The Internet Gazette, which featured interviews with many actors, actresses and musicians, closed its doors in September, 2000. I will always be grateful to Ruthie for publishing my first 'net interview.

Jane Ellen is a Published Composer, Musician and Teacher. She still has goals of accomplishing more. This young woman has overcome painful hurdles in order to live her dream. A woman of Strength, Character and Talent. She doesn't see herself as a celebrity yet but I think the reality of that label will catch up with her soon.

Writing seriously since 1986, Jane has 29 pieces published, and a catalog of over 200 works. An archive of her compositions is maintained by the UNM Fine Arts Library. She has completed a musical with playwright Christina Hamlett, entitled The Last Days of Indian Summer along with several other musical theater projects.

I met Jane by chance on the internet. We both admire and respect the same actress - Nancy Lee Grahn. "Ruthie, you asked me about Nancy Lee Grahn. Although I don't have much time for television, you know I never miss an episode of General Hospital! I was intially impressed with Ms. Grahn's talent and versatility, and her wonderful ability to effectively play a scene with little or no dialogue on which to lean. Since that time, I have become even more impressed with her desire to make the world a better place. As a champion for many issues, from human rights to the fair portrayal of people with disabilities in the media, she is obviously concerned with giving something back. I find her strength of character, conviction, and compassion to be nothing short of inspirational. As a person, and as an entertainer, she truly inspires me to continue to strive to be the best I can be."

After Jane and I began sharing emails I soon realized she isn't just a fan but a star herself. She is a pianist, and as a composer she has published Memories Of Erin, A Debt Of Love, and One Little Child, just to name a few. But her story doesn't end here.

Jane, a musician all her life, was striken with an undiagnosed neuromuscular/auto-immune disease in 1990. "I had just reached a point in my life where I was happy with myself for the first time." Then suddenly, "I didn't recognize myself in the mirror for a long time, I lost friends, my job and my self-esteem." Jane kept her faith that somehow, someway, she would survive all of this and put her life back together.

This summer Jane quit her full-time job. "Yes, I've kept working not only to have money to survive, but to keep myself from focusing on my illness, and to try to support my 'habit' as a composer." As of July 1, 1998, Jane became self-employed and is giving music lectures, pushing new compositions and teaching piano. Jane says of her new life, "Well, I can keep working for other people the rest of my life and throw my talent down the drain because I have no energy left to do anything with it, or I can step out in faith with the belief that I can make this happen. So you see there's really no choice. What is it the Nike commercials say, 'Just Do It?!!'"

Jane is doing just that with a full plate of lectures, students and writing new pieces of music. I asked her if she was in any physical pain and she said yes, all the time. "But I can sit at home and be in pain or be in pain living my dream." She has chosen her Dream!!! Her resume is very impressive and still growing. Jane graciously autographed a few pieces of her work for me, which I will always treasure.

On a personal note I am glad to say "Janie" and I are friends. She has been a constant support in my internet endeavors and personal life. I only hope I can give back to her all she has given me. We all seem to find inspiration in Ms.Grahn; including Jane. But I think it is time we find inspiration in each other. It seems to me that many already have the qualities they admire most in NLG. I think Jane's story will inspire many people. She is a private person and it means a lot that she trusted me enough to share her story here. Please feel free to email Jane at my email address and I will forward all messages to her.

Jane's credits include being listed every year in Pan Pipes, an international music magazine published by Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity. She also writes monthly articles for the arts magazine Performa. If you like to read mystery/romance novels, you can read a dedication, quote and a reference to one of Jane's songs by a character in Charade, written by Christina Hamlett (part of the Harper Monogram Series, Harper Paperbacks, a division of Harper Collins, 1993). The quote used in the book is "Faith isn't faith 'til it's all you're holding on to," from Jane's song If You Believe.