Nancy Manahan, Ph.D., age 75, lives an inspired life with her wife, author Becky Bohan, on the Florida coast in an intentional community of 500 women, aptly called Carefree. Life partners for 27 years, Nancy and Becky have published six books between them and co-created a 2020 award-winning documentary film about the Carefree Concert Band. Highlights of Nancy’s journey to Carefree include: joining and leaving the convent; earning a doctorate and teaching community college English, women’s literature, and film studies; traveling in five continents and living on four; and, publishing books to national and international acclaim. Nancy writes about complex taboo issues– lesbian nuns, lesbian Girl Scouts, and, with Becky, a story of their sister-in-law’s unconventional journey with cancer and her after-death communications. Nancy and Becky co-founded the Minnesota Threshold Network, which advocates for family-directed after-death care and green burial options. Through their philanthropy and energy, they support the environment, arts, education, lesbian feminist organizations, and individual women, including activist writers and filmmakers. In their free time, Nancy and Becky love to walk, read, watch movies, swim, snorkel, play pickleball, and dance.
“My wife and I transformed our retirement to our inspirement.” – Nancy Manahan, Ph.D.
Contact Information:
Email: nanbec@nanbec.com
Website: http://www.nanbec.com
2020 Carefree Lily Film Festival Award for Best Documentary: The Carefree Concert Band [no link]
Books:
Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence, with Rosemary Keefe Curb, original edition 1985, revised edition 2013
On My Honor: Lesbians Reflect on Their Scouting Experience, original edition 1997, revised edition 2021
Living Consciously, Dying Gracefully: A Journey with Cancer and Beyond, with Becky Bohan, 2007
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Such a wonderful interview! I met Nancy on a Olivia cruise for women and was so delighted to meet the author of LESBIAN NUNS which I had loved snd I encouraged her to come to the Carefree community where I live and now I get to see her almost every day enjoying our creative aging.