I didn’t imagine retiring in my 40s. Like most people, I assumed I’d work a stable job until I was somewhere in my 60s, put in my time, and then sail into retirement with a little cushion and a whole lot of peace. But life had other plans. Between my health challenges and the mental toll of trying to keep pushing through, I had to let go of my good government job much earlier than expected—15 to 20 years early, to be exact.
Early retirement sounds glamorous to some. But let me be clear: retiring early without enough saved up is scary. I just bought a home that still needs repairs and upgrades. There’s no pension rolling in to cover all of life’s “what ifs.” The cost of living keeps rising, and the pressure to figure things out is real.
But here’s the unexpected grace in all of it: I fell back in love with writing.
Rediscovering My Passion (and My Purpose)
Writing saved me in a way I didn’t see coming. What started as a coping mechanism—a way to make sense of everything I was losing—quickly became the thing that gave me something new to look forward to. A reason to get up and keep going. A purpose.
Now I’m not just writing for fun. I’ve built a growing body of work, a newsletter I pour into weekly, and a little online presence that’s beginning to open doors.
In a little over a year, I’ve self-published three books on Amazon and two ebooks on Gumroad. My newsletter was recently ranked #74 in Education on Substack. I received my first paid subscriber. I got my first five-star book rating. These may sound like small milestones in the grand scheme of publishing, but to me, they’re proof that something is working—that I’m building something meaningful, one story at a time.
Adjusting the Dream
When I first got serious about writing again, I said I wanted to publish a bookcase worth of books. And I still love that visual. But these days, I’ve simplified the dream a bit. I tell myself I’ve got at least ten good years in me, and however many books I can put out in that time, I’ll be proud of every single one.
Because I’m not just stacking titles—I’m stacking impact. With each book, I get a little stronger, a little more confident, and a little more free.
From Purposeful Words to Fictional Worlds
I started with nonfiction because I wanted to help people. I wanted to encourage the writers who felt like quitting, the ones who doubted their voices, the ones who needed a nudge to start or keep going. That’s how Purposeful Pen, Fearless Writing, and now Queen of Quitting were born.
But the truth is, fiction is my first love. I’ve always loved storytelling—especially mysteries with bold, complicated women who solve more than just crimes.
So after I wrap up this final book in The Purposeful Writer series, I’m diving headfirst into fiction.
It’s time to let Sassy Johnson out.
Meet Sassy — And the Next Chapter
Sassy Johnson, my private investigator with Memphis roots and a whole lot of attitude, has lived rent-free in my head for over a decade. She’s sassy, smart, and on a mission to help people who’ve been wronged. And now that I have the time—and the courage—I’m finally ready to tell her story.
I’m not expecting to hit the bestseller list. That’s not what this is about. But I do believe there are readers out there who will love her as much as I do. Who’ll find a bit of themselves in her flaws and fire. And who won’t mind supporting a poor, disabled, early-retired woman still chasing purpose with everything she’s got.
Building a New Life, One Page at a Time
Early retirement didn’t give me the life I expected. But maybe it’s giving me the life I needed—a quieter life, with space for the things that matter most.
It’s not perfect. Some days are hard. The money doesn’t always stretch. The house needs work. My body doesn’t always cooperate.
But I’m writing again. I’m creating something that might outlast me. And I’m learning that success doesn’t always look like a paycheck or a perfect plan—it looks like waking up and doing the thing you love, even when no one’s watching.
So I’m choosing to show up—for myself, for my characters, and for the readers who might need my voice.
I’m retired. But I’m not done.
