Behind The Book With Jill Orr 

Earlier back in May I was introduced to author Jill Orr by our mutual friend, Jake Adelstein, to do a Q&A with her discussing her Riley Elison mystery series. I am happy to be doing this Behind The Book Q&A with Jill Orr discussing her humorous nonfiction book, How Not To Be Old (Even If You Are) which is available to read now!

Q: Jill, would you please give a brief description of How Not To Be Old (Even If You Are)? 

A: How Not to Be Old (Even if You Are) is a gift book of the sort you might give a friend on a milestone birthday, say 30th, 40th, 50th, etc. The book gently pokes fun at the ways in which we, as we age, can sometimes fall out of touch with how the younger generation does things. It’s often compared to those funny insurance company commercials you see on TV (which is something that no young person would probably know about!). It is beautifully illustrated by Kate Wong, who expertly brought the words to life through her gorgeous watercolor paintings.

Q: What made you want to write How To Not To Be Old (Even If You Are) & why was now the right time to write and publish it? 

A: I wrote the book because I kept noticing how my children, who at the time were in their late teens, had a lot of “constructive criticism” for me when it came to things like the speed at which I take a selfie or how often I comment about the weather. And I found it hilarious but surprising. I think for most of us, getting old sneaks up on us… There’s nothing so shocking as the first time someone calls you ma’am. So I thought it’d be a fun idea to write sort of a jokey “instruction manual” for people in midlife who suddenly find themselves making puns or and/or complaining about how loud it is in any given restaurant.

Q: While it is a humor book, I know obviously you want both old and young readers to have a good time and laugh. What lessons do you hope readers learn after reading How To Not To Be Old (Even If You Are)? For me one lesson I learned from the book is that both the young and the old can learn from each other and that both generations have their flaws. 

A: That’s lovely to hear. I am so glad you found something beyond humor in the book. Honestly, my intention was truly just to have a little fun with the idea of aging, but I have been contacted by a number of readers who tell me they found the book instructive! I even heard from a 78 year-old woman who said she downloaded Venmo as soon as she finished reading it! 

Q: I know some people felt the book was basically putting older people down. What would you say to those readers?

A: Oh, I certainly hope that most readers understand the spirit with which the book was written. This is 100% meant to make people laugh as they recognize themselves within the pages. I definitely put myself in the OLD category and was poking fun at myself as much as anyone else. I think the letter at the end, hopefully, encapsulates the idea that intergenerational connection is one of the great joys in life– and, as you pointed out earlier– we can all learn from each other! 

Q: How does it feel knowing that How Not To Be Old (Even If You Are) had gotten praise by Columbia Daily & was a A People Magazine Editors Pick?

A: Terrific! There’s nothing better than knowing readers enjoy my work, and to have been featured in the People Magazine online gift guide felt like such a seal of approval. My favorite thing, however, is hearing directly from readers who were given the book as a gift and writing to me to say, “I went out and bought 10 copies for all my friends’ upcoming birthdays!” There is no higher praise than that. 

Q: If you were to write a sequel to How Not To Be Old (Even If You Are), would the title of the sequel be How Not To Be Old (Even If You Are) II? 

A: Haha – yes, probably. Or maybe How Not To Be Old-er?