FORTY Schmorty! Life keeps happening

Forty Schmorty

By Jay Allen Sanford| Published Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Singer-songwriters Eve Selis and Mattie Mills have written a book, Forty Schmorty: Life Keeps Happening. “During the process of writing the book,” says Selis, “Mattie was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 45, and I became pregnant at age 43.“Mattie and I helped each other get through this journey,” says Selis. “She went through her chemotherapy with courage and the knowledge that she was going to kick cancer’s ass, not the other way around. I felt powerless over the disease but knew our friendship would help us conquer anything.” Selis’s sister is a breast cancer survivor.“As for my pregnancy, our friendship provided support…Mattie had two children in her 40s and had her fourth child at age 45. She was a great inspiration and help to me because it had been so long since my first pregnancy…my daughter is 13 years old.”In addition to their book, the duo blogs about their experiences at fortyschmorty.com, which offers BBQ aprons, tote bags, and string thongs, all emblazoned with the Forty Schmorty logo. Selis recommends the latter as a gift for men, to purchase for their forty-something wives.“Most males have been curious and said that they’d love to read our book, just to get a better idea of what’s inside a women’s mind. It definitely helps answer questions men have when their wives are going through difficult or challenging times.”

MATTIE: Here’s a great GREEN idea! Let’s start using reusable grocery bags at the grocery store! In our podcast episode #33 Going Green, we talk about how we all need to get more involved with conserving, recycling and taking better care of our Mother Earth. Why not start at the grocery store?

EVE: That’s such a good idea. I hate all of the plastic bags I have stored in my kitchen cupboard. We have a couple of reusable bags that we can fit about 3 full plastic bags of groceries into and it’s so much easier to carry.

MATTIE: I’ve noticed that shoppers can purchase reusable grocery bags for .99 cents! They actually appear to hold more groceries than the plastic bags we’ve all been using! There’s even a local market called Henry’s that will bag your groceries in a paper bag and if you bring those bags back the next time you go shopping at their store they will give you .5 cents back for each bag you use! It’s all about getting into the habit of the whole thing.

EVE: Yes, that’s my problem I always think of it when I’m already out and on my way to the store. I need to get into the habit of keeping the reusable bags in my car.

MATTIE: Start off with one bag and stick your wallet in there. There’s no need to carry your purse in the store when all you really need is your wallet right? When you get to the check out line let them know you have a bag of your own you would like them to use! It’s such a good feeling to know that that one bag was at least worth two or three plastic ones that you didn’t need!

EVE: Every little thing adds up. We can all make a difference and together we are a powerful force to reckin with!

MATTIE: Build your collection from there and remember to put your bags back in your car for the next trip to the store! This little bit of effort will go a long way in the years to come!

Eve and Mattie edit book #1

MATTIE: Okay so it’s April and we continue moving forward! Here’s a picture of us editing our book at a local Starbucks! We want to thank all the people who have graciously made room for us so that we could sit together and edit our book! This picture was taken on a cold February morning and we were sitting by the door where it was freezing!

EVE: We should have bought stock in Starbucks with all the latte’s we downed whilst editing!! Also, if you are going to spend a long time sitting on the wooden chairs it’s best to bring a pillow to sit on for extra “cush on your tush.” And if you are going to sit by the door like we did during the winter months we advise an extra warm coat to wear!

MATTIE: Now that our book is officially finished, we are shopping it to publishers and publishing agents. Wow, what an adventure this has been! We are prepared for success and would like to thank all the publishing agents up to this point who believe we really have something but still have passed on us and wish us well!! It’s not the beautiful let down, I like to call it the beautiful springboard!!!

EVE: Everyone has a story to tell and we just need to find the right person to help us get ours out there. Mattie and I want to thank our amazing team of people who continue to help us propel forward and grow with this wonderful project, where would we be without you all! We are bright eyed and bushy tailed, full of hope and enthusiasm. Heck, 12 publishers passed on J. K. Rowling’s first “Harry Potter” book… bet they’re kicking themselves now!!

MATTIE: We are now asking all of our blog readers to hold a good thought for us that a wonderful publishing deal arrives soon!