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Today I will be speaking with a woman who spent most of her career in fund development working for a California college. For fun, she just released her first book.
DC Frost knew she wanted to be a writer all the way back in elementary school when she created her own script for a Munsters TV show. But she was encouraged to do something more practical to provide financial support.
Yet, the desire to write never went away. Now in her 60s, DC decided it was time to pursue the lifelong dream of becoming a mystery writer.
She had always been a fan of mystery novels. As a tween, she devoured Nancy Drew books. In high school, she fell in love with Agatha Christie novels.
DC loves the mystery genre because it allows her imagination to run away to create interesting characters and intriguing situations. And that’s what she did in writing “A Punishing Breed,” the first in a series of novels featuring a Los Angeles-based detective trying to hunt down a murder on a liberal arts campus.
DC adopted a unique approach to mystery writing in that she tapped into her own life experiences and familiar surroundings to create believable characters and interesting story lines.
She also has enough confidence in her writing that she never outlines her chapters. She just lets the ideas and dialogue flow from her mind to her keyboard.
To build her skills as a writer, DC attended a college-level class where she had a fabulous teacher. He invited DC to join his private writers group. The teacher and students would critique each other’s work. It was a daunting process, but worked to sharpen her writing skills.
DC thinks everyone over 50 has a story to tell, whether it is about their own life, a fictional character or a topic they are passionate about exploring. The key to developing a writing habit is to write something every day, and be willing to accept feedback from others.
Older writers often have a delightful perspective toward life in that they can see the complexities involved in relationships. They have had their share of successes and failures. More importantly, they know how things work, and all that comes out in their writing.
It’s also essential that seasoned citizens have a creative outlet in their lives, whether it is writing, performing, cooking or something else that gives them a reason to get up and do something productive every day.
As they get older, seasoned citizens need to look for ways to leverage their life experiences for personal and community impact. There are countless opportunities for them to do just that.
DC is already halfway through her second mystery novel, which she plans to release in 2026.
To follow her writing journey or to connect with DC, visit www.denisefrost.net. She is also active on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Her book, “A Punishing Breed,” is available on Amazon and in other bookstores.
That’s all I have for this week’s show. If you’d like help in identifying a purpose for your life or to get help planning your next steps, I’m offering a complimentary brainstorming session to members of the Forward From 50 Facebook community. For details, connect with me on Facebook or visit www.forwardfrom50.com.
I’ll have another inspirational interview on the next episode of the Forward From 50 podcast. Thanks for listening. If you like this show, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.
If you order DC Frost’s book from one of the links 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.