Victory, Virus, Votes: 1917-1920
​
Victory, Virus, Votes: 1917–1920, the fourth installment in the Deborah and Miriam Boston Marriage Series, continues the poignant love story of two Jewish women determined to build a life together in post-Victorian Boston. As Deborah and Miriam’s bond deepens, so too does the complexity of their lives, shaped by the sweeping forces of the Great War, the 1918 influenza pandemic, the women’s suffrage movement, and personal tragedies within their chosen family.
Now fully immersed in the world beyond their home, Deborah and Miriam face the realities of a society in turmoil. News from the front lines brings both sorrow and pride: tales of war horses, Emma Goldman’s anarchist stance, and the devastating loss of life. Personal concerns include Deborah’s friend Chava risking her safety by joining the American Red Cross, Marjorie’s husband Micah being severely injured in a military training accident; Rachel’s husband Aaron dying while serving on a Hospital Train; and perhaps most devastating of all, Deborah’s brother enlists as a Naval officer.
The pandemic casts a long shadow over their lives, introducing fear and uncertainty into their daily routines. When Milton succumbs to influenza, the grief is profound. Miriam, overwhelmed with worry, lives in constant fear for their two young daughters and the chosen family they’ve built.
Their home is a hub of intertwined lives and stories. The deaths of Milton and Aaron, Micah’s debilitating injury, and Fannie’s enlistment in the Navy all leave lasting impacts. The suffrage movement plays a quiet but persistent role, championed by housemates Susan and Helen, while the Great Migration and Boston’s changing racial landscape are observed through the eyes of Susan and Helen’s daughter, Mildred.
Amid these struggles, moments of joy and resilience shine through—in stories of vaudeville, the World’s Fair, and the music that defined the era. Above all, Deborah and Miriam’s love endures. Their physical and emotional connection grows stronger, and their commitment as parents shapes every decision they make.
Victory, Virus, Votes: 1917-1920 is a love story forged in the crucible of war and pandemic, a testament to resilience, partnership, and unwavering devotion in a time of upheaval.
​
These books of historical fiction follow Deborah and Miriam from 1910 to 1916, as they learn to negotiate the world as a lesbian couple.
Victory, Virus, Votes: 1917–1920
October, 2024
​​
This forth book in the Deborah and Miriam Boston Marriage series chronicles the enduring love between Deborah and Miriam and follows their chosen family through a time of upheaval. Set against the backdrop of World War I, the 1918 influenza pandemic, and the fight for women’s suffrage, the story explores themes of loss and resilience. As tragedy strikes loved ones and society shifts, Deborah and Miriam’s bond deepens. With historical events shaping their lives, they grow and change, during one of America’s most turbulent eras.
Chosen Family
April, 2021
The love affair of Deborah Levine and Miriam Cohen continues. In 1915, the focus of these two young women was to create a family of choice. After devastating losses, the young couple strives to bring their family and friends into closer connection. Deborah and Miriam’s lives are enriched by tirelessly supporting the challenges and joys of those around them.
Each chapter in this book delves into their intimate connections with others. You’ll struggle with Marjorie and Micah as they cope with a debilitating injury; marvel with Mildred, the young girl from the Orphan Train, who finally finds a family; and you’ll cry along with Hannah and William as they face a critical illness. Through these experiences, Deborah and Miriam build their own relationship, giving them strength to make a life-changing decision together.
Struggles in a Boston Marriage
June, 2020
Struggle is just what Deborah and Miriam do. They are challenged by both Mother and Bubbie’s decline, Sylvia’s medical needs, the businesses’ exhausting expansion, and being exposed as a couple at their temple. They deal with a dramatic crisis with Deborah’s mother and rejection by her father. And on top of all that, there is serious conflict in their relationship, with temptation and jealousy almost ruining their connection.
But there are good times to balance the difficult ones. Deborah and Miriam explore Boston with Sylvia, their daughter. They make wonderful friends, fortunately tapping into the developing lesbian community. Deborah’s writing is published, and Miriam finds great meaning in her volunteer work.
Their discord may unravel you, yet you will root for them, as they find ways to cope with their struggles.
Romance at Stonegate
June, 2018
​
Love comes as a surprise to Deborah and Miriam. From the moment they meet, there is a magnetic attraction that pulls them together, despite the social and religious mores which make their connection scandalous and improper. They are, after all, Jews, and both females.
