by Julie Larade.
The last thing on my mind when I retired from teaching in 2001 was to become a novelist. Throughout my life, I had always enjoyed writing, but it was only when I retired that I began writing in earnest.
Since then, I’ve published two children’s books in English and French and three novels in English (my third novel, The Stories That Lead Us Home, was released March 28, 2025).
When my long-time editor, (One Lit Place Founding Director Jenna Kalinsky), recently remarked that I was thriving in my “second career,” I was taken aback. I’ve always associated the word “career” with work. Rather than see my writing in retirement as a second career, I instead see it more as a first love finally coming to life.
Throughout my first career, I was a schoolteacher in Nova Scotia, Canada. I enjoyed teaching, and one of my favorite activities was guiding my students with their writing adventures and helping them find their creativity within.
During my many years in the classroom, I kept my own creativity alive by writing short stories, a newspaper article to protest the number of potholes in our otherwise beautiful Cabot Trail, and a longer nonfiction work in French sprinkled with our Acadian dialogue about my growing-up years with my parents, entitled, Quand j`étais chez mon père.
Only my children, my siblings, and I have copies of this family keepsake. I didn’t write it to publish, only to enjoy seeing my world come to life on the page.
Could I have started my “second career” as a writer while I was teaching rather than wait to write in retirement? I’m not sure. Plenty of professional writers manage to make their writing work, but in my case, time and energy did not permit the notion of writing to co-exist alongside my other “real” life.
With three young children and being a full-time elementary school teacher, I was too preoccupied with my daily chores to nourish or even recognize my love for writing. In fact, once I retired, rather than leap into writing to make up for lost time, I primarily spent the first five years getting caught up on sleep!
Only then, once I was rested and felt time stretch in front of me, did I feel the urge to listen to my inner voice, which led me back to my writing.
At that time, I also began gardening and, like many prominent authors who also garden as part of their writing practice, saw how my two passions were so similar.
Stories begin with a seed, an idea in mind and in my heart. It’s part of the work to ensure the seed is planted in fertile soil, and gets enough water, sunshine, and, as my young grandson pointed out last summer, lots of love.
Once I had room in my life for my creativity to sprout, sprout it did, and in earnest. The idea for my first novel, Laura’s Story, came to mind in such a strong and intriguing way, I couldn’t ignore it.
When I first began writing Laura’s Story, which is a work of historical fiction, I had five goals:
Once a teacher always a teacher, so after Laura’s Story’s publication in 2014 and seeing how the book spoke to history, regionality, and women’s issues, I, along with my good friend and academic, Barbara Le Blanc, in 2015 created six activity guides.
There is one guide for grade twelve students, one for book clubs, and four for adult education and university students, targeting Language Arts; Acadian and Canadian History; Humanities; and Women’s Studies.
In the fall of 2024, I revised and updated all the guides with the help of Dana Deveau. my practitioner at Université Sainte-Anne.
These guides are free and available on my website for teachers, writers, or anyone interested in learning more about my novel, Laura’s Story. They’re also great for people wanting to familiarize themselves with our Acadian culture, specifically in Chéticamp on Cape Breton Island. Another venture I loved for this not-so-second career-woman writing in retirement!
Though Laura’s Story is a long novel at 356 pages, when several readers commented that it ended too soon, I realized there was more story to tell. I wrote a second book entitled To Fly Again. That book gave rise to yet another novel, my third and most recent, The Stories That Lead Us Home.
Are writing novels a lot of work? Yes, of course. But they also invite many different types of love. For example, because I write historical regional fiction, I conduct a lot of interviews. The people who talk to me open their hearts; in fact, most of them make me feel as if I am the one doing them a favour despite their being the ones who graciously share their knowledge, experience, and wisdom.
I also encounter wonderful people at book fairs, presentations, and sales events. It’s thrilling that total strangers have had their hand in guiding me along the way. Like the saying goes, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear,” and that is exactly how I feel, even today.
Working with my editor, whom I’ve been with for nearly 15 years, has also taught me a great deal about the process of developing and shaping a story and how to make it as engaging and illustrative to my readers as possible.
All of those reasons are why calling my writing in retirement a second career doesn’t sound quite accurate. Writing for me is a labour of love. The ideas and hunches come to me especially during the night, at a time of repose, or sometimes, the inspiration appears at inopportune moments; for example, in a crowded area like at the Market where I sell my books as a vendor.
Oblivious to my surroundings, I can’t write fast enough to capture all that transpires in my mind. I don’t look for the muse; it finds me. And the more I listen to it, the more often it appears. The ways writing and the muse work are indeed a mystery, and they are volatile and unpredictable, so I have learned to nurture and respect them.
