PORT TOWNSEND — A Port Townsend author is taking advantage of newly invented publishing options in order to present her message in easily digestible portions.
Carole Marshall, 71, is publishing a series of e-book journals that are geared toward the aging process and its specific effect on women.
“I consider myself a novelist,” said Marshall, who has published two novels and one book of nonfiction.
“But while I was writing my books, I came across some information that is helping me to age successfully, which I wanted to share.”
The two journals published so far are “Waking to Simplicity” which introduces the concept of aging into a simpler lifestyle and “One Step to the Left of a Second,” which offers advice about how to deal with the loss of a loved one.
Marshall wrote this journal based on her own experience; 26 years ago her 23-year-old daughter was killed by a drunk driver, she said.
The journals are short and accessible. They take about 20 minutes to read and cost 99 cents on Amazon’s Kindle e-book service. or directly from www.carolemarshallstudio.com.
She first intended to publish six journals but has adjusted that number downward and is uncertain how many will complete the series.
“I could keep doing this forever,” she said. “But right now I don’t want to commit to a number.”
Marshall, a former Peninsula Daily News columnist and features writer for American Profile magazine, has also written two novels, Dearest, published in 2011 and Reading to Jane, published in 2012.
Her nonfiction book, Maximum Fitness-Minimum Risk, was published in 2005.
The rights for her books have reverted back to her and she is publishing them herself, and has bypassed the traditional publishing models for the journals.
“I don’t know if I’m rising above the noise,” she said of the competition from both traditional and self-published books.
“But I believe very strongly in my work and want to share my knowledge about living in the second half of life.”
While there are similarities in the aging process for men and women Marshall is concentrating on the female perspective for her generation, which began life in a more traditional role.
While no one can know exactly when the second half of life starts, Marshall said that menopause is one delineator but a more accurate mark is when child-rearing is complete.
“I raised four children and it was a productive and wonderful time,” she said.
“After the children were raised, I began looking at myself and determining who I am.
“Women who grew up in the 1940s and 1950s were not encouraged to look at themselves and appreciate who they are.”
The second half of life can be a creative time.
“I want to write about finding your art in the second half of life, which is something we were never encouraged to do,” Marshall said.
“This can be writing, or painting, or whatever these endeavors might be.”
Marshall, who began writing seriously in her late 40s, now seeks to add to the health of the community through her writings.
“I am realizing my own mortality,” she said. “When you are a kid, you think you are going to go on forever. When you are a 71-year-old, you know that’s not true.
“I want to share some of the positive things that have helped me grow and piece them all together, and take a look at each day.
“I don’t want to be rushing through each day thinking about tomorrow.”
Marshall, who has lived in Port Townsend for 16 years, said there are some drawbacks to aging in the town, which has a high number of older people.
“This is an OK place to age, but I’d rather be around more children,” she said.
“We are losing our middle class and blue collar workers and because of that the neighborhoods are a lot quieter.
“I like to be part of the activity that results when you have a lot of different age groups.”
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
