ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED | DE MODE OF LITERATURE JUL-AUG 2023 GLOBAL(VOL VI. ISSUE XXXII)
Article Published on: 22ND AUG 2023 | www.demodemagazine.com
'TOO YOUNG TO BE OLD' - BY AUTHOR DIANE GILMAN
Repeat after me: "Today is the youngest I will ever be. It's time to embrace my radiant Act 3."
If you've ever stopped believing in your dreams . . .
If you've ever said, "I'm too old. I'm too scared. I've made too many mistakes to get the life I want . . . " If you've ever felt underestimated, invisible, or irrelevant . . .
Jean Queen Diane Gilman has the electrifying life story and the empowering life lessons you need right now. Diane found her greatest success at age sixty when she sparked a denim revolution: designing blue jeans for real women with real bodies. She's sold nearly nineteen million pairs of her DG2 jeans on HSN and created a sisterhood of seven hundred thousand women who feel too young to be old. With raw candor and humor, HSN's top fashion star reveals how she turned personal heartbreak into trailblazing success—and how her struggle with breast cancer became her bridge to love. Diane's twenty-five secrets for a vibrant, visible, relevant Act 3 will change your life.
Join Diane in her new mission, sparked by her DG2 sisters: "Let's show the world how cool aging can be."
DIRECT LINK TO BUY 'TOO YOUNG TO BE OLD' IN INDIA - CLICK HERE
DIRECT LINK TO BUY 'TOO YOUNG TO BE OLD' IN ALL COUNTRIES - CLICK HERE
BOOK REVIEWS
“Diane Gilman shows women how to face life’s toughest challenges with honesty, strength, and optimism. Her positive attitude and unfailing belief in her healing were inspiring to me as her doctor, and all those around her.” - DR. ELISA PORT, CHIEF OF BREAST SURGERY AND DIRECTOR OF THE DUBIN BREAST CENTER AT THE MOUNT SINAI HEALTH SYSTEM
“Risk-taking and boldness are the essence of transformation—no matter what age you are. Diane’s life is a testimony to her boldness and her unwavering belief in her talent.” - MINDY GROSSMAN, FORMER CEO OF HSN
“Born with dazzling talent, Diane shows women of all ages how to live with outstanding success and create trailblazing happiness.” —R. J. GRAZIANO, JEWELRY DESIGNER
THE JOURNEY OF AUTHOR DIANE GILMAN
Diane Gilman started designing clothes as soon as she could hold a crayon. She grew up in Los Angeles to a family that didn't believe in women having careers, but Diane knew she was destined for an unconventional life. She was a free spirit of the swinging’ ’60s, embroidering her blue jeans and energizing her creative soul by hanging out with the most talented musicians and poets of the time. Gilman’s career ignited when stars like Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix began wearing her custom jeans. By 1974, her designs were featured in every major department store, and in 1994 she appeared on HSN, the Home Shopping Network, for the first time. Today, her DG2 line is the top-selling fashion brand on the network, with 100 million dollars in sales per year. Gilman is known as the Jean Queen because her age-defying designs have inspired women to live forever in blue jeans—and forever young.
Christmas Eve 2017, Diane received the news that would change the course of her life. She was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. And from first chemo infusion to last radiation session, a double mastectomy, and beyond, she spent every spare moment writing her legacy-- her second book “Too Young To Be Old” with her friend and co-author, Jan Tuckwood, Senior Editor of the Palm Beach Post.
Through the book, she recounts how breast cancer changed her life for the better and served as a truly cathartic and uplifting process. "Too Young to be Old" is a powerful and inspiring exploration of overcoming life's obstacles and embracing the potential of the "third act" with passion and purpose. This book offers a fresh perspective on living life to the fullest, reminding readers that age should never be a barrier to pursuing dreams and finding true fulfillment. Through insightful anecdotes and empowering advice, "Too Young to be Old" encourages readers to seize every opportunity, embrace personal growth, and embrace the joy of living a life without limits.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF AUTHOR DIANE GILMAN - www.thedianegilman.com
FOLLOW THE AUTHOR ON INSTAGRAM.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW OF AUTHOR DIANE GILMAN WITH DE MODE
Q: How do you handle writer's block or creative burnout?
