A DYNAMIC DUO!!! Writers. Editors. Feminists. Lesbians. Madelians.
Wait. Madelians?
“Madelians” refers to Nancy and Becky having been born and raised in the farming community of Madelia, Minnesota (population 2400). They reconnected at an all-school reunion in 1990. By 1994 they were partners, and in 2008 became spouses.
Their lives have been parallel in many ways. Both attended the University of Minnesota and earned advanced degrees in English literature. Nancy taught English at the community college level, and Becky wrote training materials for her livelihood. They have been activists for social change, co-founded the the Minnesota Threshold Network, and published award-winning books.
In 1985, Nancy co-edited the ground-breaking Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence, updated in 2013. Her second book, On My Honor: Lesbians Reflect on Their Scouting Experience, was re-released in 2021.
Becky has published a suspense novel, Sinister Paradise, and a mystery, Fertile Betrayal. Her latest novel, A Light on Altered Land, ventures into romance while exploring issues like ageism, medicinal cannabis, and the erasure of lesbian culture. Becky retired in 2004 as Vice President and co-owner of a technical training company.
Nancy and Becky have written one book together— Living Consciously, Dying Gracefully: A Journey with Cancer and Beyond about their sister-in-law, Diane Manahan. Their life-changing experience with Diane led them to become activists in the home-funeral/green burial movement.
The writing and editing dynamic Nancy and Becky established when working on Diane’s book has continued. They are putting their older books back into print and eBook format under their publishing rubric, NanBec Books. They also find time to edit and publicize other writers’ works. Recently, they ventured into filmmaking with a documentary about the Carefree Concert Band.
Nancy and Becky’s “retirement” has been full of creativity, playfulness, passion, and INSPIREMENT!
Pictured: Nancy and Becky with their 2020 Lily Awards for their film The Carefree Concert Band:
Best Documentary, Best Trailer, and People's Choice
Photo by Cathy Groene