Even the many drafts, research, interviews, changes, additions, deletions, self-edits, and discussions with my editor are all part of the process. One that I enjoy!
Though I love it, writing is not always daisies and violets. At times, it’s prickles and thorns. Every so often, I run out of seeds, or there is no rain, or the squirrels eat my tulip bulbs! After working on Laura’s Story for a long time and developing it based on what I thought was a brilliant idea, in the end, I realized it couldn’t work and had to remove several pages and start down a different path. And so, being a novelist has its frustrating moments. Still, it stimulates my mind and is a challenge I truly love.
The processes of publishing and marketing feel indeed like work, particularly given all of the technological aspects that are new and daunting. These efforts do feel like career-type work, a real job, and there’s always more to learn and more to do to get my work in front of readers.
But no love is perfect, and no garden, no matter how beautiful, is entirely free of weeds. Sometimes it digs up more than one expects (yet another way gardening and writing are similar!)
But I take that part in stride. Keeping a journal (for gardening and writing) helps during the difficult times.
Today, ten years after first self-publishing Laura’s Story, I realize that while my original goals were about the work itself, now my goals have broadened to be about my readers. In my second career, I don’t want to teach but to give: glimpses of hope, love, and joy. My novels carry heartfelt messages that can help one grow from despair to hope; from cold-heartedness to forgiveness; from cynicism to love; from ingratitude to appreciation.
I’ve received numerous comments, even hugs from some of my readers, saying Laura’s Story has inspired them and has even been a game changer in their daily lives! I, as well, continue to learn as I grow and write more in retirement. I see how my writing is my labour of love, but it is also a gift of love to others. If my books can make a difference in someone else’s life, then this last goal is one of the best.
Though fear and self-doubt still creep into my veins every so often, I don’t allow these feelings to deter me from my mission. At the end of the day, determination, gratitude, and imagination win.
Since I started my first novel, I have grown as a person and as a writer. There is a line in my latest novel that says, “one is never too old to learn.” With my editor’s guidance and support, I feel my writing skills are continuously improving along with my self-confidence. It is indeed a wonderful feeling. Every so often, I pinch myself to remind me that writing in retirement and becoming a novelist as a love-infused second career is indeed magical.
Please visit my website julielarade.com to learn more about me, my books, and to purchase:
A note from Jenna, Julie’s editor, and founding director of One Lit Place:
It isn’t only that Julie has found inspiration in her life to write book after book; she’s also been an important inspiration to me over the years. Because of her and our long collaboration, I often see life through a warmer lens, I have learned to be a better editor, and it’s been a delight to enjoy the magic in her stories. Thank you, Julie, for your trust and friendship- and for making the world a better place.
If you wish to write books of your own and would like to do it in partnership with us at One Lit Place, please check out our 4-month book-writing programs or our personalized writing coaching and editing, and reach out any time with questions!
And if you have a comment or question for Julie or us, please leave it below ~
Our 4-month Mentored Book Programs, Online Courses, & Writing Coaching and Editing Hours. From November 21-27, 2023
5 Responses
Ma belle Julie ! This essay is beautifully done ! I love the photos that compliment your writing and I particularly love the contrast to growing a garden ! Petite moinouse tu as accompli grandement en cette vie. I have gratefully felt your messages of heartfelt love and hope in your books. I have yet to read The Stories That Lead Us Home. I’ll wait until I’m in the area as your personal note is always a blessing.
Enjoy retirement and follow where your heart leads. 💝
Sylvia Boudreau
Dear, Sylvia,
Though I replied to your beautiful message via FB and Messenger, I feel I need to acknowledge here as well. You captured the essence of my books. Your comment about To Fly Again was heartwarming. You truly aced it. Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement. Let me know when you’re in town and we will surely meet. Nothing like reminiscing with an old friend. ~ Julie
Julie:
I chuckled when you confessed that ideas and hunches often come to you at night. Alas, it’s the telling mark of a true writer, a person meant to be a story teller. I stay in touch with several writers and yes, they too have “the affliction”. I’ve coined it “night writing “. It happens to me around 3AM when I’m partially rested. Although I’m still tired, my mind is active as if I were running a race. Try as might, I can’t turn off the story brewing in my head.
I particularly enjoyed your novel, Stories That Carry You Home. I can’t wait for the next novel.
Marianne Scott
Lovely comment! And if only there were a way to get what’s rolling around in our heads at 3 a.m. out without having to actually wake up and turn on a light to write it down… can someone please invent that?? (or maybe that’s a little too invasive and I should be careful what I wish for!)
Dear, Marianne,
Thank you so much for your comment. It is indeed heartwarming to chat with you, a fellow writer or a night writer, now and then. Happy to hear you enjoyed my latest novel! Keep on writing, Marianne : )
Keep in touch,
Julie