Age: 45 Quick bio: Julia is a writer currently living in western Massachusetts. Fifteen years ago, a stack of pulp fiction written by her long-dead father landed on her kitchen table — most of the novels were interracial porn. Julia, a white woman, had been married to a black man for six years by then, and their first son was a toddler. Her memoir, The Book Keeper: a Memoir of Race, Love, and Legacy, tells the story of what happened when she finally faced her shame about her father’s secret career and cracked open those books. Beyond the Bio: “I couldn’t have faced my dad’s books before I was 40. People talk about feeling more confident and questioning themselves less at this age; me, I still question myself all the time and confidence has never come easily. But something did shift after 40 that allowed me to face my legacy. I think it’s about the ability to feel vulnerable. I felt invincible in my 20s and a good chunk of my 30s. Now I know I’m …

Age: 46! Quick bio: Mimi is a Senior Director of Technical Products at WeWork San Francisco. She’s an avid (but extremely slow) watercolorist and is working on a selection for a future show. Beyond the Bio:  “I became pregnant somewhat unexpectedly at 45, and then lost my baby. This triggered a series of health issues, including a dormant chronic illness which may not have a cure. It’s taught me to enjoy what’s in front of me, be very focused, and to be financially prudent in the event that I won’t be able to work and have skyrocketing health costs. I need to be sure that I can care for myself as much as possible. It’s also considerably amped up my snarky-ness.” 1. On the nightstand: My puppy’s collar — we have a silly ritual where I take off his collar before we settle in to bed and then I exclaim, “Look! You’re nekkid and ready for bed!” 2. Can’t stop/won’t stop: Being a New Yorker/wondering how to get more sleep 3. Jam of the minute: Silence — it’s really relaxing 4. Thing I miss: My …

Nancy (at right), with her Feed Our Democracy Partner Isabel Kallman, giving out free hugs at the NYC Pride parade Age: 54 Quick bio: Nancy is one of the co-founders of Feed Our Democracy, a grassroots organization dedicated to encouraging activism and raising hell. She is the co-founder of KidzVuz Media, and the vice chair of the board of Transport Theatre Group, an off-Broadway theatre company.   Beyond the Bio: “The hardest part about being over 50 is the invisibility, but it’s also the most freeing. It’s only when the general public started looking at me less that I was able to see myself more clearly.”  1. On the nightstand: The Porpoise, by Mark Haddon (he also wrote The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time), Do Not Say We Have Nothing, by Madeline Thien. And ,very uncharacteristically for me, since I almost exclusively read fiction, Sapiens, by Youval Noah Harrari. That last one is brilliant but slow going. 2. Can’t stop/won’t stop: Eating carbs. Life is not worth living without carbs. Seriously. 3. Jam of the minute: I’m a Broadway Geek. (I even …

Benish Shah (left) and Carla Zanoni at TueNight’s Day of Action Age: 45  Quick bio: Carla is a digital strategist, writer and journalist in NYC. She is working on a memoir about the recovery of self worth, based on her 21-year journey from drug addiction to career and life success. Beyond the Bio: “When I turned 40 I had a beautiful moment as I walked down the street: I liked myself. I realized I had managed to not only survive, but thrive. Now I feel a confidence, steadiness, and self love I hadn’t experienced before. This feels like the combined gifts of self inquiry, the power of age and experience.” 1. On the nightstand: The Buly 1803 rose oil I put on my face and elbows before bed, a new 5 year journal where I keep a gratitude list, about 20 different pens, an azurite malachite stone I bought in Paris, and a tiny ceramic jar I reach for each night after I realize I once again forgot to take out my earrings before going to sleep.  2. Can’t …

Age: 47 Quick bio: Caissie is an Emmy award nominated comedy writer, television producer (most recently for the sorely missed TueNighter fave, Busy Tonight, and before that Watch What Happens Live, The Rosie O’Donnell Show, and The Late Show with David Letterman) and author of the YA novel, Jane Jones: Worst. Vampire. Ever. Beyond the bio: “I know people worry a lot about how they look as they age and this might sound like bragging, but for whatever reason, whether it’s my voice or the way I dress or that I have a baby face, people always think that I’m a good deal younger than I am. Which can be okay. But a lot of times it’s annoying, too! I’ve been doing what I do for 26 years now, I have a ton of experience and I hate having to explain that.” 1. On the nightstand: Seltzer, allergy medicine, a scented candle. 2. Can’t stop/won’t stop: Trying to create content that features and centers and speaks to women. 3. Jam of the minute: Anything by Lizzo. 4. Thing I miss: My son. He’s in …

Age: 46 Quick bio: Lynn is a Brooklyn-based, non-profit fundraising executive. She’s on the hunt for her next challenge after 13 years in the same role. Currently soliciting ideason what to be when she grows up. Beyond the Bio: “Laid off for the first time in my life this year, I’m both excited and terrified by the opportunities ahead. I’m glad it happened now when I have more confidence and at the stage in life when I see it as a pivot to something better and different. More chin hairs, fewer concerns about what others think. Circle of life…” 1. On the nightstand: Half a dozen or so lotions and creams that will never go on my body because I hate lotions and creams but know I should use them so I keep buying them. 2. Can’t stop/won’t stop: Watching MSNBC. I have been glued to the tv since before the 2016 election. While others have been gushing about Game of Thrones, I’ve been nursing my crush on Rachel Maddow. I feel like something bad will happen if I look away but …

