My ultimate dream is to one day, write for a living, you know, have my passion for writing pay the bills, but alas, thus far, that is sadly not the case. I work as an Aged Care Clinical Nurse Consultant in an Emergency Department. I have specialised in caring for older people for the past 15 years (I am showing my age), and have worked in many different Aged Care focused roles, with a particular passion for dementia care.
Over the years, I have had the great privilege of listening to their life stories. Stories of triumph, grief, adversity, love, loss, estranged relationships, rewarding careers, and hardships. The list goes on and on.
After publishing ‘Crayons and Chaos’ and ‘Making March’, I wanted to challenge myself as an author, by writing stories that tackle more challenging issues faced by older people, in particular. older women, whilst still keeping the books light hearted and fun.
Older women face unique issues as they age, such as sexism, and ageism, with many stating that they begin to feel invisible once they hit fifty. Most stories, TV shows, and movies, centre around youthful beautiful people.
I wanted to pen a meaningful story about an older woman and her struggles, with some laughs thrown in along the way, of course. They wouldn’t be a ‘Hayley Walsh’ book without the humour present.
In ‘Scattered Scones’, we meet fifty-two-year-old Penny. A few years ago, she moved from her hometown of Sydney to the Adelaide Hills, with her husband and ten-year-old daughter, to realise her lifelong dream of opening a bakery with her best friend Chloe.
Penny has an ex-husband, who she remains close friends with, and an estranged daughter from her first marriage back in Sydney. After a few months of worrying symptoms, Penny receives a shocking diagnosis that turns her whole life upside down. The diagnosis makes her revaluate everything in her life and she decides to take off on an impromptu road trip with her best friend, back to Sydney, to try and reconnect with her daughter before its too late.
Penny will find a lot more on her journey, than a possible reconnection with her daughter.
‘Not Dead Yet’, tells the story of seventy-one-year old Mary. Being quiet and reserved in nature, Mary is lost when she suddenly loses her husband of fifty-one years. Bob was always the outgoing one of the two.
After some convincing by her family, Mary decides to sell her home, and move up the coast to a Retirement Village. Mary has always enjoyed her own company and struggles with the many personalities she encounters in the village. There are two things Mary won’t tolerate, idiots, and bitchy women. Unfortunately for her, the village is full of them.
Has Mary made a mistake moving there, or will she find something wonderful?
I am really enjoying writing both of these books, and hope they shine a light on issues faced by older women in day to day life, while encouraging us all to maintain a sense of humour about it all.
Both books will be released in 2021.