In Variations on Life After 50 , author Jill Timmons provides a new road map for those entering the middle stages of their lives, melding simultaneously the conscious experience of liminal “in-between” space with building an authentically joyous life of meaning, purpose, and legacy.  By challenging the traditional notions of what it means to enter midlife, this heartfelt and heavily researched book shows that creativity is the key to fully engaging with a soulful life in a time of loss and change.   Timmons, an award-winning performance artist and midlife coach, works with clients to discover new models of opportunity later in life. Here, too, she shows that it is through creativity that we discover a way forward and answer the Soul’s call for greater authenticity. Combining compelling studies on aging and art with riveting true-life stories, her own personal journey, practical exercises, and replicable strategies, Variations on Life After 50 offers a daring model for a dynamic and soulful third act of life. Through 30 “variations” modeled on the movements of a grand symphony, readers will: Make peace with loss - Move through transitory periods with newfound excitement - Express gratitude and reclaim power - Discover their creative calling - Lay the groundwork of a meaningful legacy While many baby boomers have been told to work, work, work for the goal of piling up money in order to then enter some sort of retirement “golden years” geared to leisure, most of Timmons’ clients, on the other hand, report wanting a more interconnected and purposeful third act of life. Variations on Life After 50 is a map for those seeking the call of adventure both intrinsically and out in the world.  Jill Timmons is an award-winning author, performance artist, and coaching consultant providing clients with services on life, career, finances, interviews and auditions, and general development for the over-forty population. She has performed under the auspices of the National Endowment for the Arts and has recorded on the Laurel, Centaur, and Capstone labels. Ken Burns chose music from her Amy Beach recording with Laura Klugherz for the soundtrack to his PBS documentary, The War . Timmons serves as the Artist/Teacher Affiliate for Classic Pianos in their seven locations throughout the United States. As founder/director of Artsmentor, LLC (www.artsmentor.com), she is also an international performing arts consultant to the Yamaha Corporation of America, and O’Malley International Associates in Pasadena, assisting individuals and nonprofits in creating sustainable and vibrant arts initiatives. As an author, Timmons was awarded a year-long Visiting Fellowship at Yale University. She is a recipient of the Wilk International Literary Prize from the University of Southern California and is the author of The Musician’s Journey: Crafting Your Career Vision and Plan , now in its second edition.