Ellie Belew writes because story is the river of meaning, and we thirst for it.
Belew published her first novel, Run, Plant, Fly (with audio CD) in 2003. It tells the story of the world’s first franchised virtual reality amusement center and the small town it overwhelms. Isotopia/K’áaw, her recently completed second novel, portrays a young woman physicist on the Manhattan Project as the Project invades Wanapum homelands along the Columbia River. Belew has been privileged to work with Wanapum people on this project, using the context of historical events on these lands to portray the culture clash of scientific thinking and the lifeways of the River People.
Belew has also published four community histories, High Voltage Women (2019), Bringing Power to the People (2013), Fully Involved (2005), and About Wallowa County (2000). She created and now curates two cultural projects in the small town of Roslyn. Oyez Roslyn! is a seasonal performance series in all media and genres, with audience participation. The Heritage Project gathers and shares multi-generational local oral history.
To support her writing life, Belew has worked at everything from Christmas tree trimmer to produce broker to printer to freelance maritime reporter.