Have you ever secretly dreamed of writing a book one day? Or maybe you just crave a good story that makes you feel seen in midlife — with all its challenges, changes, and surprising chances for reinvention. Today’s guest proves that it’s never too late to start something bold.

Gretchen Anthony published her first novel at age 48, and her latest, Tired Ladies Take a Stand, is striking a chord with women everywhere who are tired of being everything to everyone — and are ready to claim their own space.

So if you’ve ever wondered how to balance your dreams with life’s demands, or how to spark creativity when you feel stuck, this episode will inspire you to think differently about what’s possible in midlife.

Welcome to episode number 34 of the Midlife Reset Podcast. I’m Cheryl Gordon — a yoga and mindfulness coach for midlife women who want to feel stronger, lighter, and more energized. Welcome, Gretchen! I’m so thrilled you could join us. Give us a little background — what did you do before age 48?

Gretchen Anthony: Thank you for having me! Well, I did a little bit of everything, like so many of us do. I was busy raising three boys and had a career in corporate communications for about twenty years. I juggled full-time work and contracts, we moved a few times for my husband’s career, and I was constantly trying to find balance — fulfilling daily responsibilities while still trying to do what filled my heart, with whatever energy I had left.

Cheryl Gordon: When the kids were growing up, I imagine there wasn’t a lot left over. And now your last one’s just gone off to college?

Gretchen Anthony: Yes, just off to college! We spent the weekend getting him settled — it lifts your heart, but it’s bittersweet.

Cheryl Gordon: It is hard, isn’t it? When my boys moved out, I was embarrassed to admit I had empty nest syndrome. I thought that was for people who didn’t have much else going on — but you’re always a mom, and there’s always an adjustment.

Gretchen Anthony: Exactly. I used to hear women say, “I don’t know what to do with myself now,” or “I don’t know who I am now,” and I thought, that’s sad. But when it happens, you get it. In those years before writing my novel, I was trying to figure out what’s next for me — because if I did my job right, my kids would eventually fly.

Cheryl Gordon: We are happy they’re flying, but it’s still a loss when that chapter closes.

Gretchen Anthony: Yes — that sorrow comes from knowing a huge part of your life is complete.

Cheryl Gordon: I’ve actually been an empty nester longer than I had my kids at home! They both left at 18 and never came back. I’m so proud of them, but I still miss those noisy, busy days. Anyway, did you always know you were going to write a book one day, or did that come out of the blue?

Gretchen Anthony: I always had this sense that I had a book in me. But early in my career, I wanted security — something more stable than fiction writing could offer. So I went into management consulting and corporate communications. That fulfilled a need for a while. But deep down, I still had stories and characters brewing. The older I got, the louder they became, demanding to be heard. That’s what finally pushed me to write.

The matriarch in my debut novel, Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners, lived in my head for five to seven years before I wrote the book. I finally thought, “She’s never getting out unless I write her down!”

Cheryl Gordon: So writing became your next chapter — no pun intended!

Gretchen Anthony: Exactly! I’d just been laid off from my corporate job and was seeing a career coach. He looked at my résumé and said, “It reads like chapters — you had a chapter where you did this, another where you did that.” And I said, “Funny you should say that, because I feel like I won’t be settled until I publish a book.” He said, “Then maybe now’s your time.” And that was at age 48.

Cheryl Gordon: So many people face a big career shift around that age — it’s inspiring to hear your story. You mentioned that your characters live inside you until they demand a voice. Is that the secret to your creativity?

Gretchen Anthony: For me, yes. The best characters are the ones who live with me for a while. When I try to force them, they’re less authentic. Writing is really about listening — to conversations, the way people talk, the little quirks of human nature. Those things inform my characters and make them feel real.

Cheryl Gordon: Your latest book — which I have right here — is Tired Ladies Take a Stand. It’s a bit autobiographical, isn’t it?

Gretchen Anthony: It is! The tagline is something like, “You’ve heard of the year of saying yes — this is the year of saying no.” It’s about four friends at two stages of life. In their twenties, they’re starting careers in San Francisco and decide to say yes to everything — adventure, opportunity, fun. Then you fast-forward to their late forties and early fifties, and they realize how toxic always saying yes can be. They have to learn to say no — and when people aren’t used to hearing that from you, chaos follows!

The story is loosely based on me and my friends in our twenties. We really did have a “say yes” year, which we jokingly called “Kiss Fest.” We didn’t take it that far, but it was a time of adventure and self-discovery.

Cheryl Gordon: I love that you bring that sense of adventure into a story about midlife women. There aren’t many novels featuring women our age as heroines — and you make it every bit as fun and compelling as the stories about twenty-somethings.

Gretchen Anthony: Thank you! Writing this book forced me to step outside myself and really look at this stage of life differently. Even though the story draws from real friendships, I had to create fully developed characters — not just carbon copies of my friends. That process made me reflect on how we’ve all changed, what still serves us, and what doesn’t.

