Elisabeth M. Ogilvie (May 20, 1917 – September 9, 2006) was an American novelist. Ogilvie is best known for writing a series of novels set on islands off the coast of Maine, where she lived as an adult. She died in Cushing, Maine, at the age of 89.

Early life and education

Ogilvie was born in Boston on May 20, 1917, to Frank and Maude Ogilvie. She had three older brothers. Growing up, Ogilvie spent summers on the Maine island of Criehaven. She was raised in Dorchester and Wollaston, and she graduated from North Quincy High School in 1934. Ogilvie did not earn a college degree, but took a writing course at Harvard.

Career

Ogilvie published her first novel, High Tide at Noon in 1944, which was the first of eight novels in the Bennett's Island series. She modeled the setting on Criehaven, the Maine island where she spent summers growing up. Ogilvie wrote 46 adult, young adult, and children's books. Many of her novels dealt with life in Maine and lobstering families along the coast. She also wrote a series of novels set in Scotland, inspired by her Scottish descent and her travels there. In 1950, Ogilvie published an autobiographical book, My World is an Island, about her life on Gay Island.

Personal life

In 1944, Ogilvie moved to a 33 acre farm on Gay Island in the town of Cushing, Maine. She lived there for more than 50 years, sharing the house with her longtime companion and friend Dorothy Simpson (1905–1998), and Simpson's husband, Guy.

Death

Ogilvie died of a stroke on September 9, 2006 in Cushing, Maine.

Works published

Series

Bennett Island Family Other Series

Adult novels

Young-adult novels

Movie Tie-In

Autobiography