Some of us dream of living life to the fullest; others just get on with it. Author Florida Ann Town embraces the latter by making the most of every opportunity that comes her way, and carving out many more of her own.
Since her novel tackles the subject of a middle-aged woman gaining a new lease on life by taking up cycling, we agree that going for a ride would be a fun way to conduct this interview. I endeavour to keep pace.
Florida has always been a writer. She began working at a newspaper in 1949, at the age of 17. Over the years, she has written for several newspapers and was the first female sports reporter at the Vancouver Sun. She says for her the pull to reporting and writing was simple: “You get to be nosy and ask questions.”
Yet writing is only one string to Florida’s bow. She is a woman of many talents and interests. As well as a love of words, Florida has made the most of her BC surroundings, and has pursued numerous outdoor sports all her life. She is a keen paddler, and she won a gold medal as a solo outrigger paddler at the World Master Games.
For the past several years, she has also helped coach a group of breast cancer survivors in Hawaii with their paddle journey – a magnificent experience that has allowed her to witness strength, passion and progress firsthand.
At 81, Florida is remarkably fit. During our bike ride together around the trails and dykes of Port Coquitlam, I struggle to match her speed; she looks as though she is cruising on a leisurely ride. In fact, the only time I manage to keep up is when she comes to a hasty halt, hopping nimbly off her bike to retrieve a discarded water bottle. In the past two years, she has donated almost $500 to local charities, just by picking up litter discovered on her rides.
Although she describes herself as retired, Florida is a busy woman. She has been cycling, almost daily, for a decade, and says there are many reasons why being a pedal pusher is so appealing to her.
“The freedom it gives you, there is something almost hypnotic that happens when you’re riding; the rhythm, the wheels, the pedaling. It’s very liberating… except when I’m going up a steep hill,” she smiles.
She also writes almost every day, immersing herself in the lives of her characters, so they come to life – both on the page and when she talks about them. She speaks with such gusto it is as though she is chatting about real people, instead of the work of her imagination. This enthusiasm translates well into her writing.
On The Rim chronicles the life of a housewife, Ellen, abruptly catapulted into fending for herself when her husband of 30 years leaves her. She has to come to grips not only with the end of her marriage, but also how to make her own way in the world. Salvation comes in the form of a bicycle, which gives Ellen courage, and helps her realize she is stronger than she ever believed.
Although Florida feels writers should generally draw on their own life experiences, developing the character Ellen was a stretch.
“I have been married to a very wonderful man for 61 years, but in this novel I wanted to explore the question, ‘How do you become an independent person in life?’”
Just as her new novel poses many questions, Florida exudes an infectious curiosity for life. She says her journey as an author is far from over. A dedicated and imaginative writer, she and the characters she crafts live life to the fullest.
On the Rim, published by Dundurn Press, will be available October 19 at local bookstores and online at Amazon.ca
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