Our Interview with Author Lucinda Shirley

Introduction

The Pounce Pot proudly presents Lucinda Shirley's new genre-bending release, Shaking Off Gravity: Reaching Act III with Passion, Purpose, Humor, and Peace.

Lucinda’s book is blend of personal memoir, wisdom gleaned from cherished friendships, insightful essays, and heartwarming poetry.

Shaking Off Gravity speaks to readers of all ages, especially those embracing the vibrant possibilities of later life.

This book marks the celebration of her 80th birthday and serves as a reminder to find joy and purpose in every chapter of every Act, but especially those in Act III. 

We caught up with Lucinda recently over FaceTime 

Lucinda! It's been such an absolute joy to work with you. We are all so proud of your years of hard work leading up to this moment. Let's get right into our questions: 

Your new memoir, Shaking Off Gravity, champions positive aging. What personal experiences led you to write this book and share your perspective on this topic?

It’s hard not to notice our aging culture’s obsessive focus on youth preservation. And most of that seems to be reflected in efforts to continue looking younger than we are. Another thing was hearing people talking about being “old” or “getting old”… sounding like a terrible fate some people around my age seemed too willing to accept -- when, in my view, they were still far from “old” and seemed to be playing that role unnecessarily.

“I began writing some of the things
I’m grateful for about
being the age I am.”

I found myself wishing people had more interest in simply enjoying life as it is rather than trying so hard to look younger. I began writing some of the things I’m grateful for about being the age I am. From the youth-obsession annoyance and gratitude, an unlikely book evolved. 

You explore the concept of finding purpose later in life in Shaking Off Gravity. What surprised you the most about your ah-ha moment concerning your life's purpose? 

I had always felt there was some overriding reason for being in the world at this time and believing that possibly it was to be of service to some cause, or to make a significant difference. I “should” be doing something I wasn’t doing, but I didn’t know what the “something” was. I was thinking mostly in terms of job, career. Possibly I should decide to enter one of the “helping professions.” So, the ah-ha came in recognizing that, to some extent, I’ve been living my purpose much of my life. The book expands on that.

You weave personal stories and reflections with your personal poetry in the book. How did you decide on this unique approach to sharing your message on positive aging?

I love poems—reading them, listening to them, and writing them. When I began writing Dancing on Mars I wanted to include specific poems, my favorites, from three or four poets, so I researched what I needed to do to get permission from the poets. Efforts to accomplish that were going nowhere, plus the cost was something I hadn’t anticipated. Such a rookie, I didn’t think about there being a fee! I was disheartened and frustrated.

I have a friend to thank for suggesting I use my own poems. I hadn’t considered doing that. The book I had in mind was, as far as I knew, a misfit -- what I began to call a genre-bender. Now I refer to both Shaking Off Gravity and Dancing on Mars as “mixed genre.” Both are a combination of memoir, true stories, sharing from other women on questions I posed, and some of my poems. 

Let’s move into the next phase of our lives knowing we will experience some fine times as we continue to grow each and every day.

—Lucinda Shirley

As someone who has embraced aging with such a positive outlook, what is one of the biggest challenges about aging that you've faced and how did you overcome it?

I’m not sure whether my outlook is positive or just that I don’t donate space in my head to thoughts about aging. Someone might ask me how old certain friends are and, except for a few from childhood, I have no idea -- not because I don’t care about them, but because age is not something that stirs my curiosity. 

The most significant challenge? I could say divorce, letting my son live with his father for a while -- but I think you mean later in life than that. So, my biggest age-related challenge so far has been physical. I minimize my physical issues because they really are minimal when compared to other people’s far greater difficulties. For about two years I have dealt with nerve pain in the lower spine that runs along the same path as sciatica. I have a chronic condition of the spine, as well, and what it’s called I can’t think at the moment. It’s not uncommon though. There’s also a cyst that parked itself on a spinal nerve root.

I talk about it a little bit in the book, but, except for the first six months or so, I haven’t had to allow it to become the centerpiece of daily life. I say haven’t had to because some serious health challenges cause people to make big unwelcome life changes in order to manage or even survive the challenge. I feel fortunate. I'm glad to say physical therapy has been the key to managing it, along with paying attention to what the body needs to be reasonably comfortable and honoring its needs. Sitting, standing, stretching, etc. Knowing to rest when I’m tired and so forth.

It's very inspiring to hear that it's possible to live with chronic pain and still accomplish life! Okay, so early readers have commented on how Shaking Off Gravity is both empowering and heartwarming. What kind of impact do you hope your memoir will have on readers, particularly those approaching their "golden" years?

Over time I’ve learned all sorts of things from non-academic books -- incidental learning. Simply telling our stories can result in informing and inspiring readers without setting out to do that. By being open and worthy of trust, it’s possible that some readers will feel affirmed, more willing to take smart risks, become willing to look at situations a little differently…actually, I mostly hope whatever the reader needs to get from the book will be there. 

Throughout your book, you mention your grandmother a lot. Would you elaborate for us about how she helped shape your perspective on aging? 

Most of all I could count on Mammy to be consistently herself. Authentic. And I found that to be a relief and a comfort, especially as a child. She had a lot of strength that I didn’t notice until I was an adult. But her husband, the father of her three daughters and a medical doctor, was diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic when she was still a young woman. I don’t know what kinds of things she experienced when his mental health was deteriorating and continued to worsen, but his condition was severe enough that he was hospitalized for the remainder of his life. So, I imagine she must have experienced heartache, grief, pain, even trauma.

