You write so cogently and engagingly, Stephanie. Shrinking relevance? Nope! Your voice is one I want to hear/read! I love that phrase 'I am the 21st century equivalent of an 18th century lace-maker'. An artisan, then!
Oh Stephanie I hear you! I remember you losing that Epicure gig. It was awful for you. I lost my round at The Age as gardening editor when a new editor took over Spectrum and wanted to put a friend in the job! While I was 72 it still hurt. For years! I felt irrelevant as I loved that job but finally started volunteering at an op shop and I am now 75 per cent through my memoir. Journalism is tough these days. But you are such a good writer I can't imagine not seeing your name in print ever again. Go and enjoy your holiday, refresh yourself and come back reinvigorated. Something will come up for you. I feel it in my waters! Denise xx
thank Denise ... amazing you remember that time! that makes me feel a little bit vindicated (still, it smarts!). Congratulations on your memoir! That is so fantastic. I have been fiddling with a new book proposal but making slow progress.XX
Enjoy your well deserved holiday Stephanie - hope you come back feeling refreshed & more positive, sounds like it's a bit of a tough time for you right now. You are a great & brave writer.
This was such a pleasure to read, Stephanie, and thank you for mentioning my Cambridge Ladies' Dining Society book club (snappy title!). So pleased that you enjoyed Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont, and now the pressure is on me to do a follow-up post about Mrs Lippincote... But in my next post I will to be looking at a very popular male writer of the 1930s who is almost forgotten today, but the theme, inspired by your post, will be second (& third) chances. I really hope your trip to the UK is enjoyable, and how fantastic the tv series has made it over here! Surely it's time for a UK reissue of the paperback of your book too.
Hi Ann, I'm still catching up on reading ... have you done that post on the popular male writer??? I'll go look for it. Sadly, my book never got a UK release in the first place. And I did try to push for a paperback release in the UK to coincide with the TV series release but to no avail. Publisher's thinking was that most people buy e-books and audio books ... 🤷♀️
Thanks Stephanie, look forward to getting hold of your book in some form one of these days! I wrote 2 posts on RC Sherriff (see link below) and hope to follow up with a third concluding one today, as I wanted also to discuss summer/holiday reading. Recommendations welcome!
I agree. Write another book. Maybe jump on the “Fake” bandwagon and write about how someone becomes a “Joe”. What has gone on in their childhood or what personality traits lead to someone who can be so cruel to other people. I’m sure there is a lot of interest in the subject.
Well they do in the long term as long as you have something to keep you afloat while you are writing. I really do think there is a wide interest in what makes these “Joes”. Good luck in whatever endeavour you choose to focus on next x
It is a crime a writer of your calibre cannot make a living from all that you produce. I agree with another commenter that another series would be very welcome and hopefully you could negotiate a good deal. It seems any producers of art never benefit as much as those that ‘manage’ the artist. Also true, and I am living this truth at 59, that our work in any field is harder to get the older we get! Recent moves in employment have only reduced my pay. I’m now earning the same as I was ten years ago!
I hope your trip goes well and you come back with a new deal and fresh inspiration! xx
As a woman in her Second50 (I am 60) this resonates so deeply Stephanie. Thank you for putting into words what I have been feeling since my mid 50’s. Relevance and that constant ache of needing reinvention or retraining to simply keep a roof over my head into my 80’s (I don’t own property) and not spend the hard earned super until I have to. I am fortunate to have e a partner but nothing is guaranteed. When I was 20 I thought I be would travelling and minding the grandkids instead of having to think of how to fund “retirement”. We Gen Xers are tougher than we think we are. Enjoy your trip, well deserved
Hello! It's so tough isn't it? And so many of us are in places we didn't imagine we'd be ... I know we share that! (I haven't forgotten!!) Hope you are doing well in spite of everything.XX
Travel will take your mind off things - wish I was there with you. I’m still working but drew the line at complex Excel formulas the other day as an Admin Assistant. Where to find joy? I’ll be looking in a lot of corners of the northern beaches soon - volunteering, conservation, pickleball, golf, sunrises, sunsets - I guess it’ll be friendships. How small can we get our mortgages to live in v small apartments and have v small footprints? At luncheon party today in Mosman I met a lovely person similar age who’d pulled off the trifecta (ex-banker, divorced, introduced by friends, remarried, large diamonds, children doing well, grandchildren , and she said she was still missing something-she said she needed to feel relevant
Can you teach me basic Excel formulas!!!??? How are you enjoying the Northern Beaches? We must talk soon! Interesting about the woman you met ... I don't think big diamonds and marriages are the key to everything.XXXX
Don't beat yourself up about your lovely offering being 'late'. How about a relaxing re-frame: it comes when it is ready to emerge from you. I am happy to wait. I want it to be in service of your best life xxx.
