Lone Star Book Blog Tour: Creatrix Rising by Stephanie Raffelock (Review & Giveaway)

From the author of the award-winning book A Delightful Little Book on Aging comes a new self-help memoir Creatrix Rising: Unlocking the Power of Midlife Women. In her new book, Stephanie Raffelock liberates mold-defying midlife women, tired of the oft-inaccurate characterization of the “old crone,” to amplify the resounding strength within.

Ever since Eve was banned from the garden, women have endured the oftentimes painful and inaccurate definitions foisted upon them by the patriarchy. Maiden, mother, and crone, representing the three stages assigned to a woman’s life cycle, have been the limiting categories of both ancient and modern (neo-pagan) mythology. And one label in particular rankles: crone. The word conjures a wizened hag—useless for the most part, marginalized by appearance and ability.

None of us has ever truly fit the old-crone image, and for today’s midlife women, a new archetype is being birthed: the Creatrix.

In Creatrix Rising, Raffelock lays out—through personal stories and essays—the highlights of the past fifty years, in which women have gone from a quiet strength to a resounding voice. She invites us along on her own transformational journey by providing probing questions for reflection so that we can flesh out and bring to life this new archetype within ourselves. If what the Dalai Lama has predicted—that women will save the world—proves true, then the Creatrix will for certain be out front, leading the pack.

“The perfect topic at the perfect time, Stephanie Raffelock’s self-help memoir, Creatrix Rising, identifies a new archetype, the Creatrix, that transcends the old archetype of Crone. Her stories and insights about how far women have come is nothing short of inspirational. A must-read for any woman who wants to embrace the strength and creativity of midlife.” -Marci Shimoff, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Happy for No Reason and Chicken Soup for the Women’s Soul

“…strong women don’t get weak with age; they just get strong in other ways.”

Creatrix Rising by Stephanie Raffelock is a breath of fresh air for women in all stages of life. Even if you are still in your 20s or 30s, midlife and older will one day be your reality, if you are fortunate, of course. Yes, fortunate. Lucky you if you can reach that time in your life where you have gained wisdom born of pain, to quote Helen Reddy’s song I Am Woman. But as this unique book shows, this wisdom is also born of mistakes, forgiveness, courage, and determination.

In Creatrix Rising, Stephanie Raffelock provides an insightful glimpse into the history of women’s internal and external journey through the stages of life, including being unceremoniously dumped into midlife and menopause. Stephanie points out that the Maiden/Mother/Crone stereotypes of a woman’s journey have rightly been whittled away by worthy and brave women generation after generation. No matter what path we choose to take as maturing women, we do not dry up during menopause and become ugly, useless crones. Women reaching their 40s, 50s, 60s, and older can and should welcome the more appropriate title of Creatrix and ultimately treat their later years as a creative playground to be explored and savored.

Creatrix Rising is an extraordinary nonfiction that is predominately about Stephanie’s journey and experiences, including a few stories about some remarkable women who have influenced her along the way. Even though this book is quite personal, Stephanie provides universal truths that all women will recognize in their own lives on some level.

At the end of each chapter, Stephanie offers some questions and journal opportunities to elicit thought about ourselves and our relationships with the women in our families and friendships and in society in general, including those who have historically paved the way and those who are still shattering barriers so that we can continue conquering fears, assumptions, and stereotypes. Creatrix Rising shows us that growing older should be a daily celebration as we view our younger selves with compassion and forgiveness and as we embrace our new role of Creatrix because that next level of creativity has been waiting patiently for years for us to show up and grab it by the…horns.

While Creatrix Rising is targeted toward women in their 40s and older, both men and women of all ages can benefit from this heartfelt, beautifully written nonfiction because it boldly punches the crone archetype in the face and delivers the raw truth of women’s struggle to rise above that negative crone mindset/label and recognize the incredible gift of growing older with dignity and embracing the ageless call to inspire, give, and create.

“Women find a way. We all have a heroine who lives inside of us. We all have a story to tell.”

Enter the giveaway below on or before September 11, 2021, for a chance to win some fabulous prizes!

I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.

A graduate of Naropa University’s program in Writing and Poetics, Stephanie was a contributor to The Rogue Valley Messenger in Oregon. She has blogged for Nexus Magazine, Omaha Lifestyles, Care2.com, as well as SixtyandMe.com.

A former i-Heart Radio host, she is now a popular guest on podcasts, where she inspires women to embrace the strength and passion of their personal story. Stephanie continues to build her speaker’s resume by giving presentations for groups like The Ashland Literary Arts Festival, Breaking the Glass, WINS at Charles Schwab and Southern Oregon University, Friends of the Hannon Library. Her commitment to uplift women extends to teaching personal development classes for incarcerated women and non-profits, including Dress for Success, Austin.

A recent transplant to Austin, Texas Stephanie enjoys an active life with her husband, Dean, and their Labrador retriever, Mickey Mantel Raffelock.

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