Forty-Something Phoenix: A Travel Memoir

by Marlayna Glynn

Following her wildly popular memoir trilogy, Marlayna now shares lessons learned in six months traveling through fourteen countries. Readers will find hope in this true story that teaches the wisdom of creating and receiving miracles on a journey of self-discovery by saying “Yes.”

Marlayna had been a single parent for fifteen years when she felt she had nothing left of herself to give. Drained and empty, she writes, "I'd reached a point in my life where something had to give, and it could no longer be me."

In Forty-Something Phoenix, she discovers how passion can arise unexpectedly from the ashes of one life to craft another. This memoir redefines the love story; illustrating how self-acceptance and self-love can be renewed when exploring the disparities, similarities, histories, loves and losses in other cultures.

“Reading a Marlayna Glynn Brown memoir is like watching a high speed train picking up speed, as it careens towards a collision with an oncoming train. In this case, the heroine (Marlayna) jumps to safety seconds before the inevitable collision. It's nearly impossible to stop watching. Marlayna's personality is a fascinating mixture of vulnerability, sincerity, optimism, self reflection, sexiness, and humbleness. She is the ultimate underdog. She picks herself up and dusts herself off after another of a series of failed romances and friendships.

I would highly recommend reading her prior memoirs. It will assist in putting her latest in the proper perspective.” John L.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

About the author

Marlayna Glynn is a memoirist, publisher, and award-winning photographer. Immediately upon publication Marlayna's first memoir, Overlay: One Girl's Life in 1970s Las Vegas, was honored by the Next Generation Indie Book Awards with an Overcoming Adversity award.

Marlayna's published journey includes more than 60 books. In 2017, she founded Birthright Books, LLC, a ghostwriting agency to help others design their memoirs.

Marlayna's articles have been featured on Huffington Post, PBS Next Avenue, Elephant Journal, and The Good Men Project. Her work has been translated into many different languages and is available in audio format.

Marlayna travels extensively, but can sometimes be found in Austin, Texas with her twin flame, Allen, and their Maine Coon, Luchador.

Find Marlayna's short film People That do Something, which is based on a chapter from Overlay, on Marlayna's Youtube channel. To contact Marlayna please visit www.birthrightbooks.pub.

Reviews

[Jessi Nill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all of the author's previous books (including the one she co-authored). I enjoy reading these and I love that it makes you feel all the emotions books should make you feel, happy/sad/mad/reflective etc. I love that it gives me such a strong reaction as if the author was a friend of mine and I'm reading letters from her instead of book. Several times I thought "no don't do it!" or wanted to cheer her on for taking such risks. But I also love that she knows her strengths and weaknesses and admits them as the story progresses. I love that she isn't willing to give up on her relationships with others ie: her children, her boyfriends/ex-husband, her parents, and especially herself. This book is not an "eat pray love" kind of book but in a way I think the author finds out more about herself by traveling on her own across unfamiliar territory.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading a Marlayna Glynn Brown memoir is like watching a high speed train picking up speed, as it careens towards a collision with an oncoming train. In this case, the heroine (Marlayna) jumps to safety seconds before the inevitable collision. It's nearly impossible to stop watching. Marlayna's personality is a fascinating mixture of vulnerability, sincerity, optimism, self reflection, sexiness, humbleness, and caring. She is the ultimate underdog. She picks herself up and dusts herself off after another of a series of failed romances and friendships.

I would highly recommend reading her prior memoirs. It will assist in putting her latest in the proper perspective.

[Cj · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first must disclose that before Forty Something Phoenix: A Travel Memoir of Love and Rebirth, I was a Marlayna Glynn Brown virgin. I am perplexed to how I have missed her and am now rapidly making up for lost time. Her writing is deeply personal and like a good Sunday sermon- you squirm when the words hit too close to home. I admire the brutal honesty shared with such raw emotion that oftentimes I was saying out loud, "I get it." Stepping out of your comfort zone and putting yourself out there is terrifying. I believe what resonated the most with me personally though was the simple fact that while I think and dream about doing something like this, Marlayna DID it! I was so jealous!

[Isabella Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in two sittings, immersed in the world of being a solo female traveler off the beaten path. Packed with near brutal honesty, Forty-Something Phoenix is a story of choices, mistakes, human nature, and the beauty of the world and its people. Possibly my favorite memoir by the author.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was OK, not terrific.