Happy WHAT Day?

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: So, birthdays. My thought is that we are required to celebrate, because yes, of course, we are glad we were born—which is what they’re about, right? But I really don’t see why we have to give each annual event a number. How about having, you know, Hank Day. Susan Day. Rhys Day. Whatever our “birth” day is, that’s how we figure out when our celebration day is, and who cares about the actual passage of time. See what I mean?

(October 17—yes, my Celebration Day. Much better. "Which one?" you ask. "Why, this year’s of course!")

One's birthday—or whatever we’re going to call it—is also a lucky day, that’s for sure. (And when we were kids, we’d try to extend to birthday WEEK, which my mother never acknowledged with anything but a sneer.) And I always felt October was “lucky,” too, by extension.

Now the fabulous Shawn Reilly Simmons—you know her from her incredible work at Malice Domestic right?--has a couple of birthdays coming up.

Wait—she has more than one birthday this year?
Yup.

Happy Birthday to Me, and Me Again

By Shawn Reilly Simmons

I’ve been thinking about birthdays a lot lately. It seems every week I’m wishing a friend Happy Birthday, or a Happy Book Birthday, in some small way sharing in their excitement on their special day. Tomorrow happens to be my birthday. I’ll be turning 45, so it’s one of those milestone years, one of the ones that ends in a five or a zero.
A few days later on February 23rd, I’ll be celebrating another birthday when the first two books in my Red Carpet Catering series will be published by Henery Press.

I had nothing to do with the scheduling of the book releases, but I wasn’t surprised when I was told they would be in February. It’s always been a lucky month for me, and I’ve often thought it had some kind of magical pull, like it’s my own special month for major events.

 Great things have happened in my life during the shortest month of the year: I met my husband (on the very last day, the 28th, 9 years ago, so just under the wire), three years later we got married in February (on my birthday, in fact, which seemed like a good idea at the time, but in retrospect just causes him a lot of anxiety, especially since it’s the same week as Valentine’s Day). Many years ago right out of college I was hired for my first real marketing job in New York City during February. And now I can add “became a published author” to the list of significant milestones that have occurred during the month.

I will now always remember my 45th birthday as the one where I achieved my lifelong dream of becoming a writer, the dream that I’ve had since I was eight years old. That’s a pretty great birthday, taking second place only behind my wedding day six years ago.

Some women don’t mention their age. They keep it to themselves for various reasons, many of which I completely understand. My books are set behind the scenes on movie sets from the head caterer’s point of view, a job that I have done myself. Acting is one profession where ageism (and sexism, not to mention inequality in pay) is still a driving force in a woman’s career. 

A woman’s age is used to define her, pigeonhole her into a certain type of role, and is sometimes used to exclude her from becoming a love interest, even to a much older male actor (we’re talking a 20 year age gap sometimes!). Actresses are under a lot of pressure to appear a certain way, for fear they won’t be considered for the roles they’re pursuing. 

When I was cooking on sets, I would watch many of the actresses eat like little birds, picking at vegetable trays and salads, while their male costars shoveled whatever they felt like onto their plates.

Luckily I’m not auditioning for a film role, so I can say proudly that I’ve earned every one of my 45 years. Not only that, I can say I’ve improved over time as a friend, wife, mother and now a writer. I see a few wrinkles around my eyes these days, but along with them I’ve accumulated a hugely supportive base of friends and fellow writers, so much love, a bit more knowledge, and lots more experience. 

So bring on the birthdays!

What’s the best birthday that you’ve ever had? Are you particularly fond of a special time of the year? How do you like to celebrate your milestone birthdays?
HANK: Do you even celebrate your birthday? J But here’s a present for you, either way! Shawn is giving away a copy of Murder on a Silver Platter and Murder on the Half Shell (ebook versions, your choice of platform) to one lucky commenter. SO even simply say: Happy Birthday! And you’re entered.

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Shawn Reilly Simmons is the author of the Red Carpet Catering series featuring Penelope Sutherland, on-set caterer and chef to the stars (Henery Press). Murder on a Silver Platter and Murder on the Half Shell will be released on 2/23/16 and are available for pre-order now. Murder on a Designer Diet, the third book in the series, will be published in June. Shawn is on the Board of Malice Domestic and a member of Sisters in Crime. When she’s not writing, Shawn is running, cooking, drinking wine or reading. She lives in Maryland with her husband, son, and English bulldog.

www.ShawnReillySimmons.com

@ShawnRSimmons

Facebook.com/shawn.reillysimmons