Featured Interview With Ellenmorris Tiegerman
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in Manhattan in Washington Heights in a Housing Project. I was one of three children. I was the oldest. And my Sister, Susan, was the middle child while my Brother was the youngest. When I was seven years old, I went with my Mother and my four-year-old Sister to a playground which, at the time, had a cement base. My Sister walked up the slide and fell off. She remained unconscious for several weeks, and the entire family was traumatized. When she finally woke up and came home, she had lost most of her speech and language functioning. My family was never the same after that. When it was time for my Sister to go to school, the local public school refused to take her, since she was clearly developmentally disabled. There was a point in time when the family actually considered institutionalizing her, but obviously, this was a very traumatic and drastic decision.
My Father decided that he was going to teach my Sister, and he borrowed money from his pension to purchase school books that he used at home for instructional purposes. He worked with my Sister for 12 years every night and rarely, if ever, missed a day. When she graduated from high school, my Sister gave him her diploma and said: “Mommy gave me my first life, and you gave me my second.”
The experiences I had as a child, which were clearly traumatic, were also formative and inspirational. While teaching as a Professor at Adelphi University, I had the opportunity in 1985 to open a preschool program for 36 children with language disorders just like my Sister’s. I loved working in this program, and I worked very hard to expand its services so that now there are 800 children and adults attending the program from all over Long Island and in New York City.
What did I learn? I learned about my Father’s persistence and devotion of love. He never gave up on my Sister, and I never gave up on my school. As painful as my childhood was, I am grateful for the lessons that I learned and the struggles that I had. I think we all need to take a step back and reflect on the blessings that we have received from our parents and our families. These are the lessons that shaped us into the adults that we become in time.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I always loved to read. I read everything I could possibly get from the library. I was most interested in fantasy and science fiction. When I started teaching at the University, I decided to write a textbook about my Sister’s problem, since I realized that there were so many children with language and communication disorders. As much as I loved reading, I loved writing even more. So, I wrote several textbooks on developmental disabilities. It is only recently that I considered venturing off to write something a little more creative based on an experience I had as a teenager when I was traveling in Crete.
While I was on a tour at an archeological site in Crete, I had the sensation and flashback memories of having been there before. In fact, I knew where everything was located at the site. I felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity. It was frightening. When I spoke to my parents about it, they insisted that I never tell anyone about the experience. So, I kept it a secret for many, many years. It wasn’t until I took a therapeutic training seminar and course with Dr. Brian Weiss, a renowned Psychiatrist, that I realized I was not the only person who had experienced a set of flashbacks on a past life. Based on that seminar, I decided to write a book about a university Professor, such as myself, who had flashbacks but used the experience to solve a murder mystery on the campus of the university. This was my first venture into the world of creative fiction. A dramatic departure for me, given my scientific textbooks.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love the great British literary giants, such as Bronte and Austen. Presently, my favorite books consist of Many Lives, Many Masters by Dr. Brian Weiss and the Midnight Library by Matt Haig.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
Past Lives Denied incorporates my personal experiences at the university on the University Personnel Committee. My years teaching serve as the backdrop for the protagonist, Caitlyn Morrys, to investigate and attempt to solve a murder mystery on campus. Professor Morrys also has nightmares and flashbacks about past lives, and she also is uncomfortable with dealing with the possibility of the reality of past life regression. It’s not quite mainstream in our society, and without a doubt, most people are of the opinion that the entire topic is “weird.” It’s only someone like Dr. Brian Weiss who has the reputation and stature to carry the admission that he has had multiple past lives. It’s a fascinating topic for discussion and certainly for self-exploration.
Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles
Ellenmorris Tiegerman’s Website
Ellenmorris Tiegerman Facebook Page