And the Survey's Out: Henlit Making a Comeback? (or did it ever really go anywhere)

Stumbled across this new survey and the results are encouraging for hen lit writers! This new data was revealed on June 27th (2019) at the Bookseller Marketing and Publicity Conference . The findings in this survey was in association with Granset , the biggest social media outlet for older people in the UK, along with publisher WQ (Harper Collins).  "This data reveals that 47% of women over 40 say there are not enough books about middle-aged or older women. Yet women over 45 buy more fiction than any other segment, and 84% say they read every, or almost every day." So for those women over 40 and who love to write, keep on writing if your main female character is over 40! But do keep it relatable. You don't need to be catering to the younger lover of 'chick lit'. Yes. We definitely want strong female protagonists, but we also want to read about more than just what it's like to live in the big city with a terrible boss and wandering love…

Where'd You Go Bernadette: Book to Movie...

If you haven’t read Maria Semple’s comedy novel, Where’d You Go Bernadette , but you’re a speedy reader, then get your copy soon 'cause the movie's coming out next week! This national bestseller (2012) wasn’t for everyone, but if you like a well-written (who doesn’t?) and character driven story-- with wit, quirkiness and a bit of darkness sprinkled in-- then this one is for you! Although it starts off slow, with a few rambling spots, it has a complete narrative plot which picks up quickly. Bernadette, a loving mother and wife, finds herself in the midst of a huge meltdown as she tries to reconnect with her creative passions, leaving her husband and her highly intelligent, and dare I say, cool 13-year-old daughter named Bee, bewildered. They both give her the space she needs after she mysteriously disappears, both literally and figuratively, but suffer greatly because of it.  The story is refreshing as much of the book is written through email correspondences and text…

Hate Working Out? Try TABATA!

The jig is up. We've hit (or have already passed) the chronological milestone, the big 4-0. No longer can we order anything off the menu, indulge in a little junk food, or tie one on and not expect to pay a price the next day. More than ever, we now have to pay attention to what we eat, drink and do. Kills the fun, right? With all the changes going on with our bodies, we have to work harder at getting and staying in shape - and not because we want our 20 something bodies back, but mostly because we want to be at our healthiest, prevent or recover from sprains and pains, and to keep up with our more active friends.  But if you hate to workout, don't fret. Here's a "4-Minute", yes, a "4-Minute" miracle workout. I've tried it and it works. Besides walking Sophie, I try to do this at least three times a week. And better news, if you're one of the ones who LOVE working out daily (but not seeing the results you want) you can do this a…

Hmm...what to read next?

WHAT'S UP - Women's Fiction | Over 40 These sites are a 'one-stop' shop for women needing some recommendations for their next book pick (a mix of light-hearted and not so light-hearted fiction). AMAZON : Best Sellers for women's fiction BEST ONLINE : 40 books every women should have on her bookshelf BOOKS FOR OLDER WOMEN : Recommendations for women in mid-life and beyond (UK) BOOK RIOT : 11 new chick lit books for anyone who misses Bridget Jones ELLE : The best books to read (so far) in 2019 GOODREADS : The biggest site to look for your next book GOODREADS : This page takes you to books for women over 45 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING : 20 best fiction books to read HUFFINGTON POST : Books from the last 7 years every woman should read PAPERBACK SWAP : 91 funny chick lit books ever PAPERBACK SWAP : A list of 26 hen lit books I NEED BOOKS ONLINE : Best chick lit books in 2019 SIXTY AND ME : Books recommendations for women over 60 WHAT SHOULD I READ NEXT? : A…

When Did We Become Old?

BY MELISSA ROWE -- Y ou know the moments, those moments you realize you’re getting old. And feeling it, too. When those wrinkles and age spots can no longer be concealed with makeup, when you've had to​ ​sit down to put on your socks or skip the leg shave because bending over is just too much. You’re waking up multiple times a night to pee, booking more mammograms and colonoscopies or getting senior discounts when you haven't even asked for them. And the real kicker is when you’re out on a Friday evening, your body suddenly tells you it’s time to call it quits. Problem is, it’s only 9pm. What happened? You used to be the life of the party, and it took just half-a-day to recover. Now it takes three, and you’re still talking about it two weeks later. If you’re like me, these moments are hard. We never pictured ourselves growing old, did we? So what can we do? First step might be recognizing our hearts are still young, even though our joints would tell us otherwise. There’s st…

Move Over Chick Lit: We Want Something Older (Hen Lit, Perhaps?)

Hello Ladies! Welcome to our first post, and let me say this off the top: I started this blog because I imagine there’s an entire genre that’s underrepresented in the literary world -- and it’s us, middle-aged women (looking for mature, and unadulterated fun), who are missing out! If you’ve been to your local bookstore or hit up Amazon lately, you’ve surely been confronted with the awesome marketing machine that is chick lit. Mind you, there’s nothing wrong with chick lit or the amount of exposure it has received. They often feature strong female protagonists, although many of them are single millennials swiping left in their search for love, struggling for independence, or on a noble quest for political correctness. But what if you’re a 40-plus woman who’s dealt with all her childhood traumas and who's never heard of Tinder? What if you’re in the mood for a fun and light-hearted read, but just aren't interested in the frivolous romps and adventures of a 20-something? We …