Most people expect life to slow down at 76. Jane Hudson published her first novel instead. YEI interviews the accidental author who redefines what’s possible.
Jane Hudson’s In the Name of the Mother is more than a debut novel. It is a reminder that there is no fixed age for creativity, no deadline for reinvention, and no point at which a person’s story must stop expanding. Perhaps the best chapter is still ahead.
The age-defying opener
A huge congratulations, Jane! You published your first novel at 76. Most people of 76 are seen to be slowing down a little. You seem to be speeding up. What lit that fire?
Thank you Marilyn. Yes, I am going at quite a pace but loving my new purpose and direction. I suspect the fire was quietly smouldering for years. I did a short non-fiction writing course a while ago, and also thought seriously about tackling a PhD, but the timing was wrong back then. It was just over two years ago that my husband gave me a year’s subscription to BBC Maestro, and that was when the smouldering glow combusted. Listening to top authors talking about the nitty-gritty of writing was what truly fired me up and I couldn’t wait to try it out for myself. Now the fire is blazing.
Finding purpose later in life
I imagine in your work that you helped patients and their families to find meaning and direction. After 27 years of helping other people, did writing this book help you discover a new purpose of your own?
Definitely. My passion is Positive Psychology, and I really enjoy working with clients who want to find meaning and purpose in life. It’s wonderful to explore untapped potential, and in my case, I had no idea that this creativity was there – just waiting to be unlocked.
The “why now?” question
You could have written this book at 40, 50 or 60. Why did Jane Hudson the novelist emerge at 76?
Jane at 40 was deeply involved in a satisfying corporate career managing a large property portfolio.
Jane at 50 was completing a master’s in psychology and then establishing a private practice.
When I turned 60, my mother wanted to know when I was going to retire. I told her I would only stop when I tired of my work or was not doing a good job. I’m now well into my 70s and still loving it!
In maturity I began to appreciate just how much I’d learned about human nature – both in my life and in my practice. I was keen to share some of my insights and to destigmatise mental health conditions. We psychologists can’t talk about our clients, except in supervision, so penning psychological fiction gave me permission to write what I know and understand about human behaviour.
“In the name of the mother”
Without giving anything away, what is the book about?
“In the name of the mother” is a gripping psychological thriller about identity, family, and the haunting secrets we inherit
Challenging society’s narrative
Society often tells us that our biggest achievements happen when we’re young. What would you say to people who believe they’ve missed their chance?
It makes me smile – especially when a twenty-five-year-old tells me they’ve missed the (career) boat. I think of life as a series of stepping stones; each experience is a building block – not necessarily all going upwards, but possibly in new directions. There are the inevitable gaps between the stones where you might trip and even hurt yourself. But that’s how resilience is built.
Reinvention and courage
Starting a completely new chapter at 76 takes a huge amount of courage. Was there ever a moment when you thought, ‘Have I got the energy to take this project on?’
Yes, there have been times when I nearly stopped writing, when I questioned myself – when the imposter syndrome crept in. There were days when the plot was staggering or I received constructive, but negative feedback, and then the whole idea of being a writer seemed absurd and foolish. But I pushed on and now have a published book which delights me.
Inspiration in Cold Water
During the conversation, Jane also revealed that some of her best inspiration comes when she is cold water swimming. Perhaps that says something about her spirit too: willing to step into discomfort, to wake up the senses, to meet the shock of the cold and come out energised. It feels fitting for a woman who has chosen, in her seventies, not to retreat from challenge but to immerse herself in something new.
The hidden dream question
Was becoming an author a lifelong dream that waited patiently in the background, or did this calling arrive unexpectedly later in life?
Yes, this unanticipated calling did come rather late in life. I’ve always been an avid reader but never imagined that I could write fiction. I’ve written hundreds of reports, budget proposals, case histories and a number of theses, but I never thought about tackling fiction. I’m not a naturally gifted storyteller, so I have certainly surprised myself.
From listener to storyteller
For decades, people sat across from you and trusted you with their deepest struggles. How did those years of listening shape the stories you now tell?
In a collective way, all that I have heard and witnessed has shaped my stories. Most of my characters are drawn from real life situations, but no one individual represents any character in the book – they are all fictitious composites.
Success and recognition
Your debut novel has received outstanding reviews, and your second book is on the way. Does this success feel different because it has arrived later in life?
I think so, because it was rather unexpected and certainly not the plan when I first started playing with words. Even calling myself an author feels a bit surreal. An accidental author more like.
Legacy versus fame
At this stage of life, are you chasing success, leaving a legacy, or simply following a passion that refuses to let you go?
Initially it was purely about self-actualisation. It never was about fame and fortune – though I did dare to dream of seeing my novel in a bookshop. But now this has become a reality, I would like to see sales grow and I would love to be something of an inspiration to my grandchildren.
How would you encourage others?
If a 60-, 70-, or 80-year-old is reading this interview and thinking, ‘It’s too late for me,’ what would you want them to know?
The longer you’ve lived the more you have seen and experienced. Embrace the wisdom of your years. Don’t dwell on the impossible – search for the achievable and what might be satisfying for you – even if it is a little outside of your comfort zone. New pursuits and projects don’t have to be grand ones – it’s about personal fulfilment. Imagine it. Dream it. Give it a go. You might surprise yourself as I did.
Last question
You spent decades helping people rewrite the stories they told themselves. At 76, have you rewritten your own story?
Absolutely!
Click here to find out where to buy “In the name of the mother”
Direct from the Author – Get your signed copy direct from Jane, based in Cape Town. | info@janehudsonbooks.com
A YEI article
