EC Stilson

Elisa Stilson Magagna (born February 2, 1983), known by the pen name EC Stilson, is an American writer, editor, and publisher. She has also published blog posts under the name Elisabeth Hirsch. She is one of the founders of Wayman Publishing and Literati Publications. Stilson is also known for her memoirs, musical talents, and personal appearances speaking across the United States and for sharing her cancer story on social media.

Biography
Stilson attended Brighton High School. After graduating from high school two trimesters early, Stilson traveled to Hawaii and became a homeless violinist with guitar player Cade Hirsch Morris. Months later they returned to Utah, married, and had children. In 2001, her father was diagnosed with colon cancer. In 2003 her second child, a boy, died of birth defects after living 2½ months, and her marriage started failing. It was during 2001–2003 that Stilson wrote her first memoir, The Golden Sky.

In 2005, in an effort to cope with stressful situations, Stilson went back to school and received her associate degree from Western International University. In the following decade, Stilson wrote seven more novels under the pen name EC Stilson and also earned her bachelor's degree from Western Governors University.

In 2015 Stilson married Michael Magagna, former host of Utah After Hours (KWCR). The two moved to Idaho where Stilson was diagnosed with melanoma stage 2B in 2018. In 2020 this progressed to stage 4 melanoma, and doctors projected Stilson would only live two years following this diagnosis. On June 5th, 2024 Stilson and her husband, via the author's official instagram account, addressed a growing reddit community that had been created questioning that her condition was terminal.

While battling cancer, Stilson began blogging again, and her blog, "Crazy Life of a Writing Mom," hit one million views. She and her family have begun checking things off of her bucket list together. Some of these items have included skydiving, visiting Italy, and even singing the "Star-Spangled Banner" at a semi-pro baseball game.

Business
In 2011, Stilson started a blog called Crazy Life of a Writing Mom, which would be categorized under Mommyblogs. The blog was initially published under the pen name Elisabeth Hirsch, with her stated goal to "write one hilarious, embarrassing, or otherwise outrageous moment each day for 365 days straight."

In 2011 Stilson founded Wayman Publishing. Five of its books became Amazon bestsellers in 2012, many of them in large categories such as women's memoir. Wayman Publishing went out of business in the fall of 2014.

From 2011 to 2013, several of Stilson's books were published, including The Sword of Senack, How to Lose a Tooth, and three memoirs in The Golden Sky series.

In 2020-2021, Stilson began fighting terminal melanoma and wrote two memoirs about those experiences: Two More Years and Ring the Bell. The latter became a bestseller within the first month of its release.

Additional publication credits

 * (2011) Christmas Lites I, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, ISBN 146796204X
 * (2012) Christmas Lites II, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, ISBN 1480275042
 * (2012) Open Doors: An Anthology, Wayman Publishing, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, ISBN 1477455132
 * (2012) Open Doors: Fractured Fairy Tales, Wayman Publishing, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, ISBN 148015718X
 * (2012) My Funny Major Medical, Bauu Institute ISBN 1936955105

Podcast

 * Tips to Happiness with EC Stilson, October 2, 2023 - Present, Global One Media Inc.