Book Review and author interview :Women of a Dangerous Age by Fanny Blake
Fabafterfifty: Book Reviews
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Article by Ceri Wheeldon When two women making significant changes midlife, meet on holiday in India , they form a friendship which takes them into situations neither could have imagined. Lou leaves a long term marriage to pursue an independent life and career, while Ali looks to walk away from life as a serial mistress and commit to a long term relationship. Women of a Dangerous Age is a refreshing read with realistic portrayals of both main characters – midlife women are interested in romance, career, style and new beginnings, and it was good to read a book that recognised that. I caught up with author Fanny Blake to ask her how the book, and characters came about: Changes as big birthdays approach “I wanted to write a book which captured women’s thoughts on life as ‘big birthdays’ approached. People often think ‘this is it’ and I wanted to show...
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The Power of Reinvention –Your ‘ABC’ to success. Introducing Debbie Arnold
Article by Ceri Wheeldon Actress Debbie Arnold has had a successful career as an actress in TV, film and theatre, and has appeared in all of the major TV soaps in her 30 year career. But although having appeared to live a charmed life, Debbie herself has had periods where she has lost sight of her own direction in life, and has fallen into depression and despair. She hit the ‘bottom of the barrell’ and had to find her own way out of a life which had left her feeling negative,unloved and defeated. Following an unsuccessful audition, Debbie was at an all time low, carrying much anger and angst. A friend loaned her a DVD ‘You can Heal Your Life’ by Louise Hay. Something at that point ‘clicked’ with Debbie, and she realised she had been carrying a backpack of negativity with her for far too long. It was time...
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Mid Century Magic! It’s never too late to be great!
Article by TomButler-Bowden Many oak trees wait 50 years before, in a burst of creative power, they produce their first crop of hundreds of acorns. It’s the same for many people: nothing major happens for several decades, and then it all happens. We use the phrases ‘late starters’ and ‘late bloomers’ as if there was some problem or delay in a person’s flourishing, but surely this is a tautology. The point of ripening is that it happens when it does, and not before. Our fifties see us running on full speed! To use another analogy, if the forties are the decade in which people gather steam, the fifties see them on their full speed run. In this decade many find they are at the height of their powers, combining good health with heightened skills and wisdom. A career can be crowned, or equally something new started. Age itself, we come...
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Author Interview. Elizabeth Buchan on her new book ‘Daughters’
Article by Ceri Wheeldon Elizabeth Buchan’s latest book, Daughters will probably strike a chord with many midlife women mothers and stepmothers alike who navigate their way through the transition as their children leave home, launch careers and get married. I spoke to Elizabeth to discover her thinking behind her characters and story behind the book. Why did you decide to write Daughters at this particular time? My own children are grown up and so I wanted to explore the transition every parent goes through when their children go out into the world. I always loved Jane Austen’s Mrs Bennett character, and her mother’s determination to see her daughters settled. Why did you decide to make Lara a mother and stepmother? I wanted to explore the dynamics of blended and extended families as we in fact have 2 stepmothers in the book. Lara the central character has a natural daughter and...
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“I must have been a disappointment to my parents” an interview with author Michele Hanson.
Article by Ceri Wheeldon ‘I realised as I was writing my book, what a disappointment I must have been to my parents’ said Michele Hanson when I interviewed her about her latest book, “What the Grown-Ups Were Doing, An Odyssey through 1950s Suburbia” a lovely memoir about growing up in a Jewish family in Ruislip in post-war Britain, when childhood was far more innocent and the absence of TV and computer games encouraged creativity and more playing outdoors, picking blackberries, skipping, playing 5 Stones and Jacks. Thwarting her elegant mother’s desire to dress her in ‘pretty frocks’, Michele was a tomboy preferring to dress in trousers – and who hated wearing shoes ( in part due to having large feet, the only choice other than men’s shoes appeared to be white patent leather, making her feet look even bigger!), preferring to play outside with her dog , pet mice and...
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What hidden gems do you have in your wardrobe? An interview with Tracy Martin
Article by Ceri Wheeldon We all have that much loved dress tucked away in the back of our wardrobes that we just can’t bear to part with. Apart from any sentimental value it might have- it may just be ‘collectable’ as well. In her book Collectable Names and Designs in Women’s Fashion, Past and Present, Tracy Martin takes us on a trip down memory lane as she explores how events of the day have influenced fashion, and the inspiration behind some of the most iconic designs. Packed full of great photos, the book is a delight for anyone woman with an interest in style, and the stories behind the clothes we wear. I caught up with Tracy Martin and asked her to shed a little more light on her book. Tracy, what are your favourite decades in terms of fashion? My favourite style decades are the 1920s and 1960s. Being...
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Linda MacDonald- her debut novel- on bullying and how it affects you in later life
Article by Ceri Wheeldon Linda MacDonald had always wanted to write a book about bullying, but wanted to write a fictional account. She particularly wanted to explore how being bullied at school could have an impact later in life. The book was put on hold until Linda could think of an appropriate storyline to weave the issue in to. What better time to place her character than at midlife and at a particularly vulnerable crossroad? Linda had already written a couple of novels with unrelated themes alongside her career as a teacher – what Linda likes to refer to as her ‘practice’ books- neither of which were published. Linda was herself bullied when she was young. The advent of the social network ‘Friends Reunited’ offered an opportunity for Linda to make contact with old school friends- and made her wonder what had happened to the old school bullies who had made...
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Book Review: Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines by Carol E. Wyer
Review by Fabafterfifty As Mandy approaches 50 she ponders her life and her future- and starts a blog- sharing her ups and downs. From feeling invisible (even to her husband) and dealing with her ‘boomerang kid’ son, Mandy shares her thoughts and feelings with her newfound ‘blog friends’ with a few laughs and surprises along the way. If you yearn for a little more excitement in your life, and feel that even your mother seems to have more fun than you do, then following Mandy’s journey as she enters her 50s in Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines could be just the book for you. What’s the antidote to a boring marriage? Could a ‘lost love’s’ return be the antidote to a boring marriage? How do you fill the days if you have given up work? Will your irresponsible son ever grow up? I enjoyed the book immensely- relating to many aspects...
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Book Review: Still 25 Inside by Lyndsey Agness
Review by Ceri Wheeldon What do you do if you still feel 25 on the inside, but are aware that as you approach midlife, you haven’t done all the things you set out to do? The life you want may be eluding you so far, but this doesn’t mean that you have to give up on your dreams. Lyndsey’s book takes you through the 8 attitudes of successful mid-life women. For each attitude there are a series of exercises to work through helping you to navigate your way through midlife to live the best possible second half . From self esteem, self belief, knowing yourself and understanding the life you truly want to live, Still 25 Inside offers excellent insights and makes you think about how you want to live the second half of your life. Lyndsey asks if you want to a chicken or an eagle. Do you want...
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Arlene Phillips- Dance to the Musicals for Fitness and Fun after 50
Article by Fabafterfifty Arlene Phillips talks to Fabafterfifty about her new book, Dance to the Musicals, and how dance can be a great way to get fit over 50. How effective is dance as part of a fitness regime for women over 50? Dance is so important for a number of reasons, not just for the physical benefits but also for mental agility. Learning and following a series of steps keeps your brain active and alert, which is so important when you are getting older. Dance is one of the most effective ways of lifting your spirits and giving you a feeling of wellbeing. For those who hate the thought of ‘exercise’ why should they choose dance? Dance is a much more sociable way of exercising, for those that don’t like the solitary feel of working out in a gym, dance is a great way to catch up with friends...
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