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Helen Rowlands's avatar

This is what serves me right for checking Substack when I don’t really have time to read anything, but THIS is exactly what I was thinking today! I looked at the profile pics of everybody whose stack I had read today, and they all looked 20-30ish, and I couldn’t help thinking if there was anybody on here my age (60). And here you are! Defo saving this to read later, when I have proper time to pay attention. Thank you just for being here 🥰

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

Thanks so much Helen. Actually, that’s exactly what I thought when I first came to Substack. And initially my posts were greeted with dead silence! And now, here we are!

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Helen Rowlands's avatar

So I made the time to read it and it is SO pertinent! I’m 60, editing my first novel and worried that age (mine and one of my protagonists) might be an issue. This gives me food for thought and impetus to keep going. Thank you!

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

So glad you ‘made the time’ - that made me laugh! I think you’ll be even more inspired by my next post!

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Ann Richardson's avatar

My apologies, but I am having a day of checking back with interviews I did some time ago (so many Substacks, so little time...). There's a huge number of older women on Substack and some great writers. We're definitely HERE.

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The Grands Club's avatar

Hi Ann! Love this conversation and it's so appropriate for my podcast and blog, The Grands Club. I'd love to interview you on my show about your grandmother journey- congrats on finding the route to self-publish!

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Ann Richardson's avatar

Sure, happy to be interviewed. You can write to me at ar@annrichardson.co.uk whenever you like.

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The Grands Club's avatar

Terrific! I'll send you an email!

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Carol Dean's avatar

Thanks for all the info. As soon as I complete this project I’d like to brainstorm with you and anyone else who’s interested to possibly form a clearinghouse of sorts for us “debut” writers in our 60’s +++. No need to reinvent the wheel at our stage of life, but the more we can make the evolving process “easy peasy,” the better for us all!

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According to Mimi's avatar

Count me in - what a great idea!

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

Consider yourself counted in Mimi!

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Rose's avatar

Oh Mimi, you devil! Older woman, younger man, gosh, could it work?!! Maybe I'd better ask my 3 years younger toy boy.

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Helen Rowlands's avatar

Jeez, count me in if I can help/be helped. 60, just editing my first novel, whereby by heroine finally comes together with Dan, 20 years younger, without age being at all a thing. Very glad to be in on this convo! 👍

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

Now that’s an exciting storyline Helen! Will be in touch once Carol has completed her project.

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Anne Dean's avatar

Is this still a group? I just published my first book of fiction, a historical novel narrated by a 10 century Irish king named Brian Boru, and I am 82 years of age.

Currently writing my memoir, and plan to write the second half of Brian Boru’s Journey after that.

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

Wow, Anne, that’s fantastic - congratulations! I’m going to DM you.

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Anne Dean's avatar

Not sure what DM means but sounds good.

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

Direct Message :-) Give me a minute to write it then check your messages!

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Jennifer Granville's avatar

And me - exactly what I was thinking would be a fruitful way forward

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Carmen Amato's avatar

Definitely count me in! This is a great idea and a great way to spark collaboration.

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Deborah Brasket's avatar

Love this idea! My first novel will be published this September. I'm 73.

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Nina Potter | Romance Author's avatar

Great article with good insights. As a 60 year old author I enjoy writing characters my age and infuse them with all the experiences I gained throughout my life. We need more of that as the demographic of female readers aged 45 to 65 and beyond are looking actively for books with characters they can identify with. So, I am not surprised at all about the success of Ann Richardson’s book.

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

Thanks, Nina! And you are so right; that is the strength and appeal of writers sixty-plus because they have a lifetime of experience to draw upon and put into their stories. It’s taken a while, but I think traditional publishers are starting to get the message that there are readers out there who want these stories!

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Rose's avatar

The main problem, especially with us in our 70s, (you guys in your 60s are BABIES!) is that we're apt to die before the traditional publisher gets around to get it out!

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

An excellent point, especially given I’m 83!!!

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Deborah Brasket's avatar

It's why I decided to self publish, and I'm finding the whole process exhilarating (as well as a lot of hard work!)

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

Ditto to the ‘hard work’, Deborah, but so worth it :-)

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Publishing with Vicki DeArmon's avatar

Yes, this is my mantra. My reason for being. :)

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Ann Richardson's avatar

My book isn't fiction, I believe it is called Creative Nonfiction, because it reads as easily as a novel. But it does address many (I hesitate to say all) of the issues we face as we grow older. Good luck to you and. your writing.

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According to Mimi's avatar

I feel as though I have been traveling through space and finally landed on my home planet. Thank you for a brilliant piece that just about swept away the fears and anxieties that accompany starting this journey at 64.

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

Aww Mimi, I’m so touched by your comment! Thank you. I think you’ll like the next post just as much!

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Kati Reijonen's avatar

Yes!!! There should be more stories about women who publish their 1st book later in life because it is much more astonishing than when a young person writes her first! There are very few role models to follow. Where are the Sally Rooneys of our generation????

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Deborah Brasket's avatar

This is true! I'm always looking to read about kindred spirits my age who are doing exciting, creative things. More interviews please 🙏.

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

Working on it, Deb! Two more coming up soon :-)

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

Hmmm, I should do more interviews!

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Publishing with Vicki DeArmon's avatar

We have quite a few over at Sibylline Press. They are spectacular!

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Kathy Napoli's avatar

Thank you for this! Best read I have seen for knowledge about publishing your book. Most helpful and completely comprehensive. Love this!

