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Today I am interviewing a writer and photographer from Wisconsin who developed a side business after turning 50 because he wanted something different to do in addition to his career training police officers and correctional officers.
Marty Drapkin lives near my hometown of Madison, Wis., where he moved to get a master’s degree in English education. Ultimately, he wound up working for the Wisconsin Department of Justice in a job responsible for coordinating training for people working in adult and juvenile corrections.
Now 77 years old, Marty took up street photography when he was in his 50s, which involves shooting unposed candid photos of people. What makes Marty’s hobby interesting is that he still likes using film and prints his pictures in black-and-white.
Of all the subjects he likes to photograph, he has a desire to capture interactions with mothers and daughters of all ages. In fact, he published a photo book showcasing his best images.
Marty fancied himself as a writer starting when he was still a child. It’s a skill he used professionally to author several books related to county jails.
However, in his late 40s and early 50s, Marty started writing fiction books. He has published four books already and is working on a fifth.
Although he has published fiction and non-fiction books, it is the creative aspect of writing fictional stories that really motivates him to write.
His most recent book is one he wrote years ago that was recently re-released. Titled “Ten Nobodies and Their Somebodies,” it is a first-person account of individuals who worked with or encountered a famous person and influenced the direction of his or her life in some way.
Marty admits he hasn’t made a lot of money from his books, but he loves to write them because he knows others will be entertained or helped in some way.
The creative process comes easy to Marty, and he believes having an outlet for his creativity contributes to a more purposeful life now that he is in his late 70s. He also likes the sense of accomplishment he receives from holding a physical copy of a book he has written.
When it comes to photography, Marty describes himself as a people-person. Photographing people as they interact with others is just a fun way to capture a moment in time.
Marty admits he wishes he had started writing earlier because he finds it so enjoyable, and his mind is filled with ideas about things he can write about.
In photography, he wishes he had started taking pictures of mothers and daughters many years ago, and rephotographed them regularly as they aged. He believes, and I agree, that would have been a fun and interesting photo collection.
People can connect with Marty by email at gwgjails@chorus.net as well as on Facebook. People can check out his photography by visiting www.drapkinphotography.com, or learn more about his books at www.drapkinbooks.com. His books are available for sale on Amazon and can be ordered at other bookstores, too.
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 one of Marty’s books from a link above, Forward From 50 may earn 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.