Hi, my name is Kisane Slaney, and I created the title “Author-Come-Lately” as a wry acknowledgement that I was joining Substack and writing my book later in life. I had not anticipated finding many other women in their sixties and beyond on Substack, and certainly not in their eighties like me. How wrong I was!
After six months of hesitation and six months of writing to the deafening sound of crickets, I found my people! I wrote about publishing and discovered it was something women sixty and beyond wanted to learn about. Now I bring you posts with information to help you get your books out into the world. My posts also include interviews with wonderful women who are publishing books that often took them a decade or more to write. We are inspiring each other! I hope you’ll join us.
I don’t intend to paywall my newsletter any time soon. My subscribers will have access to all my posts. Nevertheless, should you decide to support my writing by becoming a paid subscriber, I will be eternally grateful. It will assist me with my self-publishing costs!
Subscribers have access to…
Ongoing information relevant to female authors 60s-plus and more interviews.
Behind-the-scenes details about how my writing group of seven, aged in our seventies and beyond, is writing a Seasoned Romance, including our methods and challenges!
My Memoir: Monthly Snapshots Of My Life
About Me
If you read my Memoir, you will understand why, as a young woman, I never would have expected to become a novelist in my eighties, let alone a university senior lecturer!
My first career was as a photographic model in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia.
I retired after having twins and spent the next fifteen years as a full-time mum to my four children.
When my youngest was four, I went to university as a mature-age student. Following my graduation, I worked in the fields of child sexual abuse and domestic violence, while continuing my studies. After gaining my PhD, I became a Senior Lecturer in Counselling at Curtin University.
In 2012, one of my daughters became quadriplegic after a fall, and I became her full-time carer for five years. That is when I started writing my novel. In 2017, a mole on my cheek was diagnosed as a melanoma. The following year, the cancer had spread to my neck. I had to put my daughter into full-time care, which broke my heart. In October 2019, my daughter died, the only blessing being that it was two months before COVID, which would have been an utter nightmare to negotiate.
I started writing my novel, The Heiress, in 2012, when caring for my daughter, and finally published it in October 2024. If there’s one thing I can claim to possess, it’s persistence! Here, my youngest daughter holds up my book, proud of her mum!
What editorial reviewers say…
BookLife Review
…readers will find themselves transported to a richly evoked past that abounds with striking detail, and the spirit of truth-telling and big-hearted secondary characters will leave readers of historical fiction aching for more.
Literary Titan
The Heiress is a flawless gem of a story. Its intriguing plot, delightful characters, and perfect settings make it an outstanding read that promises excitement, romance, and a touch of mystery.
Review Tales: A Book Magazine for Indie Authors
With its blend of romance, drama, and thought-provoking social critique, The Heiress is a compelling read that challenges tradition while celebrating the resilience of the human heart. Fans of historical romance with a strong emotional core will find themselves captivated by Tiana and Philippe’s journey.
Persistence is something I will encourage in my three grandchildren!
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