BOLD THIRD ACT, by Marcia Rosen
NO! I do not want to retire because I’m a senior. Absolutely not!
More than ever, seniors are living full and engaging lives. More than 45 million Americans are over the age of 65 and millions of them still work—some bychoice, some by necessity.
In what I consider my BOLD THIRD ACT, I’m writing mysteries. I’mbringing my passion for writing together with my rather unusual upbringing. In doing so, I amwriting with more insight and purpose. As seniors, we can use our life experiences—whetherfailures, challenges or successes—to bring about enjoyable and productive lives filled with doingsomething we relate to and love. This is why the seniors in the mysteries I write are strong, smartand active main characters.
Mysteries and crime are probably in my DNA. It never occurred to me that my father and his
friends were doing anything illegal. The environment I grew up with seemed perfectly natural to me. It’s what I saw everyday: my father was a bookie. He also owned a gambling hall where the men played pool in the front and poker in a private back room. My father and his partners would count the take from sports bets at our kitchen table. Once there was a raid on his partner’sapartment, which was right across from ours!
My father’s close friends had names like The Gig, Gimp, and Doc. So, it makes sense that I’m
fascinated by slightly shady characters, and crime and mystery stories. Once, I wrote a memoir story
and referred to my mother as my father’s “gun moll.” Believe me, she was a character as well! I’ve been a business owner for more than 40 years, which includes having a successful marketing and public relations agency for more than 20 years. I used to explain to clients that I was a “business detective,” finding solutions to problems that seemed a mystery to them. Of course, people and life in general are often a mystery.
My kids have encouraged me to “go for it!” They do not want me to slow down, sit around and dream of days past. They don’t want me to use age and going to doctors as a social outlet, as so many elderly people do. They don’t even want me to have grey hair! To those who do not agree: sorry! I think I still have much to offer and enjoy. Positive aging is important to me, and writing is my way of showing it.
I used to tell friends that I was too old to see my dreams and ambitions to be a successful author come true. Yet, I refused to give up trying, and now the first book in my new Senior Sleuths mystery series, Dead in Bed, has been published, and more are on the way with my publisher, Level Best Books.
When I was doing consulting and public speaking, I’d often ask business and professional
women to ask themselves: “What voices in your head do you need to eliminate? Get rid of the
negative voices that say, ‘Who do you think you are? And ‘You can’t do it.’”
Now, in my senior life, I’m reminded through conversations over a cup of coffee with my
friends, my age and younger, that we all matter. What you want and who you are matters. We can
make a difference at any age. Moreover, as we grow older, we can also share our experience,
knowledge and, even at times, a good bit of wisdom.
In my mystery series, “The Senior Sleuths,” my senior characters represent my beliefs with
energy and enthusiasm. These characters are my voice and reflect my truths.
Marcia Rosen is the author of The Senior Sleuths Mystery: Book One: Dead in Bed, published by Level BestBooks. Book Two: Dead in Seat 4-1, is scheduled for late fall 2018. She has previously published four books inher mystery series, “Dying to Be Beautiful.” Rosen is also author of The Woman’s Business Therapist” and the
award-winning My Memoir Workbook. For a dozen years she has given writing workshops on “Encouraging and Supporting the Writer Within You!” and “Now What? Marketing Your Book.”
She was founder and owner of a successful marketing and public relations agency for many years, a frequent guest speaker,created several radio and TV talk shows, received numerous awards for her work with business and professional women, and was chosen 2005 “Woman of the Year” by East End Women’s Network.
She is Board Member and Marketing Co-Chair, Women’s National Book Association, San Francisco; Member of Sisters in Crime San Francisco, Los Angeles and National; and Member of Public Safety Writer’s Association.
She currently resides in Carmel.
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