Hello, and welcome to episode 126 of the Childless not by Choice Podcast. My mission is to recognize and speak to childless not by choice women and men around the world, reminding you that you can live a joyful, relevant, fulfilled, childless not by choice, life. I also welcome you if you are not childless not by choice. Maybe you did not want children, maybe you have children. Thank you for tuning in.

What is today’s show about?

Well, today we have a guest! I am so excited! But before I introduce her to you, I want to say a big thank you to my patrons!

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• Jordan Morgan
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So, our guest!

Intro:

Donna Ward is a writer, editor, and publisher with qualifications in Classics, Economics, and Social Work. She worked in policy development, welfare management, and community development before establishing her private practice which offered individual and group psychotherapy, and an organizational consultancy offering, strategic planning, conflict resolution, research, and report writing. In her retirement, she established the literary journal, indigo, and the micro-press Inkerman & Blunt. Her prose has appeared nationally and internationally including in the Griffith Review, Huffington Post, and The Big Issue. Her memoir, She I Dare Not Name: A Spinster’s Meditations on Life is available now. 

And that is what we are going to discuss today, She I Dare Not Name, A Spinster’s Meditations on Life’

Body of episode content:

Welcome, Donna Ward! Thank you for joining us!

I kept running your title through my mind, why ‘she I dare not name’? Who is she?

 

I thought about the organization Aging Without Children, are you familiar with them? I’ve put a link in the show notes. 

So, spinster...what feedback if any, did you get on the use of that word? Is it almost like a curse word?

 

‘I write to shatter the stereotype that shadows me in a singular narrative, a narrative that writes me out of my own society.’ Whoa! That was deep! I guess that is pretty much like the rude commentary and questions we get from friends, family, and strangers alike right?

 

I read a review by Shelley  McInnis. Have you read it? I put a link in the show notes. 

 

Could you read us a portion of an essay?

 

What can the woman, or the man, who is enduring a particular type of loneliness, deep loneliness that only someone who never married or had children would understand, do to deal with it when they see it coming?

 

Where can we find your book and what is your contact information? 

   

Links of note:

https://www.awwoc.org/

https://newtownreviewofbooks.com.au/donna-ward-she-i-dare-not-name-a-spinsters-meditations-on-life-reviewed-by-shelley-mcinnis/

https://www.thecut.com/2016/09/25-famous-women-on-being-alone.html

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/news/soloish/wp/2017/03/30/7-women-who-had-very-full-lives-and-never-married/%3foutputType=amp

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/relationships/a19932102/famous-quotes-single-ladies/

Dante’s Inferno

 

Special thank you to:

Donna Ward

Donna’s Contact Information:

Booktopio

Donna-ward.com.au

My contact information:Website: www.childlessnotbychoice.net and www.civillamorgan.comFacebook: booksbycivillamorganTwitter: @civilla1Instagram: @joyandrelevancePinterest: Civilla M. Morgan, MSMLinkedIn: Civilla Morgan, MSMhttps://www.teepublic.com/stores/childless-not-by-choice If you would like to become a one time or ongoing sponsor, or if you would like to advertise your business or an upcoming event, contact me at [email protected] for details. 

 

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Well, thank you for listening to this episode of Childless not by Choice! Until next time! Bye!

 

‘To recognize and speak to the broken hearts of childless not by choice women, and men, around the world.’

 

‘Spreading the great news that we can live a joyful, relevant, and fulfilled life’.