Gibson Contributing Editor Ellen Mallernee Barnes was born and raised in Nashville, TN, but has no Southern accent. Ellen recently wrote the next great American novel but has yet to put it down on paper. The same goes for her guitar skills — they’re mostly in her head. She lives in an East Nashville bungalow with her husband Nekos, daughter Tessa, and their two dogs, Garp and Hattie. Visit her blog here or reach her at ellen.mallernee@gmail.com.