The Life She Made

This novel was inspired by a thought I had as a mother of young children. I had chosen, for a time, to focus my energy and attention on my family rather than my career. I did that thing we all do; I wondered what an alternative path may have looked like. I had no regrets, but I contemplated what I’d be doing if I’d prioritised a career over relationships and family. I knew I’d still have wanted to be a mother, and this led me to imagining what I may have done!

The Life She Made is about every woman. Not because Cate’s life looks like yours or mine, but because she’s at a crossroads we all find ourselves in. She may be the future you, the current you, or the woman you once were.

The conversations young women are having now have not changed in 20 years. We’re still making our major life decisions with an eye on that clock - because we must. Whether or not we choose motherhood, we want to be all we can be and not lose ourselves in the process. Cate chooses her priority and she accepts a compromise, as we all do at various stages in our lives. Sometimes we understand clearly what we’re gaining and what we’re giving up. The beauty and the fun of life exist in the surprises; the self-discovery and in what we learn about the people we think we know.

Most of us struggle with that annoying little internal voice questioning our choices, our worth and our identity. It can challenge us and facilitate growth, but it also holds us back, sabotaging us and questioning our place and value in this world. Each generation of women has challenged patriarchal cultural conventions, paving the way to better opportunities for the next. The challenge for today is the internalised misogyny telling us that because women have fought for the opportunities to do or be anything – we must tick all the boxes! Why?

This novel is a celebration of the fabulous, accomplished, and interesting women I’ve met over the years, across life stages, continents, and cultures, and the lives we’ve made. Whether or not we’ve made similar life choices, we’re a sisterhood who lift each other up, challenge, and support each other. It’s also a celebration of the good partners we have in our lives, regardless of gender identity or relationship status. Families and support systems don’t all look the same, but we all need good people to do life with!

This story has been nurtured alongside my children and sat on for so long that it feels appropriate to suggest it’s been incubated and hatched rather than released!

Thank you for reading The Life She Made. I hope she makes you laugh, cry a little, and relate on some level.