When Marla Miller, teacher, media whiz and mentor, heard me squawking about the dearth of movies and novels featuring mature women, she asked me to do a video rant about it. I did, and it’s called Why Am I Talking to YOU?
It was my first ever YouTube video and I’m so excited, because it forced me to learn a new skill, one that will be helpful as I market my books. Of course, in the couple of days I experimented with backdrop, lighting, clothing, makeup and script, I wasn’t actually writing, unfortunately. But now that I know those things, any future videos will be done more quickly.
Marla’s blog is called Women over 45: SPEAK! You will love it. Check it out. Maybe you have an issue you’d like to talk about. It’s a great forum for women to be heard.
About one minute after I posted that video, I found out about a stellar new work about an older woman, the fantastic new novel by Ann Patchett entitled State of Wonder.
It features two strong women in the lead roles, one of whom is older. The reviewer suggested Helen Mirren or Meryl Streep should hustle to option the script right now. The book is supposed to be Patchett’s very best, even better than Bel Canto if you can imagine that! You can read the review here. I just received my copy and I’m savoring the opening chapters. Just awesome. The setting, the conflicts, the premise, the adventure to come – and none of this is belabored. Patchett isn’t just a gifted writer, she’s a gifted writing instructor. The story is unfolding cinematically as if I were watching a movie. I almost don’t want to read it, because I don’t want to finish it! This may be the slowest I’ll ever read a book.
Kindle readers can send comments to Lmspreen@yahoo.com.
Hi, Lynne…I’m writing as fast as I can! 😉
I was soooo jazzed when I viewed Lynne’s video—-and look at ALL the response it generated—–Ladies, I invite you to contribute your vids to ME Quiet?
We are anything BUT quiet and we have LOTS of stories to tell!
Lynne, you rock!
Great stuff. Even greater cause. You tell it like it is and make us all feel stronger!
Lynne, this is a brilliant start to a new powerful dimension in your career. I’ve posted your video on my blog, Twitter, and if I can find a way to get it to go intergalactic, I will. You’re my inspiration. I sent a link to my favorite female screenwriter, too. Someone needs to send this to Bassett, Barrymore, Dormand and Bullock as well.
Wow, Linda, thanks! There’s a part in that Arquette documentary wherein Frances Dormand says they’d better start making movies about women age 50-plus because she was about to turn 50, and that’s what she would want to see. It struck me then that if you have 50 million women-of-a-certain-age (actually, according to the 2010 Census, 40 million over age 55 specifically), that’s a helluva market. And as I said in the video, lots of them have time and money available to spend, and I’m betting that they’re hungry for stories about women navigating this challenging phase of life. A ready market! Who wouldn’t jump at that?
(Cue crickets.)
Thanks for the encouragement, Linda.
I’ve also heard good things about the new book from Ann Patchett, Lynne. I always appreciate the work of a gifted writer. Thanks for sharing the review link here. Hope life is good and that this award-winning blog continues to shine a bright life on life and all that matters! (Heading outside to plant a climbing rose bush; we’ll see how it does. Summer and fall will be fine, but not sure it will winter here.) –Daisy
I agree that it was really great seeing you “live.” I agree with you that I love movies about women “of a certain age.” So many amazing actresses out there who can convey such depth. However, I must admit that the ones who have botoxed their faces into comical versions of their younger selves do NOT interest me. That why people like Helen Mirren, Susan Sarandon, Meryl Streep, Frances McDormand and a few others will always be my choice over Melanie Griffith, Goldie Hawn and Cher. eeekkkk!
I also agree about the ready-made market for books and movies. Has anyone written a screen play? I would not know how to even begin. I noticed on the Tony Awards last night that fewer women actors seemed to have the frozen face of plastic surgery. They looked like real people, like us.
Marilyn, I saw a documentary by Rosanna Arquette called “Searching for Debra Winger,” in which she interviews a bunch of actresses about the dearth of age-appropriate roles. At one point they talked about this very thing: when Hollywood wants an actress to play a woman in her mid-60s, there won’t be anyone who looks like one! Good to hear from you.
Hi Lynne, The smile on your face and light in your eyes are what people connect with (not your neck).
Debbie, what a nice thing to say. You be sure to come back and comment often, okay? We like to hear from positive peeps! And next time you won’t have to go thru the comment approval process – your comment will appear instantly. See you next time.
You guys are too kind! It is funny in retrospect. I never realized my neck looked that bad, but a scarf was too much of a tip off. And then I’m thinking, “you’re not supposed to care, remember? Miss ‘Celebrate Getting Old’!” And the number of times I got tongue tied – I did like 30 takes, some only a couple words long before I jabbed the STOP button. I got so pissed off and tired, but then finally I made one that was good enough. I have a new appreciation for movie making.
Girlfriend, you deliver on all counts-the message, the presentation, the truth- Boomers Rule and you are star for broadcasting and promoting it~ Bravo! I loved it 🙂
Good job, Lynne — what fun, discovering the ins and outs of making a YouTube video, and boy, will that come in handy one day!
Wow Lynne – it was so cool actually see you in person!! I love that video and you are right, woman, we baby boomers are still hot, too – lol!!
I used to belong to the romance writers chapter in my area and they pretty much cater to the Harlequin publishers who are not interested in boomer women romances. When I was writing fiction, I tried using 50+ in my writing, but even I had a hard time putting them in a romantic scenario because all the books I was reading were about the younger chicks. And you’ve heard me complain about the magazines for older women.
But it doesn’t seem as if our peers are protesting as much as we are. Most of the women in my area don’t want to admit they are getting old so they’ve rather follow the fashions that are way too young. It pisses me off!! We can still dress sexy and classy without making fools of ourselves, right??
Anyway, I’m going to check out Ann Patchett’s book and you keep promoting we boomer babes!! YEAH!