Guest: Nancy Jasin Ensley
Host: Melvin E. Edwards
Release Date: April 28, 2026
Episode Summary
Nancy Jasin Ensley is a multifaceted creator whose work is deeply rooted in her 54-year career in healthcare and her personal journey of transformation.
Here are the key details about her life, career, and literary contributions:
Professional Background
* Healthcare Career: Nancy has spent over five decades in the medical field. Her roles have been diverse, including Registered Nurse, Hospice Specialist, Legal Nurse Consultant, Coding Specialist, and Clinical Supervisor.
* The “Nurse’s Promise”: A defining moment in her career (and a centerpiece of her memoir) is her commitment to the “I won’t leave you alone” philosophy, stemming from a traumatic experience caring for a severely burned patient.
* Education & Teaching: Beyond clinical practice, she has served as an educator, sharing her medical and legal expertise with others in the field.
Literary Work & Genres
Nancy is a highly prolific author who writes across a vast spectrum of genres. Her passion for writing began at age five with a poem dedicated to her mother.
* Memoir: * The Tire Swing: A Memoir About Survival: Her most personal work, chronicling her “metamorphosis” from a frightened, abused child to a successful professional and matriarch. The tire swing in her grandmother’s yard serves as the central metaphor for her refuge and resilience.
* Fiction & Thrillers:
* Orphans: A Young Adult novel involving two boys caught in a high-stakes terrorist plot.
* Mitered Corners: A gripping fiction title that often explores intense emotional and medical themes.
* Indigo-35: A venture into science fiction/thriller territory.
* Children’s Literature:
* Bernard Bartholomew Bostlebean (3-B) Series: Stories about a boy with a unique planetary heritage (his father is from outer space) that teach lessons on diversity, respect, and self-worth.
* Isla and the Imaginary Iguana: A whimsical exploration of imagination for younger readers.
* Poetry: Her work has been recognized by the National Library of Poetry, reflecting a rhythmic and reflective quality that carries over into her prose.
Personal Life
* Location: She lives in rural Michigan, which provides a quiet backdrop for her creative process.
* Family: She is married to her husband, John, and is the matriarch of a large family including five children and fourteen grandchildren.
* Interests: She is known for her love of her King Charles Cavalier dog and has a deep interest in historical eras like Vaudeville, which inspired her short story A Penny for Your Thoughts.
Important Dates & Announcements
* May 1, 2026: The official launch of Nuremberg, Mississippi. Mark your calendars for the release! Also, it will be the 200th episode of this podcast. Don’t miss it!
* July 1, 2026: Submissions open for the PEN/Faulkner Award. Stay tuned for updates on our manuscript entry.
Connect with the Show
* Website: Media Well Done
* Follow Melvin: Keep up with the latest journalism and author updates on social media.
* Support the Podcast: If these stories move you, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Next Episode: The Big 200! You won’t want to miss it.
