...where every woman over 50 is TOP DOG!

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Eva Pasco: A WOOFer with Underlying Notes.

Having retired from a rewarding teaching career, Eva Pasco spent those first few years in home decorating heaven. Restless to find her own niche in the Second Act of Life, Eva revived a dormant creative writing talent by composing fiction which celebrates women over fifty, while tapping into issues affecting WOOFers.

A self-professed "fragrance philanderer," Eva's own addiction to "the juice" wafts through her debut novel, Underlying Notes, where readers can get a whiff of midlife renaissance with regard to sorting matters of the heart, redefining friendship, confronting a troubled past, and coming to terms with the tenets of life.

Eva recently paused from her writing long enough to chat with WOOF...

WOOF: Welcome to WOOF, Eva! Let’s get right to it. Please expand a bit on the three major reasons you think women over fifty have cause to celebrate.

EP: Thank you for your warm welcome, Diana. From my perspective, women over fifty have cause to celebrate because at this juncture in our lives the world is our oyster.

One—most of us have acquired the luxury of time for self-indulgence which was sacrificed as our generation tried to prove we could successfully balance motherhood and career.

Secondly-- whatever challenges, obstacles, and hardships we’ve endured and overcome throughout the years have afforded us resilience, resolve, and courage to explore new frontiers, for we’ve learned that mistakes and setbacks are not failings but the mortar for independence and adventure.

Thirdly-- most women over fifty pride ourselves in being well-educated to expand our horizons, while making a conscious effort to safeguard our health and well-being to increase prospects of longevity, which translates to female empowerment.

WOOF: How was it you came to discover these reasons? I mean, was it immediately after turning 50 or has it been a process?

EP: For me, self-discovery was a process. When I retired from teaching, the luxurious gift of time enabled me to delve into the joys of homemaking I’d sacrificed for career. For the first few years my contentment stemmed from preparing gourmet meals, reading novels, and refinishing furniture and cabinets which involved sanding, painting, and designing my own templates for stenciling. By outward appearances, I’d found my own niche.

WOOF: Your intro mentions the word “restless.” Can you tell us a little about how that felt and what made you move forward to realign your life?

EP: In retrospect my “restlessness” sprung from a sense that I no longer made a profound difference the way I had when I taught youngsters. I'd felt an emptiness. One measurable criterion involved the strides and gains my third grade students made with writing performance under my tutelage. This opened the door to introspection, and my subsequent revival of an otherwise dormant writing talent apparent since childhood.

WOOF: What have you discovered about yourself since reviving your love for writing?

EP: Since I’ve an avid interest in writing women’s fiction, I’ve become more sensitive to issues which affect women of all ages. I wish to parlay my novel in sponsoring an event for a local charitable organization.

WOOF: How did developing the character and plot in Underlying Notes (as well as the publishing process) helped you personally?

EP: Carla Matteo, my protagonist who initially stepped into my field of vision with all of her quirks, inhibitions, anxieties, and fears prior to the “journey” she embarks on in the Second Act of Life, has made me more determined than ever to celebrate the ordinary/extraordinary women amongst us who may never see our name in lights despite our everyday acts of heroism. Because the plot is driven by the character’s addiction to fragrance, a reporter from Time tracked me down for an interview for her article. One of my statements is the opening line for “Scents and Sensitivity” which appeared in the March 17, 2008 issue. The publishing process, particularly author ownership of marketing and promoting, has helped me become more resourceful, inventive, creative, and put me in close contact with potential readers.

WOOF: Finally, if a woman over fifty is struggling (or feeling restless!), what words of encouragement and/or guidance can you offer?

EP: Based on my own experience, my advice is to heed feelings of restlessness or discontent and focus on what truly makes you happy or fulfilled. This source of happiness will eventually steer you along your journey of reinvention. May the journey itself be its own reward.

Diana, I thoroughly enjoyed my interview and I’m delighted to mingle with spiritually kindred WOOFers.

Buy Underlying Notes on Amazon
BookLocker to Read Excerpt:
Email Eva

For more Women Only Over Fifty thoughts & stories:
WOOF available through Amazon and Echelon Press!

