Linda Merlino
Author/Speaker
The other side of me, the one that ponders life from a practical vantage point grew up in
eastern Massachusetts. An only child of separated parents I spent my youth living in my
grandparent’s home. Single parents were an anomaly in the early fifties and the irony of
life’s repetition is that I became a single parent in the eighties.
Educated in a Catholic girl’s academy I grew up with a skewed view of religion and the
writer’s dream in my back pocket. University studies took me further from my literary
pursuits and with a degree in science from the University of Bridgeport – Fones School
of Dental Hygiene I married and moved to New York City. In retrospect I often say that
I slept through the seventies. My world was the good wife and mother and I went
willingly into the role.
But there are no coincidences or accidents, Connecticut became home in 1977 and from
day one my life changed forever. I became a volunteer at Keeler Tavern Museum,
befriending women, some twice my age. One of these women took me under her wing
and in 1980 she was responsible for my inclusion in the register of Outstanding Young
Women of America. Dee Flagg, my first mentor in Connecticut, was also one of the first
people to encourage me to recognize my potential. Dee was on Flight #77 that was flown
into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.
One of my hobbies and a passion even today is making desserts. For seven years from
1980 through 1987 I ran a business called Grand Finale with a dear friend. Our ideas and
creations preceded the Martha Stewart era. Patricia Brooks of the New York Times gave
kudos to our desserts tagging my apple pie as “tart, firm, fresh apples, not over sweetened
with sugar, that old-fashioned pie crust like Grandma used to make is extant, not a dying
art form, as we had begun to fear. The crust is near perfection, crisp, light, melt-in-themouth
buttery.”
I took up the study of metaphysics in 1986 and pursued the equivalent of a four year
course of studies that awarded me an international certification as an Astrological
Counselor. To date I am involved with the National Council of Geocosmic Research of
which I am a past-president and more recently Director of Education of the Connecticut
monthly astrological column published by More Sugar Publications: Cosmic Gossip since
1997. I have lectured in Connecticut and in New York City on the topic of parenting and
how using the birth chart of a child, parents can better understand the soul’s journey.
In 1993 I joined the National Charity League. NCL is a philanthropic organization
composed of mothers and daughters. I was a member of the board for a number of years
and president from 1999-2000. Following that I was vice president and then president of
NCL’s Sustainers group. In 2003 I was honored to become a member of PEO – a
national women’s organization dedicated to the education of women.
At present I am a member of the Connecticut Press Club, most recently one of three
judges for the Connecticut Press Club Best Books Of 2007. I am also a member of the
Ridgefield Writers Guild, a most welcome addition to my writer’s life.
The Guild meets monthly at the Ridgefield Library and is composed of writer’s with
diverse talents and pursuits. In addition, as a published author play-it-forward I have had
the opportunity to teach writing workshops for children and for adults.
Belly of the Whale steps across boundaries and genres, its inspirational message of hope,
survival, and to never give up are speaking and discussion topics for individuals, groups,
book clubs and organizations. The empowerment of self, especially of women, and the
perseverance to be what you always-dreamed-you-could-be will also be among the topics
in my upcoming speaking engagements.
