Ellen Baker's Blog
February 25, 2025
THE HIDDEN LIFE OF CECILY LARSON is out in paperback!
The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson is being released in paperback TODAY!! 🥳
Have you seen the gorgeous new cover with sprayed red edges? Check it out right here!
If you’re in Maine, I would sure love to see you at one (or both) of the launch events!
Tonight, Tuesday, February 25, at 6 pm, I’ll be speaking and signing books at Left Bank Books in Belfast.
On Saturday, March 1, from 10 am till noon, I’ll be signing books at Mockingbird Bookshop in Bath.
You can enter to win a copy in the Goodreads giveaway here.
Thinking of choosing THE HIDDEN LIFE OF CECILY LARSON for your book club? Check out the new book clubs page on my website, featuring discussion questions and recipes from the novel, including Lucky’s grandma’s 15-layer cake and the Cecily cocktail.
Other exciting news! I recently finished writing a new novel -- a family saga set on the coast of Maine, which should be out Summer 2026. Stay tuned for details!
Thanks so much for your support! Happy release day to Cecily!
Have you seen the gorgeous new cover with sprayed red edges? Check it out right here!
If you’re in Maine, I would sure love to see you at one (or both) of the launch events!
Tonight, Tuesday, February 25, at 6 pm, I’ll be speaking and signing books at Left Bank Books in Belfast.
On Saturday, March 1, from 10 am till noon, I’ll be signing books at Mockingbird Bookshop in Bath.
You can enter to win a copy in the Goodreads giveaway here.
Thinking of choosing THE HIDDEN LIFE OF CECILY LARSON for your book club? Check out the new book clubs page on my website, featuring discussion questions and recipes from the novel, including Lucky’s grandma’s 15-layer cake and the Cecily cocktail.
Other exciting news! I recently finished writing a new novel -- a family saga set on the coast of Maine, which should be out Summer 2026. Stay tuned for details!
Thanks so much for your support! Happy release day to Cecily!
November 20, 2024
I'm on public radio tomorrow! Here's how to listen in
Hey everybody!
Just a quick post to say that tomorrow, Thursday, November 21, at 7 pm Eastern, you can hear me on Maine Public Radio talking about The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson. It's MPR's All Books Considered Book Club pick for November!
Click here to listen to (and watch!) my conversation with host Bill Nemitz from wherever in the world you are.
So excited for this -- I hope you'll tune in!
Thanks so much for your support,
Ellen
Just a quick post to say that tomorrow, Thursday, November 21, at 7 pm Eastern, you can hear me on Maine Public Radio talking about The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson. It's MPR's All Books Considered Book Club pick for November!
Click here to listen to (and watch!) my conversation with host Bill Nemitz from wherever in the world you are.
So excited for this -- I hope you'll tune in!
Thanks so much for your support,
Ellen
February 7, 2024
THE HIDDEN LIFE OF CECILY LARSON -- coming soon!
Hello, everyone, from the sunny, snowy, muddy coast of Maine! I love this time of year here, when the days are just warm enough to create a few puddles in roads and driveways, but a coating of snow remains in the fields and everything refreezes overnight. I’m working on a new novel now that’s partially set in my adopted home state of Maine, but my new novel, THE HIDDEN LIFE OF CECILY LARSON, is set mostly where I’m originally from – northern Minnesota. The novel opens in February and I definitely brought in some characteristic subzero temps and incredibly dark starry nights. (I love both places, and only when I’m scraping ice off the windshield of my car do I ever stop to wonder why I’ve always chosen to live in colder climates. Hmm.)
But enough about the weather. I am so excited to share THE HIDDEN LIFE OF CECILY LARSON with you – in less than two weeks now! It's about 94-year-old Cecily, a small-town doctor’s wife whose family decides to surprise her with an at-home DNA test for four generations of their family. When the unexpected results not only bring to light the tragic love story that Cecily has kept hidden for decades but also throw into question everything about the family she’s raised and claimed as her own for nearly seventy years, Cecily and everyone in her life must decide who they really are and what family – and forgiveness – really mean.
This novel was inspired by my curiosity about what it would take to keep a significant secret while living in the same small town for 70 years – and then what would be the consequences of that secret once it came out. The story also explores themes I’ve long been fascinated by – home, forgiveness, family, reinvention. What does it take to find or create these things? I also wanted to write about someone who faced extraordinary challenges and managed to come out with their hope and optimism – and their belief in love – intact. The story goes back and forth in time to explore just exactly how Cecily has managed to do that, over the course of her long life.