Age: 48 Quick bio: Shannon Watts is the founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and the author of Fight Like A Mother: How A Grassroots Movement Took On The Gun Lobby And Why Women Will Change The World (HarperOne). Beyond the Bio: “I get asked all the time if I do my own social media — yes, that’s all me. I love to scan Twitter in waiting rooms, in grocery lines and while waiting on runways. Some people play Candy Crush, I tweet. My travel schedule this summer will be insane…I have a repetitive injury in my shoulder from lifting my suitcase into the plane overhead, but I would rather have a rhino gnaw off my toenails than have to check my luggage through baggage claim.” 1. On the nightstand: A huge stack of magazines I haven’t been able to read because I’ve been on the road. 2. Can’t stop/won’t stop: Eating pistachios in the shell. I have callouses.  3. Jam of the minute: New album Assume Form by James Blake. 4. Thing I miss: My Blackberry. That red flashing light is addictive. …

Quick Bio: Nandita is an actor-writer who loves to hear an audience laugh.  Her latest play, Baby Camp, had a public reading in NYC on July 8th. Beyond the Bio:  “As I hurtled toward 40, I felt such a sense of urgency that if things didn’t happen before that date, I would be doomed forever.  But then it happened and my life, including my career, got better! I’ve worked more consistently as an actor, had more plays produced in better venues, and experienced a truly stable and loving relationship, all in this decade.”  1. On the nightstand:  Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev, Milkmanby Anna Burns and What Happened by Hillary Clinton. 2. Can’t stop/won’t stop:  Fighting the patriarchy one play at a time. 3. Jam of the minute: Lizzo’s “Juice.” 4. Thing I miss:  Letters 5. 80s crush:  Rob Lowe (until the 1988 Democratic Convention) 6. Current crush:  Keanu Reeves 7. Will whine about: The MTA 8. Will wine about: Rosé 9. Best thing that happened recently:  A theater in Seattle asked to produce my play Washer/Dryer. 10. Looking forward to: Acting in Madhuri Shekar’s House of Joy at Cal Shakes next month.

Age: 56 Quick bio: Lisa Miller is a Contributing Editor at New York Magazine. She lives in Brooklyn with her family and pets – and all the other writers. Beyond the Bio: “I write long-form features for the best magazine out there. It’s a dream. I’ve written about raising kids and genetics and politics and mental health – and menopause! I just published a piece about the intersection between parents who send their kids to Waldorf schools and parents who refuse vaccinate their kids. Waldorf schools have some of the lowest vaccination rates in the country – even in the midst of the biggest measles outbreak since 1994. Although I disagree with these parents, I wanted to try to understand what they were thinking. I love my job because it gives me permission to talk to strangers.” 1. On the nightstand: The Question Authority, a novel by my friend Rachel Cline. Lot, short stories by Bryan Washington, which I picked up at One Story’s Debutante Ball – one of my favorite events of the year. Past issues of the New Yorker. And on my Kindle, The Overstory, by Richard Powers. …

Age: 50 Quick bio: Alison is an entertainment management consultant and booking agent. A native New Yorker, she literally grew up backstage at Lincoln Center. Beyond the bio: “Two years ago I found my father in a life crisis, with dementia and evicted. He had left when I was a baby and never raised me, didn’t help my Mom with much money. He never showed any interest in my son and wasn’t a grandfather to him. My father had always been extremely self-centered and absent from my life. Nonetheless, when given the choice of helping him or looking away and letting him be mentally ill and homeless, I decided to help him. I was surprised by how good  it felt.” 1. On the nightstand: Courage To Change—there is addiction in my family. The Other Side of Paradise by Staceyann Chin—I adore her!  Breakfast at Tiffany’s—Truman Capote is one of my most favorite writers. Labello lip balm, a nail file, L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream, a lamp made out of a large canning jar. 2. Can’t stop/won’t stop: Dancing. I take a dance …

Age: I’m more than willing to #saymyage, 53 Bio: Vice President of Strategic Communications for Encore.org, “I cook up ideas for Encore.org on how to frame longer lives as a force for good and intergenerational connection as a natural way of life. I’m really excited about our Encore Public Voices Fellowship, a partnership with the OpEd Project to identify and support 20 diverse thought leaders working on issues relating to aging, longevity, intergenerational connection and social justice.” Marci also serves on the board of Girls Write Now, a phenomenal organization empowering girls through writing and mentoring. (If you’re in New York City, you should check out one of their Spring events.) Beyond the bio: “In my free time, I walk excessively around Manhattan, and recently started taking piano lessons to keep the brain sharp. My long-term hobby is low-skates poker (Omaha) with a group of artist/writer types — and increasingly, my mom’s pals. The coolest thing about being middle-aged is that you are perfectly positioned for cross-generational friendships up and down the age chain!” 1. On the nightstand: Mary Pipher’s Women Rowing North: Navigating Life’s Currents and Flourishing as We …