NEXT!

This past summer, I had the great privilege of working with an amazing author. Sharon Marlow's post, looking for an editor for a memoir about online dating, piqued my interest and I dashed off a query immediately. Funny, charming, and looking suspiciously like a woman half her age, Sharon was a delight to work with.

Being a single woman of a "certain age" as well, I was curious to find out how she faired in the online dating world. I'd had a few adventures in that realm myself in the past - some of them so bizarre that I could only laugh, and some that were truly frightening. Sharon's book, NEXT, validated my feelings and assured me that I was not the only mature, single woman who had gone through it.

Sharon Marlow

"Sharon has been writing short stories since her high school days. When she should have been completing assignments from her typing textbook, she was instead crafting imaginative tales filled with fantastical characters. That creative spark eventually evolved into humorous editorials, newsletters, and storytelling later in her adult life and professional career. She has also written a few children's books where the imagination of her inner child could be released.

This short memoir is a reflection of her chaotic, quirky, and wonderfully unique life--told through a lighthearted and hopeful lens. No matter what life throws her way, she believes in finding the irony, the beauty, and the will to survive.

Sharon brings her signature blend of raw truth, humour, and heart to this latest work. Think: diary meets stand-up comedy meets deeply human memoir.

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I asked Sharon a few questions about what it was like for her to write NEXT.

1. Is there anything you wish you had known before you started writing NEXT? 

It started off as a diary but quickly escalated to finally writing a book about the adventures in my life (as encouraged by friends). I suppose it would have been handy to know all the steps in publishing before hand, but now that I do, (or at least I think I do), I’m more knowledgeable for my second book.  I’m trying to make it longer but not sure of the subject matter yet.  Maybe NEXT Part 2. 

2.  If readers take only one idea or feeling away from your book, what do you hope it is? 

I really hoped that my humour about life in general shone through.  Even when faced with obstacles that, at times, seemed too much for just one person, I could still put a humorous and positive spin on it.  I was hoping to make my readers laugh and brighten their day. And maybe touch on how we have those Aha! Moments that change our perspectives and give us more peace and wisdom moving forward.

3.  What part of this book fought you the hardest—and how did you win that battle? 

I didn’t really fight with my book, however, I was trying to keep on topic about the online dating and keeping it interesting and relevant. My battle, I suppose, was trying to say/write the “right amount” in each chapter.  I didn’t want my readers to get bored, or alternatively, miss adding part of the storyline that would have really given it that extra oomph!  I also kept it PG, in case my (adult) children ever decided to read it. Otherwise, it would have been spicier.

The book wasn’t meant for everyone, but my target audience was women, or more specifically single women.  I think (some) men might resist or be triggered by my views in the book but I did try to be kind and diplomatic.  Men may be facing the same obstacles with the women out there in the dating world as well – at least that’s what I’ve heard.

In the end, it was meant to be a light, fun read with many able to relate to the subject matter with a “I hear ya sister.  Never settle”!

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Women of all ages will enjoy this romp through the not-so-hallowed halls of online dating. From abject disappointment to soaring hope, NEXT will make you laugh, make you cry, and might even make you think twice before you swipe right, or hit reply. Marlow not only shares her dating disasters and delights; she offers practical advice on what to watch for and when you can feel safe moving forward.

And, men, if you're brave enough to take a peek into the mind of a woman who knows what she wants... Well, you might just learn a thing or two about how to treat a lady! Available at all your favourite online retailers! ISBN: 9798232249793