Still A Chick Lit

Like many women who watched Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha's exploits in New York City as thirty (and forty)somethings, we were excited to hear they were coming back to pick up where they left off. Save the fact that Samantha won't be there, now  trolls have maligned the ladies for grey hair. Ageism in the media is still alive and well. Where we the old references for Ocean's Eleven? Nowhere to be found. Fortunately, women have gained more of a voice to point out this double-standard. Let's keep the conversation going so we can turn the page and put men and women on screen and in print, on a level playing field.

You sat down, organized your thoughts, and got to work writing. Whether you wrote a novel or a how-to book, you should give yourself a pat on the back and take a breath. Now what? There's more ahead.  In the second part of our series on writing and publishing, we're discussing the different types of publishing models and what they mean to you on your journey from writer to author.

Has anyone ever said, you’re so knowledgeable, you should write a book? Maybe it’s time to put your money where your pen is. If you want to know to start? That's when it's time to make like Nike and just do it. From the germination of an idea to put it down on paper, this is the first of a series about writing, being an author, and the publishing industry from insider author and agent Chamein Canton, and professional manuscript reviewer, Melissa Falcone.

There was a time in life when being a teacher, postal worker, secretary, or any other occupation or job was enough. People put their time into a company, school, state, or federal government agencies with the view towards retiring with a pension and in some cases, a gold watch. This was the generational ideal for many years. Women over forty and fifty are changing careers or turning hobbies or side hustles into a full-blown business. If you feel a change coming on, tune in for tips, personal experience, and a big vote of confidence

Wine, cheese, and art get better with age. Wines develop complexity over time. Skilled palates pick up the essence of fruit and tannins. Aged cheese can develop an aged kind of funkiness that pairs well with wine and many dishes. Like art, we believe as women our value increases as we age. Hopefully, we've used our experiences to elevate our lives in a professional, personal, and spiritual way. However, for many of us, there's something else that comes along with age that's not so great. It's a chronic illness. 

Chronic illnesses are defined broadly as conditions that last 1 year or more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living or both. Chronic diseases can include heart disease and autoimmune diseases like MS, Lupus, Epilepsy, and Diabetes. Or perhaps you've suffered an injury to your back or knees and it causes recurring pain. Join us as we talk about these issues as they relate to us personally. We will share our experiences and offer some good old-fashioned advice for what you can do to manage and thrive in spite of the pain to continue to live your best and healthiest life.

Early on in life, there is a drive to fit in. To be one of the boys or girls. From the first day of school, we innately look to find a place where we feel comfortable, and then we want to blend in with everyone else. As women, we spend years conforming to society's idea of what it means to be a woman. By the time we're in the northern part of the numerical age game, we've spent our time nurturing, loving, and supporting children, partners, and spouses. At 40, 50, and up, it's time for us to look inward and do something for ourselves. Women are the largest segment of book buyers and readers. While the literary world boasts a number of female authors, there isn't much representation in the offices where the decision-makers are.

In both fiction and nonfiction, it is all about voice.  There is no right or wrong. It’s your perspective. And whether it's a cookbook or a novel, your unique voice gives life to the words and moves the ideas along and into the world. With so much happening in the world in terms of racial and gender inequities, publishers and editors are looking to women of color and women to write about these issues. Listen, have a laugh, and think about what you might bring to the written word if you pick up a pen.

Mother’s Day and other holidays will soon be upon us. If you’re a mom north of 40 or 50+ with children teens or adults, navigating these special occasions can be tough. How can we find a balance between celebrating an occasion while remaining friends with an ex? What does co-parenting look like when your kids aren’t little kids anymore? We'll talk about our experiences and give you some ideas on how you can make the most of the special times with fewer worries.

It's our first chick-chat of many and we are talking dating. Finding Mr. or Ms. Right these days has never been easier or harder at the same time. North of forty and fifty-plus women have a lot of choices and a whole lot more to offer. So, we're talking about online dating sites,  which have gained in popularity as more of us have moved online to shop for clothes, food, homes, and cars. However, there is much more to online dating than there is when we are shopping for clothes online. We talk about the dos and don'ts of profiles. A current picture is worth a thousand words.  We're also talking about the differences in how men and women communicate when it comes to love and relationships, plus a whole lot more.

For this special debut of the Still A Chick Lit podcast, we are joined by Brooke Nolan. We will be discussing her debut novel Worth Waiting For.  Tune in to learn what inspired her to write, and why she's passionate about stories with characters over 50 and 60. We'll discuss what she thinks of the lack of age representation on and behind the pages.  Brooke is a delightful woman who has crafted a well written and thoroughly enjoyable read, that while it's Worth Waiting For, the wait to get it on your bookstore's shelves and to put Brooke on your list of must-reads won't be much longer.

Meet the host and learn what inspired the podcast and still a chick-lit. Get to know her background, books she's written, and what new books are headed your way like Beverly Avenue Blues. In the coming weeks, she'll talk to other north of forty and fifty authors who are blazing their own trail in publishing.