Before I tell you about Maria Cyndi and share the amazing gift I have for you, let me get this bit out of the way:
52!
Crikey.
I’m incredibly grateful to be 52. Not all of my peers made it this far.
I’m also gently amused. Fifty-two sounds grown up, but it really doesn’t feel that way.
Inevitably, I’ve been reflecting on how I got to be this age and stage, how different my life is from the one imagined when I was younger, and whether or not I’ve made the most of my preceding years.
One conclusion I’ve come to is that I now have a very different definition of ‘success’.
I used to think success would be a fanfare event. But now I realise it’s a much quieter and slower creature.
Younger me thought success meant big-number book sales, a seat on the breakfast TV sofa, and never having to work a ‘regular’ job again.
But older, wiser me now views success as…
…showing up to the page
…finding friends and community through my writing
…knowing that even one person reading and enjoying my words matters.
And it’s paid off – my stories are in several anthologies (I’m very honoured to be in this one), I have an extensive back catalogue of magazine and blog posts, and I’ve written and edited full-length books.
I still work a regular day job, however.
As I turn 52, I’m also closing a very significant life chapter. It started fourteen years ago with a relocation, a major bereavement, and a commitment to creativity as a path to healing.
Now, as I take another loop around the spiral of time, I find myself in the same set of circumstances.
Again?
*Takes a deep breath*
So, yeah, a new chapter, starting at 52, awaits.
I wonder what stories it will hold.
I can’t think of a better person to share my birthday post with than Maria Cyndi.
We met online a while ago and instantly recognised a shared passion for authenticity and writing about topics that are missing from many mainstream narratives about intimacy and pleasure.
Maria Cyndi describes herself as:
Paraplegic wife, lover, mother, writer, artist and activist for the sexual rights of everyone - particularly the disabled community.
When I first had the idea for my curated anthology, Sex Meets Life, I knew I wanted Maria Cyndi to be part of it. And I’m so glad she said yes to my invitation!
In her chapter, ‘Our Capacity for Passion: Seasons of Sensuality’, Maria Cyndi shares how she reclaimed her body – and her pleasure – during the challenges of medical intervention, motherhood, and menopause. And she reflects on the wisdom and ongoing commitment that accompany her and her husband into their next decade of desire.
And guess what?
She’s now writing a Substack too! I’m thrilled that she’s continuing to share her much-needed perspectives and experiences with us.
Here’s what Maria Cyndi shared:
It’s almost a year since I contributed to Sex Meets Life. At the time, I was using social media to try and change the way society sees sex and disability.
As a disabled woman who is married to a non-disabled man, I find it frustrating to still be living in a society that doesn’t recognise me as sexual. When Anna invited me to join an awesome group of incredible writers, I jumped at the chance to share my reality.
Becoming a part of the Sex Meets Life family has completely transformed my life! In January of this year, I made the decision to take a giant leap of faith in myself and become a full-time writer. Writing every day from January 1st until June 1st, resulted in me completing the first of a three-part novel which I have submitted to a competition, two short erotica story submissions to upcoming anthologies (one of which has recently been accepted and will be included in The Best Bi Erotica of the Year, Vol 2) and a non-fiction short story about life with a disability. I’m also learning to promote myself through social media, a new weekly Substack blog and guest appearing on various podcasts, which is a challenge for me as a very private, naturally introverted person.
I’m so grateful to have been included in this amazing project for all the opportunities it’s led me to and the numerous friends I’ve made since.
You can find Maria Cyndi on Substack here.
Her latest post is definitely one to read.
And find her on Instagram here.
Sex Meets Life is one of the great personal successes of my creative life.
A phenomenal group of international authors came together to share the joys and challenges of navigating our sex lives through the twists and turns of “life”.
We wrote about courting intimacy through life events like ageing, menopause, illness, and being a caregiver, and about celebrating different stages of our journeys like sexual awakenings and gender explorations.
Sex Meets Life is truly a celebration of diversity!
(You can read more about the book here.)
And here’s the thing:
No matter our age, gender, sexual orientation, relationship style and status or anything else, we all want to feel good in our bodies, to feel loved and appreciated for who we truly are, and to experience intimacy in ways that are personally meaningful and fulfilling.
Which brings me to YOU and a little GIFT…
*Drumroll, please*
In it, you’ll find six writing prompts to explore your own stories with intimacy and desire.
You can pick one prompt or pick them all.
You can write now or save it for later.
And if you don’t feel like writing, you can simply look at the words and pictures and let your subconscious mind explore your answers.
I’m glad you asked!
You can download and print it at home for free here.
OR
Buy a copy of Sex Meets Life*, and I’ll send you the zine too.
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If you’re in the UK, and you buy a paperback copy of Sex Meets Life directly from me, I’ll send you a printed copy of the zine along with your book.
If you’re not in the UK, you can still buy the paperback book from me, and I’ll send you a digital copy of the zine.
This includes postage and is cheaper than buying the book from any bookshop.
All you have to do is email me with your postal address, and I’ll send you a PayPal link.
Email: anna@annasansom.com
Subject heading: Buy SML book
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You can also email me or leave a comment if you’ve already read the book and want to share a review or your reflections.
Or if you want to ask anything about the book.
Or simply to wish me a happy birthday. I’d love to hear from you.
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