information and succinctly write a short essay on a topic and come to a well thought out conclusion. She became the "go-to" person for her friends, for they all knew that she investigated all issues thoroughly before deciding on how to proceed. 

When Ellen became suddenly single at the age of 39 due to the death of her late husband, this investigative trait and her love of writing served her well. 

To move through her grief, she often jotted down her feelings. Additionally, having been married at the age of twenty, there were lots of things she had never done by herself about which she needed to learn. Thus, she began her exploration into the practical, spiritual, physical, and emotional aspects of moving through widowhood in a graceful and successful manner. And she began to write about her findings in an effort to help herself figure out how to emerge from her bereavement. You could say that Ellen was a pioneer blogger on coping with grief! The result of all these musings was her book, Suddenly Single: How To Move From Loss To Renewal

After working on her grief for many years, which included training as a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist and receiving her coaching certification, she decided it was time to start living again. She started to date via the Internet. Having met her first husband when she was fifteen, dating was a unique and new experience for her. Surprisingly, what she found was that most everyone was in the same boat as she was; they didn't have a clue either! A good many were also doubly handicapped by not understanding what it took to forge a healthy and long lasting relationship. 

Of course, she felt obligated to write a "how-to" book: Surfing For Love In All The Right Ways. Matter of fact, she would give it to her prospective suitors as a primer! Ellen did find her happy ending. The story has been published in the newest edition of Thin Threads Anthology, and you can read about it here

In 2010, Ellen wrote Love After Loss: Writing The Rest of Your Story, which greatly expands on the information first presented in Surfing For Love. For those men and women who have lost a mate/partner through death, divorce or break-up, "Love After Loss" provides a framework for redesigning a future that can include a new love connection. 

Ellen continues to write, focusing on events in her life that move her deeply and putting words to her heartfelt emotions. 

Her new series of books, which are in an A to Z format, present a unique twist on often written about topics. While dispensing valuable information, she also focuses on the emotions behind the behaviors exhibited in different circumstances. 

The A to Z series includes the following books, which are available via her website as well as via Amazon or Barnes and Noble
~Understanding Dementia and Caregiving for Your Aging Parents From A to Z 
~Understanding Grief from A to Z 
~Understanding Dating and Relationships From A to Z 
~Understanding Networking and Social Media for Entrepreneurs From A to Z 
~Understanding Spirituality From A to Z 
~Understanding Fitness and Weight Loss From A to Z 

To Contact and Connect with Ellen 
E-mail: LNGerst@LNGerst.com





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