Accentuate The Pawsitive!

Monday, January 25, 2010

WOOFer Revolution: Pawsitive Perspective


Week two of our revolution! This latest topic is a little tricky, don't you think?

A refresher, here's the idea:

What would it take for us to listen to our neighbors, friends and family members with a more pawsitive ear?

Face it. Sometimes it's just HARD! They complain about the same old things. They can be so negative. And, besides that, how come they won the lottery and not us!?

Unfortunately, short of wearing earplugs or removing everyone from our lives, there’s always going to be someone verbally sharing their good and bad “stuff” with us.

So the deal is, the one and only thing we can control is our response.

Let’s say a friend divorced for 20 years mentions again something their ex did during the marriage. First off, we need to put down the pillow we are inches from shoving in their mouth and take a deep breath!!

Then maybe try to listen beyond their words. Either smile and say nothing (and change the subject at first opportunity!) or ask our friend why, after all this time, it's still such an issue.

Of course, WOOFers also know we must honor ourselves, and if a relationship is hazardous to our emotional wellbeing, find the nearest exit!

(When we were writing Women Only Over Fifty, we actually had a lot of fun with this topic and throughout the book posted "Bones to Pick!")

So there! That's all solved! :>) And this is getting to be kind of fun! On to our next revolutionary theme which for the month of February will be:


Love, Love, Love

Please leave a comment while it's fresh in your mind. Tell all your friends about this blog post! Then stop by next Monday to read our thoughts on this new topic. Review other comments and if you feel motivated (we know you will!), share any new thoughts you have!


Join us here each week for more
Accentuate the Pawsitive
revolutionary topics!
Leave a comment and you might win
a FREE download of Accentuate the Pawsitive!

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Want more Women Only Over Fifty thoughts & stories?
WOOF available through Amazon and Echelon Press!

Accentuate The Pawsitive!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

WOOF: Meryl Streep Spins Life Into Gold(en Globes)


Meryl Streep is far from being in her golden years! Or maybe she is and just knows how to spin life into gold.

Sunday night she won a Golden Globe for her role in "Julie and Julia," and in my most humble (but extremely accurate!) WOOFer opinion, deservedly so. (To read a previous post in honor of both Streep & Child, please click here!)

I admire this actress for many reasons. Now there's one more: the compassion and vulnerability she displayed when accepting the best actress award. In her speech, fifty-year-old Streep paid homage to her mother...and then turned thoughts to Haiti.

"I come to Golden Globes weekend and I am conflicted how to have my happy movie self in the face of everything I'm aware of in the real world, and that's when I have my mother's voice coming to me: Partners in Health, shoot some money to Partners In Health, and be damn grateful you have the dollars to help. And I am grateful. I'm really grateful."


This post is not a plea to support award shows, your mother or Partners in Health. Just a gentle reminder that every woman, regardless, struggles with the same issues. They may look a little different, but really they're not...

Please accept my award to each of you for your excellent work in playing the role of you!

--Diana (aka d.d. dawg)

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Want more Women Only Over Fifty thoughts & stories?
WOOF available through Amazon and Echelon Press!
Buy Accentuate The Pawsitive!

Monday, January 18, 2010

WOOFer Revolution: Pawsitive Self-Image II


We’re back! Hope your weekend was good and that you feel empowered. You know, since you’ve joined a revolution! A revolution to put a new spin on life! A revolution to accentuate the pawsitive!

You may remember today’s revolutionary topic is:

What would it take for you to look in the mirror
with a more pawsitive eye?

So let's look at ways to create a more pawsitive self-image.
  • Would a gentle makeover help? If so, some of us may be wondering where to start.

    How about asking a trusted WOOFer friend to help us assess our positive points? Do we have long legs? Expressive eyes? Healthy hair? At this point we don’t focus on attributes that we’d rather have erased, cut off or whittled away!

    Stick with what we've got going for us. Take those features and enhance the heck out of them. (WOOF Chapter 8 even has tips about “Putting On The Dog-How to Dress the Mature Mutt!”)



  • Is a more forgiving and accepting self-evaluation in order? Are we unconsciously anticipating we’ll see our 25-year-old self in the reflection?

