Elise Matthesen

Elise Matthesen is an American essayist, journalist, poet, and fiction writer (primarily of science fiction and fantasy; she is an active supporter of the interstitial arts movement), and a crafter of art jewelry. For 13 years she was the companion of the late John M. Ford until his death in September 2006 ^[1]. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota and is a member of the First Universalist Church there.

Matthesen is an anorexia nervosa survivor^[2] as well as a speaker, facilitator, and activist on issues of body acceptance, bisexuality^[3]^[4]^[5] polyamory^[6] and issues of self-esteem.

In 2009 she was nominated for a World Fantasy Award Special Award - Non-Professional "for setting out to inspire and for serving as inspiration for works of poetry, fantasy, and SF over the last decade through her jewelry-making and her 'artist's challenges'"^[7]. She has written for local GLBT magazine Lavender, is an active member of science fiction fandom, serving as chair of the 2009 Fourth Street Fantasy Convention.

References

^ Clute, John. "Obituary: John M. Ford: Science-fiction writer and poet", The Independent 30 September 2006
^ Matthesen, Elise "Anorexia" in Women en Large: Images of Fat Nudes (Laurie Toby Edison & Debbie Notkin); Books in Focus, 1994
^ Matthesen's homepage
^ Matthesen, Elise "Female-to-Elf?" Keynote speech BECAUSE Conference April 2000 St Paul Minnesota
^ Matthesen, Elise "What's So Funny About Bisexual Separatism?" Keynote speech, International Conference on Bisexuality, June 1994, New York City
^ Matthesen, Elis "Faithful Polyamory", a Unitarian Universalist sermon" presented at First Universalist Church of Minneapolis, as part of the Gay Pride Sunday Service June 18, 2000
^ 2009 World Fantasy Awards