Two long-time, seventy-something writing partners share how they and other aging boomers can navigate this new stage of their lives with optimism, energy, humor, honesty, and empathy.
It’s a gift to reach old age and to arrive there well and ready for more years. The two authors of Not Dead Yet find that it’s time now to tidy-up their lives―to live fully in the moment with less clutter, better planning, and to free themselves to travel more, read, work, volunteer, and enjoy grown children and grandchildren. These later years bring challenges but also the advantage of wisdom about their minds and bodies.
Not Dead Yet is the one book that brings home all the challenges in witty, meaty chapters that provide realistic solutions through the experiences of its two female septuagenarian authors, as well as through those of other boomer women and men of varying incomes, religions, ethnicities, and locations.From sex and dating to travel and volunteer work, writers Barbara Ballinger and Margaret Crane, who faced becoming single in their last book, Suddenly Single After 50, now cope with the older decades by employing the same humor, honest storytelling, empathy, and energy. Their conclusions reflect a firm resolve that there is much life yet to be lived. Giving hope, guidance, and optimism to readers, they provide affirmation for anyone hoping to clear the hurdles and live life fully, presently, and with an eye toward fulfillment and wellness.
Barbara Ballinger is an award-winning freelance journalist, author, and reporter who has interviewed a variety of celebrities and experts from Tipper Gore to Martha Stewart, Danny Meyer, Rosalynn Carter, Lorraine Bracco, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Ruth Reichl. She has covered diverse topics from business to design, real estate, entertaining, food, law, and personal finance. Her work has appeared in publications such as the Chicago Tribune, New York Times, Crain’s ChicagoBusiness, HGTV, American Bar Association Journal, House Beautiful, Multifamily Executive, Developer, Realtor, Robb Report, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Travel & Leisure, Triple AAA magazine, Midwest Living, Units, and more. Of the 19 books she has authored, 10 have been with Margaret Crane. The first was Corporate Bloodlines: The Future of the Family Firm, and the most recent, Suddenly Single after 50 and The Kitchen Bible.
Margaret Crane is a nationally known freelance writer focusing on business, food, wine, fashion, home furnishings, and real estate. She has interviewed such luminaries as Jack Buck, Virginia Johnson, Sally Quinn, Moshe Dayan, Shimon Peres, Dr. Benjamin Spock, David Ben Gurion, Tippi Hedren, and many others. Her work has appeared in a wide variety of publications, including Beverage Journals, Crain’s Chicago Business, Family Business Magazine, Inc. Magazine, Midwest Living, The New York Times, Newsweek, Realtor, St. Louis Business Journal, St. Louis Post Dispatch, St. Louis Magazine, St. Louis Town & Style, The Wine Spectator, and Your Company.A proven author with 10 titles to her credit, Margaret’s latest book with Barbara is Suddenly Single After 50 and The Kitchen Bible. She formerly worked as a senior writer and researcher at Jewish Federation of Saint Louis, where she helped launch and maintain an award-winning website. In 2019, she moved from her childhood home in St. Louis, MO., to New York City to live and write.
