Novelist Nancy Christie chats with me today about her new contemporary women’s fiction, Reinventing Rita: A Midlife Moxie Novel.
Bio:
Nancy Christie is the author of six books, including her most recent, Reinventing Rita (the first in her Midlife Moxie Novel Series), which was released in 2023 by BookBaby.
Her two award-winning short story collections are Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories and Peripheral Visions and Other Stories, both published by Unsolicited Press. Her third collection, Mistletoe Magic and Other Holiday Tales, will be published by Unsolicited Press in late 2023. She is also the author of The Gifts of Change, and two award-winning books for writers: Rut-Busting Book for Writers and Rut-Busting Book for Authors. Christie is the host of the Living the Writing Life podcast and founder of the annual “Celebrate Short Fiction” Day.
Welcome, Nancy. Please tell us about your current release.
Reinventing Rita is a lighthearted, contemporary novel about Rita Reynolds, a midlife woman who realizes that she has to stop coasting through life and find her inner moxie to pursue her almost-forgotten dream of being a professional baker. But can she overcome her fear that, at fifty, it might be too late for a fresh start? With the help of her friends, including her employer Donna and her ex-husband’s second wife Karen, she’s about to find out.
What inspired you to write this book?
The concept for Reinventing Rita and my Midlife Moxie Novel Series was sparked by the idea of reinvention. Sometimes life reinvention is what we choose, but other times, it’s thrust upon us, which is the situation that Rita finds herself in.
When the story opens, she’s five years into ex-wifehood and she is also beginning to realize that her fantasy of her son Zack coming back home after college to live with her is just that: a fantasy. Along with that unpleasant insight is the awareness of just how precarious her financial state is, which is what leads her into the next series of events that occurs.
In Reinventing Rita and the other books in the series, while the changes are not life-threatening, they are serious enough that they force the character to think about what she wants, what is right for her, what has held her back and what role she played in allowing that to happen.
Excerpt from Reinventing Rita—Chapter 12
“Ta da!” said my son, coming into the kitchen with a box labeled Harry’s Frozen Custard. “I knew better than to get you a regular cake, you being the baker and all, but I figured an ice cream one would be safe.”
He opened the lid with a flourish. There, in bright red cursive letters were the words “Happy 50th birthday, Mom!”
“Bet you thought I forgot,” he added smugly, while Angie stepped forward and handed me a small package.
Candy? A scarf? I wondered as I pulled off the wrapping paper. But I was wrong. It was a book: Finding a Career When You’re Over 50—You’re Never Too Old to Have a Future.
“Thanks,” I said, giving them each a hug while wondering if they noticed my lack of enthusiasm. “This was so sweet.”
I took a quick glance at the chapter headings—“No skills? No worries,” “What to do when you can’t do anything,” and “Back-to-school tips for the 50-plus student”—before closing the book. “Really, thanks so much. Now let’s have some of this delicious cake, shall we?” hoping to forestall any further conversation about my future. But if I thought that food would distract my son, I was sorely mistaken.
“I talked to Dad about you teaching a class and he thinks it’s a great idea,” said Zack, as he wolfed down a slice of cake—pistachio ice cream sandwiched between two dark fudge layers. “He said if you do it, let him know, and he’ll have Karen sign up. He said she can’t bake—not even slice-and-bake cookies.”
Hmm, just for a moment, I lost myself in imagining what it would be like to have Karen—perfect, polished, professional Karen—in my class. Telling her what she was doing wrong—“No, Karen, first you have to sift the flour”—while I was placing perfectly sliced apples into my apple tarte tatin. Karen, pulling her burned oatmeal-raisin bread from the oven—“You really need to watch the timer, Karen”—while I sliced through my perfectly baked light brown loaves. Karen—
“Hey, Mom, are you paying attention?”
My son’s voice broke into my fantasies. Really, what was wrong with me anyway? I didn’t harbor any animosity toward Karen, did I? After all, Paul hadn’t even met her until after we were divorced. And just because she was a successful career woman while I was a stay-at-home mom… But I wasn’t really that anymore, was I? Unlike Karen, who still had an active career, I had been effectively retired once Zack headed off to college. Now I was—what was I, anyway? A not-very-successful salesperson in a store that might be destined for closure.
What exciting project are you working on next?
I’m almost afraid to detail them out because that will remind me of just how many tasks I have on my list! In no particular order, I am working on revisions to my next novel, Finding Fran; finishing the first full draft of my third novel, Moving Maggie; and editing the last few short stories that will be in my fourth collection, The Language of Love and Other Stories.
And doing all the book marketing needed to promote Reinventing Rita and my third collection (out December 2023), Mistletoe Magic and Other Holiday Tales.
And meeting the deadlines for my copywriting and marketing clients.
Okay. I’m officially tired now!
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I never thought about it. It was just what I was. I have been writing since second grade, so writing is as natural to me as breathing. Fiction writing is just another version of playing “Let’s pretend” which is what I did as a child.
But when it came to being an author, that was a little trickier. I didn’t feel like I could claim that title until my second book (and first short story collection) came out. Since short stories and more broadly, fiction writing have always been what I did from the very beginning, I didn’t experience the same attack of imposter syndrome like I did with my first book, The Gifts of Change, which was a motivational, inspirational book.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
Writing is my full-time occupation. I am a freelance copywriter— something I transitioned to from magazine writing when that industry tanked—so that is my day job. But I start each day working on my fiction and do my best to set aside big chunks of time on weekends and holidays for it as well. I learned the hard way that if I don’t make time for my writing—meaning my books and short stories—then it will never get done. And I’d prefer that my gravestone says “fiction writer” not “copywriter”!
As for what my workday schedule is, I usually get up between 4 and 5 AM and after a big cup of coffee, start writing. Sometimes I quit around 6, sometimes later. But I keep this schedule 7 days a week, even if I’m traveling.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I don’t think I have one, really, unless you count talking out loud when working through dialogue. No rituals, no special habits, no unique tricks of the trade. In many ways, I treat writing as a profession and that means just buckling down and doing it, whether I am inspired or not. Luckily, I mostly am, and just as luckily, I really enjoy it and find it incredibly fulfilling.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always knew I wanted to be a writer. It just never occurred to me that I could make a living at it. The added bonus is that as a self-employed writer, I can, for the most part, control when and what I write. Of course, that also means that it’s all on me to earn enough to pay the bills and feed the feral cat who showed up during Covid and is still hanging around!
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
When you find something that you are passionate about, do it. Even if it doesn’t support you financially. Even if people think you’re crazy to pursue it. Even if you think you’re too old or not smart enough or all the other reasons you can come up with. Just do it to the best of your ability, never stop learning, and never stop trying.
Links:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Medium | Books by Nancy Christie on YouTube | Midlife Moxie Novel Series™ on YouTube | Amazon | Bookshop | BookBaby Bookshop
Thanks so much for having me here and letting me chat about my novel, my writing life and my advice for others wondering if they should pursue their passion!