There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed. ~
Released 9-7-24 - Wiser Now
Wiser Now tells the story of a young single mother who is desperate for companionship. She answers a personal ad and thus begins a difficult two-year period in her life. Gayle’s need for companionship and financial security took priority over her ability to assess a suitable mate. She ignored obvious signs of mental instability and alcohol abuse and ultimately had to deal with her partner’s emotional abuse, mercurial moods, and drunken rages.
Over time, she found her limits and left the relationship, but all bad judgment calls have consequences. This story is a warning knell to all who think love and loyalty can fix the mental and emotional problems that torment the people they love.
Reviews and Awards
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from Readers’ Favorite
Drawing from her own experiences, Gayle G. Curtin tells a tale of heartbreak and abuse with Wiser Now. In the mid-1980s, Gayle was working for an insurance agency, divorced and single with two kids from her previous marriage. Feeling like she was missing something from her life, Gayle put out a personal ad in the Gazette in search of someone who would cherish and care for her. Ignoring her first impressions of Jake, a maintenance worker at a print shop, Gayle plunged head-first into the relationship, and soon, the two got married. However, little by little, she started to see Jake as he really was — an abusive alcoholic and serial cheater prone to sudden outbursts of violence fuelled by his manic disorder. This is the story of how she got herself out of the relationship.
Wiser Now is a cautionary tale about love and marriage that showcases how our perspectives can sometimes be blindsided by our emotional needs. Gayle G. Curtin tells a heartbreaking story inspired by her personal experience of having survived two years of her life in an abusive marriage. The narrative feels personal, and I’m sure many readers will find this book relatable. Mental illness and domestic abuse have ruined so many lives all over the world, and Curtin’s story sheds light on these increasingly relevant issues, which unfortunately still plague our society today. Despite the subject matter, however, this is also a story about empowering women, and the ending does offer hope for victims of abusive relationships. I’m glad I read this book and highly recommend it.
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers’ Favorite
Wiser Now: Lessons Learned from an Ill-advised Relationship by Gayle G. Curtin is a candid memoir that delves into the complexities of a turbulent romantic relationship. Curtin begins by sharing her deep-seated loneliness, which led her to a series of disappointing dates. This emotional backdrop sets the stage for her eventual response to a seemingly charming newspaper dating advertisement. Despite an initial lack of attraction and numerous red flags, Curtin decides to pursue a relationship with Jake, leading to a troubled courtship and a tumultuous marriage characterized by fleeting moments of happiness.
Set between 1986 and 1988, Curtin’s narrative serves as a poignant reflection on the perils of seeking companionship without heed to warning signs. Her honesty offers a powerful lesson in self-awareness and the dangers of entering relationships under the heavy cloud of loneliness. Curtin’s writing is vivid and immersive, effectively drawing readers into her world with clear descriptions and structured storytelling. The memoir is thoughtfully segmented, allowing readers to easily navigate through the various phases of her relationship. However, a notable omission in her recollection is the specific incident that catalyzed her decision to leave the relationship. While this could be attributed to the psychological mechanism of blocking out traumatic memories, its absence is felt in the narrative’s overall impact.
Wiser Now is a moving exploration of personal growth and the journey toward self-realization. Curtin’s story acts as a cautionary tale, emphasizing the importance of understanding one’s emotional needs and being mindful of the potential consequences of seeking companionship in a state of vulnerability.
Switching gears to a non-emotional topic for insurance professionals. Well, it's non-emotional unless you have a difficult renewal to handle.
An entertaining resource for casualty underwriters
My Thoughts Exactly! is a collection of gentle rants born of decades-long observations of underwriting questions and errors. Some of those were, alas, my own. For those who are new to the business, this book provides valuable lessons without the tedium of a traditional textbook narrative.
The focus is General Liability Underwriting, but the lessons learned can apply to decisions made about other lines of business and potentially extend to situations unrelated to the insurance industry.
Reviews and awards
Literary Titan awarded My Thoughts Exactly! a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review in November 2023, and the Literary Titan Book Award in December 2023. One of the author’s favorite excerpts from the book addresses its tone:
“What sets My Thoughts Exactly apart is its user-centric approach to what can often be an arduous task of navigating insurance textbooks. The author, leveraging a wealth of experience, intertwines the technical with the anecdotal, sprinkling the narrative with engaging tales, some of which are delightfully laced with humor and wit. For industry veterans, these stories will strike a chord, and newcomers will find them enlightening.”
Amazon comments (found at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2S6P1HY#customerReviews) include:
- “Her presentation style incorporates her knowledge, humor, the use of situations for authentic study, her pithy essays, puzzles, surprises, and tips.”
- “This book is fun for anyone, but it should be required reading for those in the business.”
- “Another aspect of her writing that you rarely find in legalistic writings of this nature is her charmingly dry sense of humor that seasons the work, making the subject imminently palatable.”
And from Goodreads: “Her observations are wry, insightful, and most of all easy to understand even for the lay person among us.”