Picture a storyteller who spins tales of family secrets and resilience across generations—meet Ellen Baker! This Upper Midwest author has carved a niche in historical fiction with novels like The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson and Keeping the House. With a knack for blending heartbreak and hope, Baker’s stories pull you into the past with vivid detail and emotional depth.
From her roots in Minnesota to her current home on Maine’s rugged coast, Baker’s journey as a writer is as layered as her characters. Her work as a museum curator and bookseller infuses her novels with authenticity, making her a beloved voice in historical fiction.
The Making of Ellen Baker
Born in the Upper Midwest, Ellen Baker grew up across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and South Dakota, soaking in the region’s history and culture. A psychology major at Lawrence University, she initially dreamed of becoming a therapist but found herself drawn to American history and literature. By her junior year, she’d penned a novel about a small Minnesota town in 1905, igniting her passion for historical fiction. Baker’s early jobs—working at a historical society and as a living history interpreter in Tennessee—shaped her understanding of the past, while her Master’s in American Studies deepened her focus on early 20th-century gender dynamics.
Ellen Baker’s Unforgettable Stories
Baker’s novels are multigenerational sagas that explore love, loss, and the search for home. Her debut, Keeping the House (2007), follows newlywed Dolly Magnuson in 1950s Wisconsin as she unravels the secrets of an abandoned mansion. Praised as a “gourmet feast” by author Bev Marshall, it won the Great Lakes Book Award for its vivid portrayal of women’s lives across two world wars.
I Gave My Heart to Know This (2011) dives into the lives of women working in a Wisconsin shipyard during World War II, weaving themes of war, memory, and friendship. Her latest, The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson (2024), is a sweeping tale of a woman whose DNA test in 2015 reveals a tragic love story from the 1930s circus world. Hailed as a People Best New Book and an Indie Next pick, it showcases Baker’s ability to craft “electrifying” narratives, as author Kim Michele Richardson noted.
Baker’s style is intimate yet expansive, blending meticulous historical research with emotional resonance. Her focus on women’s struggles and triumphs—often against societal constraints—makes her stories both timeless and deeply personal.
Why Ellen Baker Matters
Ellen Baker’s work resonates because it illuminates the courage required to rebuild after loss. Her novels bridge past and present, offering readers a lens into the human condition through richly drawn characters. Beyond writing, Baker mentors aspiring novelists through online courses, helping others bring their stories to life. With a new novel, The Cove, slated for 2026, her influence in historical fiction continues to grow, proving that stories of empathy and connection are more vital than ever.
- Birthplace: Upper Midwest, USA
- Key Works: Keeping the House, I Gave My Heart to Know This, The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson
- Awards: Great Lakes Book Award (Keeping the House, 2008)
- Fun Fact: Baker once learned to cook on a wood stove as a living history interpreter!
Snag The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson and dive into Ellen Baker’s spellbinding world of historical fiction today!