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Francene Gillis
Francene Gillis, author/consultant/educator/advocate, has been a writer her whole life, starting at the age of five with a writing contest created by her teacher at Port Hood Consolidated, Mother St. Magdalene. Fifty years later, she is still writing in multiple genres, both fiction and nonfiction for a variety of audiences.
She devoured books in the school library and putting words to paper became therapeutic when life’s tragedies hit. She discovered that her writing could speak for those in pain. Experiencing the devastating loss of loved ones, much of her first writings involved themes of inspiration, loss, overcoming adversity, and sharing her feelings with others so they would not feel alone. She started writing poetry as a teen and giving it to grieving friends, or as tributes to community members.
She majored in English at St. Francis Xavier University, continued with a BEd, and obtained a master's in education in Multiculturalism, Administration & Leadership. A community activist, she writes advocacy pieces, such as those gathered in her book, A Rose in November and in her regular column for the Inverness Oran.
Her latest book, Where Did i Go? A Memoir Plus, will launch June 2025, partner published by OC Publishing. It was written after her career as a high school English teacher came to an unexpected, painful end in 2016 due to a slip and fall on black ice on her way to work that caused mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
Except for educational purposes, Francene has always lived in Port Hood on the coast of Cape Breton, NS. with the ocean at her backdoor. She and her husband Sandy raised two girls, Alisha and Kim who are married with children of their own. Francene cherishes her family and the cuddles from grandchildren Aden, Jack, and Maeve.
Francene's Book
Where Did i Go?
In Where Did i Go? a Memoir Plus by Francene Gillis, the author tells her story of the arduous years and months that followed a tragic accident--a slip and fall on black ice on her way to work as a high school English teacher that caused a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), the symptoms of which lasted many years. Francene shares her story of the uphill battle that ensued in the hunt for the right treatments and providers at a time when the simplest task was nearly impossible due to the 'hidden' injury she suffered. It’s a story related to post concussion, post traumatic stress disorder, and what can happen when the unexpected crashes in and life takes you on a sliding, downward trajectory. Her symptoms were very real, from severe balance issues and brain fog, to speech impairment and more. Along with being a teacher, Francene was also a regular columnist for her local paper, both of which came to a halt following her injury. As she slowly regained the ability to focus for short periods of time, she began writing her story in the hope that she could help those with brain trauma and other 'hidden' injuries by sharing her research and others' stories of resilience and perseverance.
The book holds seven stories plus hers to inspire those fighting battles relating to health, injury, or loss, and while raw and difficult to read at times it shows how mindset, support, and the right treatment is imperative to recovery.
Where Did i Go? is coming June 22, 2025.