She was a “Southern lady” with a good heart and manners to match. I remember she was shocked when I used the word “stink,” informing me that Nice people don’t use that word! She had a sense of humor though and could laugh at herself. I don’t really know how she felt about growing older -- or how she felt about many things. I might have been the first one in my family to talk about feelings -- and that made some relatives a little twitchy. But she was independent, living solo after her girls left the nest.

I’m smiling thinking of ways she influenced me about growing older…because I’m realizing things I haven’t recognized as coming from her until right now! I must have been a young adult when I asked her whether she was ever lonesome. She said “no” in these words: “Actually I rather enjoy my own company.” As do I, even though, like Mammy, I also enjoy the company of close friends and interesting acquaintances. Mammy continued to “enjoying her own company” and “meditating on her well-spent life” (tongue in cheek with the latter) until she was 99. 

I wish I could have met her! With the release of SOG, what are you most excited to share with readers who are looking to embrace a more positive outlook on aging?  

Well, not to get caught in the trap of “acting” a certain way because of the age you are or living to satisfy the expectations of others. I talk a lot about humor in the book. Not taking ourselves too seriously. Be sure to have plenty of fun. Don’t stop playing.

Essentially it’s important to cut ourselves the slack we need to be exactly who we are and express who we are in whatever ways we want to do that -- provided it won’t land us in jail! 

“Essentially it’s important to cut ourselves the slack
we need to be exactly who we are and
express who we are….”

Can you share a glimpse into what you might be working on next? 

I definitely will write more poems, can’t help myself. As much as I love reading fiction, I’ve tried writing it and got just far enough to realize I’m not good at it. But flash fiction might be fun to try. 

Well, we can't wait for that! I love flash fiction, too! 

As someone who has found such fulfillment and purpose later in life, what advice would you offer to readers who might be feeling lost or unsure of themselves as they age?

First, I’d suggest reading my books. [Laughter]

What is your advice to younger writers who might be contemplating writing their own stories or memoirs? 

If you’re not already in love with words and writing, it might serve you well to examine your goals and expectations for the book you want to write. If it’s fame and fortune you want, I’d think twice.

If you love to write, write! Just spend some time living and paying attention; consider making notes of ideas that come to you, and hold on to them for later. Then once you’re ready to begin the writing process, you’ll have grist for the writer’s mill. All that said, I’d refer aspiring writers to the wisdom of Nike: Just do it.

Your last book was 11 years ago. What can readers expect to find in Shaking Off Gravity that's different from Dancing on Mars?

The primary theme in Dancing on Mars was uncovering my authentic self and finding the courage to live fully, just as I am. I also explore with other women the pros and cons of living life as a married or a single woman. 

As for the memoir aspect, the first book looks more at my young adulthood and my “searching” far more than Shaking Off Gravity does. The latter is more of a “ripening” and a “finding” of what works for me, in order to be living this rich and satisfying life. Ultimately, I’m encouraging others to consider savoring the pleasures of the present.

It's National Poetry Month right now [April]. Do you have any advice to writers of any age who might want to try writing their own poetry?

Forgive the repetition, but in the end, just do it, try it. Before writing your own, it’s a good idea to read a lot of poems, different kinds, different poets. Notice which ones resonate with you. If you’re someone who does better learning in a structured academic setting, you can find that environment and take a class, or join a writing group.

I’ve found that most of my poems come from or are impacted by, my own experiences. Be curious and pay attention. Events and causes that get my attention often turn out to be good subjects. At the moment I’m not coming up with the name of the person who said it, but the quote is attributed in Shaking Off Gravity: "There’s no money in poetry, but there’s no poetry in money either."

You've been busy this year with a new book of poetry as well! Tell us a little more about that. How did it come about? Tell us about your experience of reviewing your life's work and deciding how to categorize your poems. Did anything about this process surprise you, and what did it feel like seeing all of your poems come together into one place as a collection? Wow, that was a lot of questions! Thanks so much for your patience and short-term memory! 

Over time I’ve prepared two poetry books for chapbook competitions. Doing that was a prequel to Kairos, although my second competition submission was several years ago.

As for timing, one English definition for kairos is “a time when conditions are right for the accomplishment of a crucial action.” This “crucial action” was initiated by my "fairy goddaughter," Laura; she was determined to help me publish a collection of my poems before my 80th birthday. Not only did she make it happen, she’s made it beautiful! And part of the gift is that it’s being released this month -- and April is National Poetry Month! It’s been a wonderful experience working with her, sharing ideas, long lines of texts between us, collaborating. It’s been a joy like no other to work in a situation where there’s mutual love, respect and total trust.

So far I have seen proofs, but when the “real” book arrives, I’ll be ready with a tissue in my pocket. I hope readers will read the poems out loud when they can, without dread of being grilled on a pop quiz about “what it means”-- like in school. I wish them the time and space to sit with the poems that speak to them and allow whatever feelings or thoughts arise to simply come and go.

If readers like the book, I hope they’ll say so at Amazon and on any other platforms they’d like to leave a review. That's so very helpful to authors like me.

That’s a Wrap!

We can encourage your readers to find  your listing on Amazon to submit their reviews. I think if they hover around the stars, they will find a small link for submitting their review. That would indeed be so very helpful! 

Thanks so much for spending some of your time with us, Lucinda!

Congratulations on the release of Kairos, your new collection of poems, and on your recent poetry award.

You make it so easy to believe that we can keep writing and keep achieving.

It’s never too late!

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