Inspired to push back against gendered ageism, Stella Fosse began writing vivid, sexy stories about older women inspired by an article by a 50-year-old romance writer in the New York Times that pushed her to challenge industry norms that favored younger characters. Her involvement in a local writing series called "Dirty Old Women," where women over 50 read erotic stories to live audiences, further solidified her mission. Through her experiences in online dating in her 60s and meeting her partner at 62, Stella drew inspiration for her novels, including her first book, "Brilliant, Charming Bastard," and her later works centered on older women. Stella Fosse spent many years as a technical writer in biotechnology, managing a demanding career while raising her four children. Upon retiring, she pursued her passion for storytelling. Stella continues to empower and encourage women over 50 to share their vibrant stories and creativity through her books, workshops, and blog.

What You Will Hear in This Episode:

01:17 Stella's Journey

05:28 Writing Workshops and Books

15:53 Pandemic and Creativity

18:33 Challenges of Writing and Marketing

21:35 Support and Community

30:15 Upcoming Projects

Quotes

“The key, I think, is to find the creativity within the marketing and publicity process.”

“I'm in my seventies now and when you've lived as long as I have, there is an awful lot of material to” draw from.

“It's up to the woman to decide how she embraces and uses her own sexuality.”

“If she can see it, she can be it.”

“We're all unique and freeing ourselves to step out of the box and enjoy life is truly badass.”

Mentioned:

www.stellafosse.com

Substack

Instagram

Facebook

Linkedin

eConnect with Bonnie

Substack Newsletter: Own Your Ambition

Gendered Ageism Survey Results

Forbes article

5 Tips to own the superpower of your age

IAMMusicGroup

Purchase my book Not Done Yet on Amazon:

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8/19/2025