I think publishing today is a complex, but doable way to put a book on the shelves of many people who still love reading, learning, and feeling emotions. Recognizing the work involved in the self-publishing arena is a big undertaking, but so is writing the book itself. It’s hard to express the gratitude I have for this terrific post!

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

Thank you so much, Kathy! It was wonderful collaborating with Ann and Lori, who are terrific role models for how passion, creativity and persistence, combined with the publishing and marketing tools we have today, can achieve fabulous results no matter what age!

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Ann Richardson's avatar

I am delighted if my hard-won knowledge of self-publishing is of any help, Kathy. Happy to respond to questions over on my site (or by DM) if you want. It is all do-able and not all that overwhelming. And there's a LOT of help out there. And a thriving community of self-publishers who love helping each other.

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Stella Fosse's avatar

I keep reading this piece and loving it more and more. Yes, finding our voices after 50, 60, and beyond is essential, and the array of publishing options now available makes sharing our stories ever more achievable. My new book, "Write & Sell a Well-Seasoned Romance," is all about creating vivid stories and launching them into the world. So glad that Women Writers of a Certain Age are finding each other - and finding our audience. Write on!

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

Wow, what a compliment! I’m sending you a DM Stella.

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Publishing with Vicki DeArmon's avatar

Yeah Stella!

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Suzie Wilde's avatar

It’s all such a game of Snakes & Ladders isn’t it? What looks like success (agent, contract) somehow stalls, or good reviews and blog tours come to nothing. It’s exhausting. The industry wants returns over a long period and thinks we will drop dead by 70 (I’m still here!) so self publishing and promotion looks the only route. When they stop playing Vera Lynn in care homes and give us King Crimson we may get somewhere!

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

Aww, your comments made me laugh! I’m in the process of getting my paperback reviewed on Amazon. It is exhausting, not to mention stressful and a huge learning curve. But self-publishing is still the way to go. I won’t be beaten!!! Biggest challenge right now is finding the time to put my next post up on Substack!

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Stella Fosse's avatar

Such a great article! This is exactly what Crone Writers are doing: Writing about the vivid lives of women characters our age. It’s a fun revolution. Vive la Crone!

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

Wonderfully put Stella, and thank you!

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Publishing with Vicki DeArmon's avatar

I don’t think we have bemoan the fate of women over 50 or 60. We are those women and we are publishing other women over 50 to great success. We’re not waiting for someone else to make it happen. We’re using our wisdom and experience to hurl ourselves over those perceived fences. Let’s keep at it women!

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Rose's avatar

Anybody see Style Crone on Instagram. There's a stylish role model if ever there was one!

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Ann Richardson's avatar

Good luck to you. A friend of mine wanted me to have Crone in the title of my book, but I was uneasy about it. Not remotely uneasy about the wonderful lives of old women, however, and happy to contribute to it in my books and in my Substack.

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Ann Richardson's avatar

Thanks so much for a terrific piece. I highly recommend being interviewed by Kisane because she may mildly edit what you produce but always with sensitivity and your approval. I look forward to more author interviews here.

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

Thanks Ann ☺️

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Mary Beth Spray's avatar

Congratulations Ann and Lori. My name is Mary Beth and I am 75 yrs old and I just published my memoir as a debut author." Imprint, a woman's journey from trauma to freedom." It is awesome to have books out there that talk from a female perspective and wisdom.

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

Congratulations to you, Mary Beth, that’s awesome!

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John Passadino's avatar

Great article reviewing all publishing forms. Encouraging for me as well, a senior guy who has self published and wants to continue doing so. 😌

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

Thanks, John and congrats on being a self-published author!

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John Passadino's avatar

Hi Kisane! Thank you. I see you earned a PhD. That’s amazing. I’ve thought of going for one as well. Maybe some day. I need to psych myself up :)

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

Yep! And be prepared to be consumed!

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John Passadino's avatar

I’m very afraid haha. 😆 My MBA major was technology management but I would want a phd in something else and I’m not sure what ! That’s an issue too…

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Jennifer Granville's avatar

Totally the Post I was waiting for. Thank you so much for writing a clear, readable and informative account with perfectly chosen interviewees.

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Nikki Finlay's avatar

I'll be 65 when my first book comes out next year. Thanks for writing about us.

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

That’s fantastic Nikki, congratulations 🥳

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Nikki Finlay's avatar

Thank you!

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Karin Gillespie's avatar

Thanks for highlighting older authors! Publishing is so youth centric, mostly ignoring readers over 40. I'm a 63 year old author who has been publishing for over 20 years and the most supportive and loyal readers are those who are 40 plus.

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

Like Ann, you must have seen so many changes in publishing Karin!

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Karin Gillespie's avatar

My gosh, yes. I came up in the chick lit days :)

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

I see you are a ‘marketing’ expert, Karin. I’m thinking about my next post and hope you don’t mind if I contact you about drawing upon your expertise!

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Karin Gillespie's avatar

I'd be happy to help!

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Carol Price's avatar

Thank you for highlighting these important issues.In my early 70's now, I have just self published a book with a hybrid publisher Lulu.com. The lengthy process of looking for an agent then waiting an unspecified time for a possible offer from a publisher is totally impractical for older writers. Many of my friends in writing groups have deliberately chosen this route too for similar reasons. Life is too short to be waiting and hanging on hoping for a publisher to deign to publish your work.

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Jeanette Martin's avatar

Completely agree. It's what I did with my own book, Amazon self - publishing. We have options!

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Kisane Slaney PhD's avatar

Spot on, Carol! Restacking

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