Hi Stephanie, I'm trying to upgrade to a paid subscription but Substack is having issues. I'll keep at it. I hope you are enjoying your UK trip! You are awesome! ❤️
"Trump is hurting the sort of people many of his voters seem to be interested in seeing get hurt." This makes me want to cry. That there are so many people out there actively hoping other humans (and let's face it, often the disadvantaged, the dispossessed and the desperate) get hurt. What are we doing that people grow up to believe this is ok?
I always enjoy what you write Stephanie, and find things to think about while reading it. I hope your holiday is restorative and life smiles on you again.
I decided to delete it as I thought I was just messaging Stephanie. Isn't she awesome? And such a brilliant writer. I feel she could be the next Liane Moriarty, writing stories that become adapted to major films. Which there is a huge demand for with all the streaming services desperate for a story! She has the talent. And she has already proven herself in that role. Fake is so brilliant! We love you Stephanie. Keep writing!! ❤️
oh Amanda, you are too kind. Luckily I saw your lovely words before you deleted them! I am a terrible procrastinator, too late a riser, too concerned about keeping up with housework, too under the thumb of my dog, too needing to earn income to pay the mortgage ... all of which conspire against focusing on another book ... but I'm trying!!!
You write so cogently and engagingly, Stephanie. Shrinking relevance? Nope! Your voice is one I want to hear/read! I love that phrase 'I am the 21st century equivalent of an 18th century lace-maker'. An artisan, then!
Good luck with the UK trip!
thank you so much Wendy. I really appreciate your support. SWXX
Oh Stephanie I hear you! I remember you losing that Epicure gig. It was awful for you. I lost my round at The Age as gardening editor when a new editor took over Spectrum and wanted to put a friend in the job! While I was 72 it still hurt. For years! I felt irrelevant as I loved that job but finally started volunteering at an op shop and I am now 75 per cent through my memoir. Journalism is tough these days. But you are such a good writer I can't imagine not seeing your name in print ever again. Go and enjoy your holiday, refresh yourself and come back reinvigorated. Something will come up for you. I feel it in my waters! Denise xx
thank Denise ... amazing you remember that time! that makes me feel a little bit vindicated (still, it smarts!). Congratulations on your memoir! That is so fantastic. I have been fiddling with a new book proposal but making slow progress.XX
Enjoy your well deserved holiday Stephanie - hope you come back feeling refreshed & more positive, sounds like it's a bit of a tough time for you right now. You are a great & brave writer.
thank you Jane! back, refreshed, but god, the writers' block this week!
This was such a pleasure to read, Stephanie, and thank you for mentioning my Cambridge Ladies' Dining Society book club (snappy title!). So pleased that you enjoyed Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont, and now the pressure is on me to do a follow-up post about Mrs Lippincote... But in my next post I will to be looking at a very popular male writer of the 1930s who is almost forgotten today, but the theme, inspired by your post, will be second (& third) chances. I really hope your trip to the UK is enjoyable, and how fantastic the tv series has made it over here! Surely it's time for a UK reissue of the paperback of your book too.
Hi Ann, I'm still catching up on reading ... have you done that post on the popular male writer??? I'll go look for it. Sadly, my book never got a UK release in the first place. And I did try to push for a paperback release in the UK to coincide with the TV series release but to no avail. Publisher's thinking was that most people buy e-books and audio books ... 🤷♀️
Thanks Stephanie, look forward to getting hold of your book in some form one of these days! I wrote 2 posts on RC Sherriff (see link below) and hope to follow up with a third concluding one today, as I wanted also to discuss summer/holiday reading. Recommendations welcome!
https://akennedysmith.substack.com/p/nothing-to-fear
I agree. Write another book. Maybe jump on the “Fake” bandwagon and write about how someone becomes a “Joe”. What has gone on in their childhood or what personality traits lead to someone who can be so cruel to other people. I’m sure there is a lot of interest in the subject.
This is a great idea. Dig into their early lives, interview their families.. find real life stories. Readers would lap it up!
