Uncovering My Father's Dark Past to Write a Bestseller at 70+ - Shirley Novack

What do you do when you discover that your quiet, dignified father spent his childhood trapped in a Polish brothel?Shirley Novack was told by a teacher at age nine that she would be a great writer. But growing up in a highly negative household where her parents told her college was "a waste of time and money for a girl," Shirley buried that dream. She spent decades pursuing other paths—pioneering fetal surgery as a medical assistant, teaching anatomy, opening a candy store, and building a 40-year career as a successful interior designer. It wasn't until her 70s, during the global pandemic, that she finally sat down to write.In this episode of FailCraft, Shirley joins Ezekiel to share her incredible journey of late-in-life reinvention. She discusses the shock of uncovering her father's traumatic past, how she accidentally ended up on the Dark Web researching human trafficking for her second novel, and why it is absolutely never too late to chase your childhood dream.In this episode of FailCraft, you’ll discover:* The 9-Year-Old's Dream: How a negative, unsupportive upbringing delayed Shirley's writing career by over 60 years.* A Hidden Trauma: The dark, shocking truth Shirley discovered about her father's childhood after his sudden death.* The Dark Web: The terrifying reality of researching human trafficking for her bestselling novel, Stolen Lives.* Escaping Toxicity: How Shirley found the courage to leave a 29-year marriage to a man who tried to hold her back.* The 3 Banned Words: Why Shirley strictly forbids the words "should've, could've, and would've" in her household.* The Cindy Lauper Connection: The wildly spontaneous decision to open a candy store that ended up on the David Letterman Show.This episode is for anyone who feels like their ship has sailed, anyone dealing with imposter syndrome, and those who need a reminder that the only true failure is not trying.Connect With Shirley Novack:* Books: The Story Of... and Stolen Lives (Search "Stolen Lives by Shirley B. Novack" on Amazon or Barnes & Noble)* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirley-novack-81912412/* https://www.instagram.com/Shirleybeth2022Support the Show:* Subscribe and leave a review!* Share this episode if it resonated!Want to Be a Guest on FailCraft?* Reach out to Ezekiel on PodMatch: https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/failcraftChapters:01:16 Introduction: Shirley Novack02:03 The 9-Year-Old's Dream & A Negative Upbringing03:47 Pioneering Fetal Surgery & Becoming a Designer04:13 Writing the Truth: My Father's Traumatic Childhood07:40 How Her Family Reacted to the Hidden Truth10:11 Researching Human Trafficking & The Dark Web12:31 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome as an Older Author16:14 The 3 Words Banned in Shirley's House16:35 Leaving a 29-Year Toxic Marriage18:25 The Accidental Candy Store Success20:59 How to Connect with Shirley Novack