My guest this week will give hope to anyone who’s looking at their work life and wondering WTF? The inspirational Sara Collins was a lawyer and mother of five (I know!) when she looked at her life and thought: no more! (The job, not the kids!) She took a creative writing course and wrote the first few chapters of the book that was to become her debut novel and a runaway bestseller on both sides of the atlantic that has received glowing reviews from everyone from Oprah to Margaret Atwood to Booker Prize winner Bernardine Evaristo: The Confessions of Frannie Langton.  Now Sara is writing the TV script for Frannie and working on her second novel. All this while experiencing hot flushes, brain fog and all the other sure signs that menopause is coming for you. Sara talks frankly about turning a midlife crisis into career success, writing the book you’d always wished existed, the power of women’s anger and why she can’t decide whether or not to Botox those pesky frown lines. Note: this podcast was recorded before lockdown. The Shift (on life after 40) with Sam Baker is hosted by Sam Baker, produced by Emily Sandford. I’d love to hear what you think - please let me know on twitter @sambaker or instagram @theothersambaker * The Shift: How I (lost and) found myself after 40 - and you can too by Sam Baker is out now in hardback and available to buy here. The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins is out now in paperback and available to buy here.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.