Why I Still Write in My 80’s
Why I Still Write
If you had asked me back in eighth grade whether I’d still be writing stories in my 80’s, I probably would’ve laughed. But here I am and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I get enormous satisfaction from the letters and notes I receive from people who’ve read my books. It never gets old hearing how a story I wrote brought someone joy, sparked a memory, or reminded them of a time long gone. Those connections are why I keep going.
I’ve been writing in one form or another for most of my life; short stories, editorials, and the occasional piece that found its way into a local paper or magazine. But when my first novel was published in early 2015, just a few months shy of my 75th birthday, I had no idea what to expect.
At the time, I imagined my typical reader would be someone in their 40s or 50s who enjoyed a good mystery or thriller. And while that was true, something else happened, something I didn’t see coming. I began getting mail from seniors in their seventies and eighties. They told me their children had given them my books as birthday or holiday gifts. Some wrote to say that my stories made them feel like they were living inside the mystery, part of something exciting and new again. That touched me deeply.
The Will James Mystery Series
The first book, The Jefferson Files sat on paper for years before I was encouraged to publish it. Now, it has become a 7 book series and, hopefully, another on the way!
Over time, I found myself speaking at libraries, schools, book clubs, and senior centers. And I realized something wonderful: despite all the gadgets and screens out there, people of all ages still read. In huge numbers. And they still crave a good story told simply and well.
One of the most surprising and heartwarming moments came during the pandemic. I started receiving notes from 10- and 11-year-olds — young readers who had been introduced to my books by their grandparents. “My grandfather said I’d like this,” one wrote, “and he was right.”
I never imagined I’d be writing for three generations at once, but here we are. What a gift.
These days, when I tour with my books, the audiences include everyone from young adults to seniors. Men and women. And every time someone tells me, “This reminded me of something from my own life,” I feel incredibly honored.
I also spend part of each year teaching creative writing at the U-CONN Waterbury campus through their OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) program. It’s one of the great joys of my life. For ten weeks a year, I get to work with people, mostly women, many retired, who are finally finding the time to put their stories on paper.
And let me tell you something: I truly believe everyone has a story to tell. Especially women. Your experiences, your memories, your families, these are legacies. Whether you think you're a writer or not, I wish everyone would write their story down for future generations. We lose too much when we let those memories slip away.
So why do I still write in my 80’s?
Because stories connect us. Because I still have something to say.
And because someone, somewhere, is waiting to read it.
I still have many stories to tell!
I want to thank each of you who has supported my writing as a self-published author. Your encouragement has meant more than you know. Every book you’ve read, every note you’ve sent, and every story you’ve shared has been the true measure of my success.
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