For Claudia Hagadus Long, turning 50 was not a time to slow down. It was a launching pad for a vibrant new chapter filled with writing, weaving and forging deeper connections with family and history.
“I have a lot of energy,” Claudia said. “In my late 40s and early 50s, I got my black belt in Taekwondo, I was bat mitzvahed at 53, and I competed in the Taekwondo Nationals, earning a bronze medal.”
While juggling a legal career as an arbitrator and mediator specializing in employment discrimination and real estate cases, Claudia also nurtured a lifelong passion for storytelling. Her creative writing journey began in her early 30s when she was home with her young daughter.
“I decided to write a romance novel,” she recalled. “I sent it off without knowing anything about publishing. A publisher called and said they liked it, but asked if I could write Regency. I had no idea what that even was, so I said no.”
Despite that early misstep, Claudia kept writing on the side. However, it was after turning 50 that she fully embraced her desire to craft serious novels.
From practicing law to writing novels
“I had been writing steamy romances under a pen name because, as a lawyer and mom, I could not exactly have those associated with my real name,” she explained. “But around 53, I decided I wanted to write something with real weight and impact.”
That decision led to her first major novel, “Josefina’s Sin,” a deeply researched historical story set in colonial Mexico. “It was still a little steamy because I was in the habit,” Claudia joked. “But it was a real historical novel.”
Published by Simon & Schuster when she was 56, “Josefina’s Sin” opened the door to a new phase in Claudia’s life. Since then, she has published seven books, including her most recent, “Murder Without a Duck,” which is a lighthearted mystery set in a fictional small grape-growing community.
“I live in Napa now,” she said. “During the pandemic, my husband and I decided to sell our home in the San Francisco Bay area and move up here permanently. It is incredibly beautiful, but definitely not cheaper.”
Her move to Napa gave her the setting for “Murder Without a Duck,” which she describes as an “edge of cozy” mystery.
“In a regular cozy mystery, there are no bad words and no sex,” Claudia explained. “Mine has a little bit of both, so it is right on the edge. Plus, there are a lot of bad duck puns, and I apologize for that.”
Combining a love for history and writing
Claudia’s writing often draws from her personal experiences and history. Having grown up in Mexico City until age 11, she developed a deep appreciation for Latin culture, which features prominently in her earlier historical novels.
“Spanish was my first language as a kid,” she said. “Even though I sound like a life-long American now, my roots in Mexican culture run deep.”
She also enjoys blending serious research into her fiction stories.
“My books dive into real history,” Claudia explained. “From colonial Mexico to the labor movement in 1920s San Francisco, I spend a lot of time making sure the details are authentic.”
One of her novels, “Nine Tenths of the Law,” which includes flashbacks to World War II and Jewish immigration from Eastern Europe, draws on her family’s history. The book has been optioned for a movie.
“It was total luck,” she admitted. “I posted on a Facebook forum asking how books get turned into movies. A producer saw my post and ended up optioning my book.”
Weaving for fun
Beyond writing, Claudia found new creative expression in weaving, which she picked up at age 60.
“Weaving is something I do not do particularly well,” she said. “But I do it with a great deal of passion.”
After seeing examples of intricate shibori weaving during a tour of a historic home, Claudia signed up for a class and was instantly hooked.
“I started dreaming about it,” she said. “Even though I am not very visual or orderly, weaving puts me in a meditative state.”
Today, she weaves blankets for her grandchildren, using vibrant colors and plant-based yarns. Recently, she discovered alpaca fiber and has begun spinning her own yarn as well.
“Spinning is meditation,” Claudia said. “Fiber crafts, like spinning and weaving, connect you to ancient traditions. It is amazing to think that from a hunk of fiber, you can eventually make clothing.”
Feeding her passion for cooking
Her passion for craftsmanship extends to the kitchen as well. Claudia developed a love for cooking as a young woman. She even considering a career as a chef before ultimately deciding to attend law school.
“I worked in professional kitchens before there were many women chefs,” she explained. “I even got accepted to a prestigious hotel school in Switzerland, but chose a different path.”
Even while practicing law and raising two children, Claudia made it a point to cook real dinners nearly every night.
“At 70, I am starting to feel like maybe I do not want to cook every night anymore,” she said. “But for festive occasions, it is absolutely wonderful.”
Her culinary talents shine especially on special occasions.
“Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day,” she said during the interview. “I am making a special lava cake dessert for two, with molten chocolate centers and berries. It is something I do every year for my Valentine.”
Focus on family
Family remains central to Claudia’s life. She has three grandchildren. Although they live a few hours away, she treasures their visits.
“I love watching them play,” she said. “I buy them books whenever they visit. Calistoga, where I live, only has 5,000 people but we have a magnificent bookstore. I tell them they can pick out whatever books they want.”
Claudia delights in seeing her grandchildren interact with old-fashioned toys, like cardboard building blocks, rather than video screens.
“There is nothing like watching a child build a tower and seeing the younger one knock it down,” she said.
As she reflects on her life after 50, Claudia offers advice for others navigating the same journey.
“It gets better,” she said. “Every storm rains itself out. Hope is the most important thing. Even when life feels dark, there is hope.”
Her encouragement for people over 50 is simple.
“Try it,” she said. “Whatever it is, even if you are bad at it like I am at weaving, just try it. You never know where joy will come from.”
Today, Claudia continues to find new adventures in writing, weaving, cooking and traveling. She and her husband plan to visit one new major destination each year. Last year, they toured Scandinavia. This year, they plan to attend a mystery writers’ conference in New Orleans.
“I am only 70,” she said with a grin. “There is still so much more I want to do.”
For Claudia, life after 50 is not about endings. It is about new beginnings, fueled by passion, creativity and a steadfast belief that every chapter can be even better than the last.
For more information
People can connect with Claudia on several platforms, including:
- Website = www.claudiahlong.com
- Email = claudialongauthor@gmail.com
- Facebook = www.facebook.com/ClaudiaHLong
- Instagram = www.instagram.com/claudiahlong
Claudia’s book, “Murder Without a Duck,” is available on Amazon and in bookstores. Her second book in that series, “Truck a Duck,” comes out in August 2025.
If you order one of Claudia’s books from a link above, Forward From 50 may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
After closing his business and enduring several painful years of uncertainty regarding what to do with his life, Greg founded Forward From 50 to help men and women over 50 to live more purposeful lives by pursuing things they are passionate about. A Wisconsin native, Greg currently lives in Arizona.