Grief Isn’t Just About Death: Louise Ells on The Unexpected Losses That Shape Our Lives

We often see grief as tied to death, but what about the losses without funerals—like family who walks away or memories that shift over time? Discover how storytelling helps process even the hardest losses and why some wounds are just as important to heal. In today's episode, I'm joined by Louise Ells, a Canadian writer, academic, and creative writing instructor with a PhD in Creative Writing. As a lifelong storyteller, she has been writing seriously for over two decades. Her short story collection, Notes Towards Recovery, and her novel, Lies I Told My Sister, both explore themes of loss, resilience, and the spaces grief leaves in families. Drawing from her own experiences with loss, Louise crafts emotionally rich narratives that blend sorrow with moments of light.  Throughout this episode, Louise shares how her personal experiences—such as the sudden death of her sister, her father's fatal car accident, and her estrangement from another sister—shaped her writing. She explains that Lies I Told My Sister delves into the complexity of grief, highlighting both the pain and the moments of light that emerge from it. Louise also discusses the role of reading and writing in understanding human emotions, reflecting on her career as a teacher and how fiction can help readers process their own losses. Finally, she reveals how the non-linear structure of her novel mirrors the way people navigate grief, with memory playing a central role in her storytelling. Tune in to episode 312 as Louise Ells shares how personal loss shaped her novel Lies I Told My Sister, the impact of memory on storytelling, and how fiction helps us navigate grief and find moments of joy. In This Episode, You Will Learn: Exploring loss through literature (1:09) Balancing grief and hope in writing (3:30) The power of storytelling and fiction in processing grief (7:13) The fragmented nature of memory an nonlinear storytelling (14:13) Fiction vs. truth in writing (17:17) The universal nature of loss (20:51) The role of writing in healing and self-discovery (24:10) Final thoughts and book recommendation (25:15) Connect with Louise Ells: Website Instagram Book: Louise Ells - Lies I Told My Sister Book: Louise Ells - Notes Towards Recovery Let's Connect: Website LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Pinterest The Grief and Happiness Alliance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.