Those Wrinkles like Pain Will Not Be Denied (Part1of2)– Jill interviews Nicole Rourke

Nicole knows how to tell a story, she knows how to write one too and she also knows how to perform one. In this first part of our long conversation she describes how middle age somehow arrived unannounced into her life bringing with it the ending of a long relationship, the pain of not having children, society’s (and in particular women’s) attitude to women without children , the process of writing and being able to use that ability to help dig her out of her own repetitive narrative at times. Arriving at 50 last year Nicole had found much to write about in the lead up… in particular Gristle and Baggage, two pieces she wrote and performed which are very much centred in the space her characters found themselves in at middle age. I think you will enjoy Nicole’s engaging & refreshing take on things at this the middle stage. (Coming up in Part 2 Nicole talks about the building of resilience from the curve balls life threw her way, working in both men and women’s prisons & her passion for tango). You can find Nicole & her work at the following links:- http://bigsmokewritingfactory.com/nicole-rourke/ Instagram: nicoleve.rourke https://solosirens.info/tour Tea or Gin Part 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu1E8kPuFAE Tea or Gin Part 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nqk38-RKtE