My first introduction to our area senior citizen publication was noticing the colorful photo on the front page. Examining the magazine further, I found helpful articles on travel, health, finances, local fairs and festivals, humor, recipes, and reminiscings. The magazine appealed to the 50- through 100-year-old set. I was fascinated.

At the time, as a native New Yorker, I was reeling from the devastation of the lives lost on September 11th at the World Trade Center (WTC) and decided to write a personal essay, mostly for therapeutic reasons. I was content with the piece and decided to take it a step further. But who would publish an article written by an amateur?! I queried the “over-50” publication, whereby the editor immediately responded, “You’re the only writer who has sent us anything on the September 11th tragedy.”

The next time I saw the front page, there was a picture of my daughter and me, standing atop the WTC in 1994, along with my 500-word article…Front Page News!

Thus began a career of being a “published” writer. I wrote on travel, health, nature, and my childhood. The editor, now my favorite editor, always responded immediately to my queries.

When I suggested a “How about Scenes From Childhood,”, where a reader could write about their childhood memories, she responded, “And who will coordinate this column?”

Today, I coordinate three columns and write on assignment for this beautiful, informative publication.

Life begins at 60 – and so does my writing career!

Suzanne Beyer is on the editorial staff of a Seattle senior citizen magazine, ghost writes for a local community college, and teaches her “Write On” class to elementary school children at the YMCA during the summer.