I have SO many ideas for books but, procrastination, earning a living (books do not a living make) ....
Well they do in the long term as long as you have something to keep you afloat while you are writing. I really do think there is a wide interest in what makes these “Joes”. Good luck in whatever endeavour you choose to focus on next x
With apologies to all those who commented on this post from April ... I loved your throughts and kind words!
To Lola, your friends and followers, you are big and relevant. Nothing else matters but your happiness. I hope a great job opportunity comes up soon.
thank you Leonie.X
It is a crime a writer of your calibre cannot make a living from all that you produce. I agree with another commenter that another series would be very welcome and hopefully you could negotiate a good deal. It seems any producers of art never benefit as much as those that ‘manage’ the artist. Also true, and I am living this truth at 59, that our work in any field is harder to get the older we get! Recent moves in employment have only reduced my pay. I’m now earning the same as I was ten years ago!
I hope your trip goes well and you come back with a new deal and fresh inspiration! xx
thank you so much Becci for your lovely words. no deal yet ... I have to first put in the work on a new book proposal!!!!
As a woman in her Second50 (I am 60) this resonates so deeply Stephanie. Thank you for putting into words what I have been feeling since my mid 50’s. Relevance and that constant ache of needing reinvention or retraining to simply keep a roof over my head into my 80’s (I don’t own property) and not spend the hard earned super until I have to. I am fortunate to have e a partner but nothing is guaranteed. When I was 20 I thought I be would travelling and minding the grandkids instead of having to think of how to fund “retirement”. We Gen Xers are tougher than we think we are. Enjoy your trip, well deserved
Hello! It's so tough isn't it? And so many of us are in places we didn't imagine we'd be ... I know we share that! (I haven't forgotten!!) Hope you are doing well in spite of everything.XX
Travel will take your mind off things - wish I was there with you. I’m still working but drew the line at complex Excel formulas the other day as an Admin Assistant. Where to find joy? I’ll be looking in a lot of corners of the northern beaches soon - volunteering, conservation, pickleball, golf, sunrises, sunsets - I guess it’ll be friendships. How small can we get our mortgages to live in v small apartments and have v small footprints? At luncheon party today in Mosman I met a lovely person similar age who’d pulled off the trifecta (ex-banker, divorced, introduced by friends, remarried, large diamonds, children doing well, grandchildren , and she said she was still missing something-she said she needed to feel relevant
Can you teach me basic Excel formulas!!!??? How are you enjoying the Northern Beaches? We must talk soon! Interesting about the woman you met ... I don't think big diamonds and marriages are the key to everything.XXXX
Don't beat yourself up about your lovely offering being 'late'. How about a relaxing re-frame: it comes when it is ready to emerge from you. I am happy to wait. I want it to be in service of your best life xxx.
Thank you dear Vivienne ... your support is very much appreciated.X
Hi Stephanie, I'm trying to upgrade to a paid subscription but Substack is having issues. I'll keep at it. I hope you are enjoying your UK trip! You are awesome! ❤️
I have managed to subscribe! Excellent.
thank you so much Amanda for your support. I really really appreciate it. I'm glad you figured out Substack.X
"Trump is hurting the sort of people many of his voters seem to be interested in seeing get hurt." This makes me want to cry. That there are so many people out there actively hoping other humans (and let's face it, often the disadvantaged, the dispossessed and the desperate) get hurt. What are we doing that people grow up to believe this is ok?
I always enjoy what you write Stephanie, and find things to think about while reading it. I hope your holiday is restorative and life smiles on you again.
thank you so much Janesfriend!!! (Now I'm wondering, who are you!?!)
What a great person you sound Amanda - lovely supportive post (and agree with you - Steph’s full talents are yet to be realised!)
I decided to delete it as I thought I was just messaging Stephanie. Isn't she awesome? And such a brilliant writer. I feel she could be the next Liane Moriarty, writing stories that become adapted to major films. Which there is a huge demand for with all the streaming services desperate for a story! She has the talent. And she has already proven herself in that role. Fake is so brilliant! We love you Stephanie. Keep writing!! ❤️
oh Amanda, you are too kind. Luckily I saw your lovely words before you deleted them! I am a terrible procrastinator, too late a riser, too concerned about keeping up with housework, too under the thumb of my dog, too needing to earn income to pay the mortgage ... all of which conspire against focusing on another book ... but I'm trying!!!