Elaine McMilian lives in Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from UMKC with a BA in Creative Writing. Her writing is an ongoing journey of learning by sharing our experiences and connecting with each other. Elaine sang and performed from the age of 5 until 2014. Now retired, you can find her original music albums, “Insomnia” and “The Messenger,” online. These days, Elaine shares her poems and essays on Substack, and is writing a memoir about her experiences with loss, grief and survival.