Staff Writer

news@murphymonitor.com

 

Whether she’s warning women about the hazards of high heels or lamenting the fashion persistence of thong panties, award-winning author and Murphy resident Diana Estill milks humor from midlife. In her new book, “Stilettos No More” (Corncob Press), Estill lampoons shoes that cost more than tires and swears on her “thigh trimmer” she’s past the age to “walk on stilts.”

Fatigued by all the anti-aging rhetoric that pervades our current culture, Estill, 56, claims 50 isn’t the new 40 ...  “without the help of Botox, a plastic surgeon, or Photoshop.” 

 

Instead of trying to look like a “Desperate Housewife” star, the author suggests women should learn to expect and accept some physical changes during midlife. It’s the feisty, funny side of 50 that Estill seeks to promote by sharing her own perspective as a reluctant “senior.” She’s not afraid to tell the truth about her tummy woes or unwanted toe hairs—or to caution younger gals of what awaits them.

 

“The idea for this book has been with me ever since I tried on a pair of high heels and realized I could no longer walk in them,” Estill said. “I wrote most of the essays between 2009 and 2010. Every time I passed a new milestone (or found a new facial hair), I grew more determined to help other women laugh about the changes experienced during midlife.”

 

One of her favorite essays involves her granddaughter.

 

“To me, they’re all dear stories. ‘Failure to Act Your Age May Cause Injury’ is one of my favorites because it involves a crazy moment when I felt young enough to join my 10-year-old granddaughter on an amusement ride. I so much wanted to be a part of her experience that I forgot to consider the 40+ year differential in our ages. But a perturbed ER doctor was quick to remind me,” Estill said. 

 

“Stilettos No More” resonates with women of a “certain” age.

 

“We’re all in on the joke. We see the same magazine covers, watch the same TV shows, listen to the same anti-aging gurus and see the cracks in the foundation. And I’m not talking about our cosmetics,” Estill said. “I’m using humor to shine a bright light on the truth and deliver a message: Our bodies change, but our spirits don’t have to.”

 

In previous books, Estill tells stories about misadventures and pokes fun at the absurd. Her new book is on a more personal level.

 

“This is the first time I’ve dared expose this many personal challenges. ‘Stilettos’ was written solely for women age 40 and over.

 

It’s my way of saying, “Hey, girlfriend, I know your pain. But let’s see if we can’t find ways to laugh through it!” she said.

 

Another first for the book was being released as an electronic book before print.

 

“Because I finished writing ‘Stilettos No More’ late in the year, I knew there’d be a strong chance the book wouldn’t be available in time for Christmas,” Estill explained. “The cover design and typesetting required for print are more time-consuming processes than those required for eBook editions. So I made the decision to release the eBook version ahead of the paperback, hoping to have something available in time for the holiday market. This is expected to be a strong holiday sales season for eReaders: Kindle, Nook, iPad, and many others. I wanted to have the eBook ready when an onslaught of new customers were entering the market.”

 

Estill owns a Kindle and said she really enjoys it.

 

“I own a Kindle and I’m thrilled with it! What Kindle and every other eReader have done is introduce readers to independent authors like me. As ‘indies,’ we often make our eBooks available at competitive prices. It’s not uncommon to find indie eBooks priced below $5,” Estill said. “I believe the recession has encouraged more readers to check out lesser-known authors’ works that sell at bargain prices. Because buyers can sample 20 percent or more of an eBook before purchasing, there’s little risk to exploring new authors.” 

 

Since its release, the eBook edition of “Stilettos No More” has been on Amazon’s “hot new releases” list for humor and been a top seller in the humor essays category. 

 

Estill added, “The Kindle edition has an introductory price of $1.99, which is way cheaper than anti-depressants. That, of course, isn’t meant to suggest that one is a substitute for the other. I’m just saying ...”

 

The paperback edition is available from Amazon and other booksellers. The eBook edition is offered in many formats: Kindle, Nook, iPad, and a variety of others, as well as PDF. The title can be ordered directly from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, etc. or through Smashwords.com, which offers several formats, including PDF.

 

“Stilettos No More” is Estill’s third book of humorous essays and is available now in paperback and eBook formats from Amazon and other booksellers. Her other books, “Deedee Divine’s Totally Skewed Guide to Life,” and “Driving on the Wrong Side of the Road”  are available in print and eBook formats too. 

 

“Deedee Divine’s Totally Skewed Guide to Life” (Corncob Press) was a 2008 ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Finalist and a 2010 International Book Awards Winner in humor. 

 

Visit Estill’s website at www.totallyskewed.com.

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