    Sorry, sisters, that ain’t gonna happen! And it shouldn’t. Over the years, physical changes in appearance is only natural.

    But if we get caught up expecting to look exactly like our younger selves, we’re going to be very disappointed and depressed. And you know what that means! More wrinkles and a sour disposition and big tummy because that’s where stress settles. So, be gentle with expectations and appreciate all we have in our favor.
Okay, now we're getting the hang of this! On to our next revolutionary topic:


What would it take for us to listen to our neighbors, friends and family members with a more pawsitive ear?

Please leave a comment while it's fresh in your mind. Tell all your friends about this blog post! Then stop by next Monday to read our thoughts on this new topic. Review other comments and if you feel motivated (we know you will!), share any new thoughts you have!


Join us here each week for more
Accentuate the Pawsitive
revolutionary topics!

****************

Want more Women Only Over Fifty thoughts & stories?
WOOF available through Amazon and Echelon Press!


Accentuate The Pawsitive!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

WOOFer Revolution: A Pawsitive Self-Image


Whoo-hoo! We’re two weeks into the New Year. How are you feeling? Resolutely keeping those resolutions? (Hey, don’t throw that donut at your computer screen!)

Well, if it’ll make you feel any better, WOOFers don’t believe in resolutions. You read right. Why would we when everyone knows resolutions seldom work.

Instead, Women Only Over Fifty endorses revolutions!

And, you’ll be happy to know, we’re instigating our own gentle one right here at the WOOFers Club Blog. Every month this year we will explore a different topic to help our personal world revolve a little smoother.

Oh, and guess what? At the end of each month, we will giveaway a download of Accentuate the Pawsitive, a companion e-short to WOOF: Women Only Over Fifty (Echelon Press.) Your chances to win will increase with every comment you leave!

So, before this planet revolves one more time, let’s get this revolution started and put a pawsitive spin on life!

Between now and Monday, consider:

What would it take for you to look in the mirror
with a more pawsitive eye?

Please leave a comment while it's fresh in your mind. Tell all your friends about this blog post! Then stop by Monday to read our thoughts on this. Review other comments and if you feel motivated (we know you will!), share any new thoughts you have!

Hey, none of us has the time or inclination to reinvent the wheel or ourselves. But who wouldn’t benefit from accentuating the pawsitive a bit more? All it takes is a small revolution here and a gentle realignment there.


Join us here each week for more
Accentuate the Pawsitive
revolutionary topics!

****************

Want more Women Only Over Fifty thoughts & stories?
WOOF available through Amazon and Echelon Press!


Buy Accentuate The Pawsitive!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

WOOFers: "Accentuate the Pawsitive" Blog Tour!

WOOFers Diana and Mary have been on a blog tour celebrating
the release of "Accentuate The Pawsitive," a guide to
realigning your body, mind and soul.

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Congratulations!
Thanks to all who left comments during the tour.
These three lucky ladies' names were pick for
a free download of
"Accentuate The Pawsitive!"
If each will email us at
we'll see that you receive your gift!
> Deb A. <
> Robin <
> Jen Forbus <
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DEC 24 - Dames of Dialogue Interview - Woofers who Accentuate the Pawsitive

DEC 30 - Dames of Dialogue Interview - WOOFer, Mary answers the Dames Dozen

JAN 4 - Doing It With Grace Blog - Chocolate - 'Nuff Said!

JAN 5 - A Woman's Life In Stages - Downward Facing Dog

JAN 6 - Mysteries & Chitchat - Fashion Fits or Flops

JAN 8 - The Stiletto Gang - Boning Up On Books

JAN 11 - Blog: A Working Writer - Animal Rescue: Mission For Mutts

JAN 12 - Virtual Wordsmith - Myths About Menopaws

Jan 13 - Blog Talk Radio - Mary Eileen Williams, Feisty Side of Fifty

Download Available Soon!
"Accentuate The Pawsitive!"
"Mind spinning? Mood Swinging? Middle sagging? Get used to it!
When you reach 50, shift happens. But, you're not alone.
WOOFers to the rescue!"


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limericks and poems when you...
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