A. I spent most of my life as a Fashion Designer, very similar as both writer and designer live off creative sparks. If the spark isn’t there for a day or two, give your creative process the rest and the respect it deserves.
Q: What is the most difficult part of your writing process?
A. Since both of my books have had an autobiographical theme, I would say reaching deep within to my most painful memories and relive them as you write.
Q: How do you handle revisions and editing processes for your work?
A. I would always work closely with the editor to “capture my voice”. I feared major editing would produce bland results, so I was extremely proactive.
Q: What came first to you — the plot or the characters — and why?
A. The plot comes first, since the book is an autobiography, we constructed my life story more like a mystery novel with twists and turns. And the characters introduced were naturally dropped in for important segments of my life and career, as they appeared and receded in my real life.
Q: In your book, which part of the story is your favorite?
A. Honestly, two parts: First, my early days as a denim designer for Rock n’ Roll stars like Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix in the 60’s and 70s. And oddly enough, the second is my journey through breast cancer (2017-2019) which taught me invaluable life lessons.
Q: What was the most surprising thing you discovered in your book?
A. I realized, in retrospect, how many of my dreams had come true. My book truly has me living in a ‘zone of gratitude’.
Q: Can you share with us something about the book that isn’t in the blurb?
A. I started writing the book in my head, Christmas Day 2017. I had been diagnosed the day before, on Christmas Eve, with stage 3 breast cancer. I knew I needed to feel I was doing something productive and valuable. I needed to feel that I was leaving a legacy of hope.
Q: Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
A. I see my life as a Broadway play in three acts. Each act has significant players, they all hold a place in my most cherished memories.
Q: What was the inspiration for the story?
A. The recurrent theme is ”climb every mountain and forge every stream”. Overcoming life’s obstacles, of which I had many!
Q: What is the significance of the title?
A. Too Young To Be Old is about always keeping your spirit alive, not ever allowing age to rob you, as a woman, of your identity. It inspires women of all ages to break free from limitations, pursue their passions, and live life on their own terms.
Q. -What do you hope your readers take away from this book?
A. No Dream is too big or too small and it’s never too late to make your dreams come true.
Q. Tell us about the process for coming up with the cover.
A. The cover is my portrait, as an authentic older woman with my newly grown-out silver hair (after chemo) and my “lightbulb moment” in career life- The DG2 by Diane Gilman (my fashion brand) middle age jean stacked up around me. What a beautiful photo, by the incredibly talented Josh Lehr-Senior Photographer for Town & Country.
Q: If your book was to be made into a movie, who are the celebrities that would star in it?
A. There would need to be three roles to represent me alone- As a child, it would be Madeline Hirvonen. For my mid-life, I would say Scarlet Johansson. And for my “third act” of life, I would love either Diane Keaton or Jamie Lee Curtis.
Q: What’s your favorite and least favorite part of publishing?
A. Most favorite is hearing “YES! We want to publish your book!”. My least favorite is editing! Which, while necessary, I find to be quite tedious.
Q: Do you find it more challenging to write the first book in a series or to write the subsequent novels?
A. Writing my first book was far more difficult. It’s a really steep learning curve and I learned a huge lesson about who you choose (or are given) as a ghostwriter or coauthor.
Q: Who is the author you most admire in your genre?
A. I love celebrity biographies, especially female musical performers like Tina Turner.
Q: If you could ask one author that you admire three questions about their writing, writing process, or books, what would they be?
A. If I could ask Tina Turner, my question would be “For your autobiography, how difficult was it to reveal and relive very painful moments? And how does writing differ from stage performance, knowing both have a huge impact on your audience?”
Q: Are you working on anything at the present?
A. YES! I just debuted my own weekly podcast “Too Young To Be Old” focused on all things for 50+ women. And it’s on my very own YouTube channel which I am so excited about! Also, I am working towards becoming a silver-haired influencer on social media.
Q: How do you feel about your book being published in DE MODE?
A. I feel honored and hopeful my inspirational message on celebrating ageing will reach a wider audience. Thank you so much for choosing my book!
AUTHOR DIANE GILMAN BOOK 'TOO YOUNG TO BE OLD' is listed in "Page-Turners Unleashed: 11 Engrossing Books You Can't Put Down IN 2023" in the AUG 2023 issue of DE MODE.
CLICK HERE to read the magazine article.