I recently talked about my inspirations and writing process for CECILY in an interview on the Resilient Writers podcast. If you're interested, you can listen here.
You can also watch the video trailer right here. (I did not create it myself, and so I can freely say IT IS AMAZING!)
If you're on my mailing list or we’re connected on social media, you probably already know that I'm doing a limited number of events to celebrate the release of CECILY. If you’re in Maine or Minnesota, I’d love to see you at one of them! Here are the details:
PORTLAND, ME: Tues, Feb. 20, 7 pm, at Print: A Bookstore. In conversation with W.S. Winslow, author of THE NORTHERN REACH.
MINNEAPOLIS: Sat., Feb. 24, 2 pm, at Big Hill Books. A talk, Q&A and signing.
DULUTH: Tues., Feb. 27, 6 pm, at Bookstore At Fitger's. In conversation with author Lorna Landvik. (This is a ticketed event. :)
Visit my website for more information!
Follow my Instagram page for contests, giveaways, and all the latest news!
Finally, for book club leaders and members! I have had so much fun talking to book clubs with my previous two novels, KEEPING THE HOUSE and I GAVE MY HEART TO KNOW THIS. If you'd like to talk to me about THE HIDDEN LIFE OF CECILY LARSON, just email me with your meeting details at ellenbakernovels @ gmail.com and I'll do my very best to be available to Zoom on your meeting day. I know you'll find a lot to talk about in this novel, and I would be honored to join you for your discussion.
THANK YOU SO MUCH! The early support for this novel has been incredible, and I am so excited for it to be out in the world soon.
Hope to see you at an event, or hear from you with your book club meeting request or your thoughts on CECILY!
All my best,
Ellen
P.S. Want to learn more? You can watch a three-minute video about the story behind the novel here.
But enough about the weather. I am so excited to share THE HIDDEN LIFE OF CECILY LARSON with you – in less than two weeks now! It's about 94-year-old Cecily, a small-town doctor’s wife whose family decides to surprise her with an at-home DNA test for four generations of their family. When the unexpected results not only bring to light the tragic love story that Cecily has kept hidden for decades but also throw into question everything about the family she’s raised and claimed as her own for nearly seventy years, Cecily and everyone in her life must decide who they really are and what family – and forgiveness – really mean.
This novel was inspired by my curiosity about what it would take to keep a significant secret while living in the same small town for 70 years – and then what would be the consequences of that secret once it came out. The story also explores themes I’ve long been fascinated by – home, forgiveness, family, reinvention. What does it take to find or create these things? I also wanted to write about someone who faced extraordinary challenges and managed to come out with their hope and optimism – and their belief in love – intact. The story goes back and forth in time to explore just exactly how Cecily has managed to do that, over the course of her long life.
I recently talked about my inspirations and writing process for CECILY in an interview on the Resilient Writers podcast. If you're interested, you can listen here.
You can also watch the video trailer right here. (I did not create it myself, and so I can freely say IT IS AMAZING!)
If you're on my mailing list or we’re connected on social media, you probably already know that I'm doing a limited number of events to celebrate the release of CECILY. If you’re in Maine or Minnesota, I’d love to see you at one of them! Here are the details:
PORTLAND, ME: Tues, Feb. 20, 7 pm, at Print: A Bookstore. In conversation with W.S. Winslow, author of THE NORTHERN REACH.
MINNEAPOLIS: Sat., Feb. 24, 2 pm, at Big Hill Books. A talk, Q&A and signing.
DULUTH: Tues., Feb. 27, 6 pm, at Bookstore At Fitger's. In conversation with author Lorna Landvik. (This is a ticketed event. :)
Visit my website for more information!
Follow my Instagram page for contests, giveaways, and all the latest news!
Finally, for book club leaders and members! I have had so much fun talking to book clubs with my previous two novels, KEEPING THE HOUSE and I GAVE MY HEART TO KNOW THIS. If you'd like to talk to me about THE HIDDEN LIFE OF CECILY LARSON, just email me with your meeting details at ellenbakernovels @ gmail.com and I'll do my very best to be available to Zoom on your meeting day. I know you'll find a lot to talk about in this novel, and I would be honored to join you for your discussion.
THANK YOU SO MUCH! The early support for this novel has been incredible, and I am so excited for it to be out in the world soon.
Hope to see you at an event, or hear from you with your book club meeting request or your thoughts on CECILY!
All my best,
Ellen
P.S. Want to learn more? You can watch a three-minute video about the story behind the novel here.
