Second Act: Woman Becomes Author In Retirement

(Editor's note: The rules are changing. People are defying the sterotypes of our youth-oriented culture to start new careers later in life. San Leandro author JoAnn Smith Ainsworth is an example. Her employer, a big law firm in San Francisco, went bankrupt. So she started writing fiction to make extra money to supplement her Social Security income. She now has two books in print and two more on the way. Here JoAnn shares some inspirational thoughts.)

By JoAnn Smith Ainsworth

When I carried wood as a pre-teen so Great Aunt Martha could stoke up the iron stove for dinner, I wasn’t thinking, “I could use this in a novel someday.”

Yet, the skills I learned from my horse-and-buggy ancestors translate into backdrops for my historical romance and paranormal suspense novels.

Believing it’s never too late to create your dream, as a senior citizen I resurrected a desire to write.

My debut medieval romantic suspense novels, MATILDA’S SONG and OUT OF THE DARK, received 4 stars from RT Book Reviews.

I recently sold two historical western romance manuscripts to Whiskey Creek Press, Casper, WY. The novels will be released next summer.

My agent is currently marketing a paranormal suspense series. Wish us luck!

I have other achievements. I was the Chief Clerk of a U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee; I took a 100-day trip around the world; I have degreess and titles. But I'm most proud of becoming an author as a senior citizen.

Visit JoAnn's website at www.joannsmithainsworth.com. Follow her on Facebook. Peek in on her life as an author via Twitter.

What's your Second Act. Send a picture and a story to Patch.