I also realized how few books feature midlife heroines. This phase of life is huge — full of opportunities, freedoms, and challenges. It’s every bit as complex and vibrant as our twenties, just with a different perspective.

Cheryl Gordon: Exactly. And when you base characters on real friendships, you still never really know what someone’s thinking or feeling on the inside. That’s where creativity and empathy come in.

Gretchen Anthony: Right. I had to remind my real friends, “Yes, you’ll recognize yourself in the book, but these characters do dumb things! It doesn’t mean I see that in you.”

Cheryl Gordon: I won’t give too much away, but Fern — one of your main characters — faces a big decision. She’s offered an incredible career opportunity, but it makes her friends uncomfortable. It’s a great example of how hard it can be for midlife women to say no, or to prioritize themselves for a change. What do you think Fern teaches us about that?

Gretchen Anthony: Fern learns that she hasn’t been truthful — first with herself, and then with the people she loves. She has to admit what she really wants and needs. In the story, she wrote a book based on her friends’ lives, and years later it’s optioned for a film — but she never got their permission. She goes ahead anyway, thinking they’ll understand eventually.

The lesson is that when we’ve put ourselves second for so long, we can overcorrect — making choices that don’t align with our values. It’s like being on a diet: you deprive yourself for months, and then when you finally allow something, you go overboard.

As midlife women, we’re learning to find balance — to honor our needs without betraying ourselves or others. Saying no can be uncomfortable, but it’s often the most honest thing we can do.

Cheryl Gordon: That’s such a great point. When we constantly suppress our own needs to make everyone else happy, resentment builds up. I see that in mindful eating too — deprivation never works.

Cheryl Gordon: Before we wrap up, I really want to make sure we talk about what’s next for you. In January, you started The Middle Book Club — tell us about that!

Gretchen Anthony: I did! Thank you. This idea grew out of something I realized while writing and marketing Tired Ladies Take a Stand. If you look at contemporary fiction, you might think women disappear around age 40. We read so many stories about women coming of age or falling in love — then suddenly they vanish until they reappear as quirky seventy-somethings. I call it the Miss Marple effect.

Cheryl Gordon: That’s hilarious — and so true!

Gretchen Anthony: Right? I knew my book wasn’t the only one out there, and I kept hearing from readers who said how refreshing it was to see characters their own age — women balancing aging parents and adult kids, living in that “sandwich generation.”

So I started The Middle Book Club, an online community on Substack — you can find it at themiddlebookclub.com. Each month, we read a novel featuring heroines in what I call “the juicy middle” of life — because this stage really is juicy. It’s rich, complicated, and full of growth.

For October, for example, we’re reading The Change by Kirsten Miller — about three women in their 40s and 50s who discover supernatural powers and take justice into their own hands. Every month, we explore stories that reflect what we’re living, and we get to talk about them together as peers.

Cheryl Gordon: That sounds amazing — and that’s the real joy of a book club! Not just the wine and gossip kind (though no judgment there!) but one where you actually talk about the books with like-minded women.

And speaking of adventure — I know you’re also cooking up something new that combines books and travel.

Gretchen Anthony: Yes! My next chapter — and I love that we can have multiple chapters at once — is Bookish Travel, a new newsletter and travel project that builds on The Middle Book Club. My husband and I are empty nesters now, so I have more flexibility to work on the road.

The idea is to help readers turn every trip into a literary adventure. Say you’re visiting Dublin — what literary spots should you see? I just returned from our 25th anniversary trip to Ireland, so I’m full of ideas. Literary tourism is huge right now — people want to visit the places that inspired their favorite books. So this is my way to blend storytelling, travel, and community into my next venture.

Cheryl Gordon: That sounds incredible. Everyone listening — go sign up for The Middle Book Club so you’ll hear when Bookish Travel launches!

Gretchen Anthony: Yes, please do!

Cheryl Gordon: So many midlife women have travel dreams, but we often hold back — maybe because of physical limitations, or because someone else always seems to need us. But Gretchen and I both believe: it’s time for tired ladies to take a stand.

Get out there, explore those amazing book destinations Gretchen has scouted, and keep feeding that lifelong learner inside you.

And if what’s holding you back are sleepless nights, sore joints, or that sluggish midlife weight gain — I’d love for you to check out my free masterclass, The 5-Step Midlife Reset. It’s available now on my website.

You’ll discover simple practices to move from teary, tubby, and tired — to strong, happy, and energized. You’ll feel like the heroine of your own story… and maybe one day, Gretchen will write a novel about us!

Gretchen Anthony: Thank you so much, Cheryl.

Cheryl Gordon: Thank you, Gretchen, for sharing your time and wisdom today. I’m still a little starstruck getting to interview a real author!

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