​
But through correspondence while apart, they fall in love — dramatic, consuming love. They face constant fear that they will be found out, yet they have no choice but to risk everything. Suddenly, at 17 and 18 years of age, they are isolated, unable to connect with anyone other than each other, for fear of rejection. Through their loneliness, they bond closer to one another yet further from everything familiar. Together they discover the suffrage movement. They find meaning in their lives: Deborah in her writing and Miriam in her volunteer work at a settlement house. With each bit of hope comes more challenge, yet love wins.
BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM
Testimonals
I inhaled this book!! It is beautifully written with the photographs interspersed as if the story were a biography. Ellen found a photo of a beautiful dress, and there it is, described in the narrative. The historical detail about the Berkshires, Boston, New York City, and the differing observances of Jewish religion and culture in the various families make this book a very interesting read. All of this is set in 1910, in a sensitively-told touching love story.
— Mary B.
​
We have heard the intersection of the Jewish world and lesbian world before, but Ellen Levy put the pieces together finely. Her attention to historical detail enhances character development. It is fun to travel through the Berkshires with her, because she writes wonderful descriptions.
— Anne Z.
​
You come to know and understand the characters and their relationship intimately through the author’s beautiful descriptions. The women become even more alive as you share their time in history.
— Allison P.
​
I have rarely have felt so connected with characters in a book as in the beautifully written love story, Romance at Stonegate. I felt a strong appreciation for the young lovers, Deborah and Miriam. I can hardly wait for the sequel!
— Louise R.
​
Well done, Ellen. I just finished my journey with Deborah and Miriam and am eagerly waiting to join them as they move forward through life. I feel connected to them and you as my writing sister. Congratulations Ellen. So proud of you. Your persistence. Your passion for your story. Your success. I knew you when you began the Deborah and Miriam story. I feel like their long lost relative. Thank you for including me in the journey.
— Harriet M.
Ellen M. Levy
Author/Speaker
Ellen Levy lives in a Florida community that feeds her desire to be with like-minded women.
When Ellen wrote her memoir in 2014, she had no idea writing would be such a powerful part of her life in retirement. She began channeling the story of Deborah and Miriam, young Jewish women who fall love in 1910, and they emerged as her new best friends. As a Jewish lesbian, Ellen relates to her characters as if they were family. They reflect her own tendencies to be impulsive and demanding, like Deborah, and soft and trusting, like Miriam.
As Ellen wrote her tale, she found herself deeply affected by the issues these young women faced. At times she was moved to tears or so excited that she could not sleep. She was fascinated by the history of the era, weaving in stories of the suffrage movement, immigration of Eastern European Jews, and the creation of settlement houses.
When Ellen is not writing, she plays Mah Jongg, attends theater, and assists others in downsizing their homes. Ellen’s career in human service management, and her work with people with disabilities is reflected in her characters with special medical and emotional needs. Her work with low-income families engenders the volunteer work the girls do at settlement houses, and her passion for writing becomes Deborah’s also. Her love of sex, well, let’s just say that it is reflected in the passion between the two girls.
The third book in the series will be published later this year. The fourth book, her very favorite, will be available next year. It is full of historical events from 1917 to 1920, including the Great War, the Spanish Flu, Great Molasses Flood, stories of Margaret Sanger and Emma Goldman, and the influence of vaudeville and jazz. The young women’s world expands, with new friends, a business, children, and many troubles. Ellen hopes you enjoy their saga.
My programs are frequently described as entertaining and informative. I read small sections from my books as examples of the points I make, and I share up to 60 photographs and videos in each talk to make the 1910’s come alive. The talks cover topics such as discrimination for being lesbians, the horrors of the eugenic movement, suffrage, the Great Molasses Flood, music of the Great War, and the Women’s Land Army. Each talk is tailored to the audience, so each presentation is unique. Together, they paint a riveting picture of life in this dramatic period in history.
Please invite me to speak to your groups. I dress in period costume, embodying the extensive research that forms the backdrop of my books.
​
2025 EVENTS
​
Contact me for links to upcoming events.
January 18
Lesbians WriteOn
Saturday Evening Girls
January 26 • Gulfport, FL (in person)
ReadOut: A Festival of LGBTQ Literature
Panel: “Self-publishing”
March 3
Resort on Carefree Boulevard
Women’s Words: Great Molasses Flood
April 11
Rainbow Lifelong Learning Institute
Provincetown Memories​
​May 17
Lesbians WriteON
Research for Writers