Short Story
You’re Always 39: How to Recover from Late Career Job Loss and Reinvent Yourself
Women are 40% more likely to lose their jobs in their 50s and 60s. This is the book for all of them.
You’re Always 39: How to Recover from Late Career Job Loss and Reinvent Yourself is the only guide written by a woman who’s been there for every professional woman who deserves to finish her career on her own terms.
Written by Lynne Gravis. A 40-year corporate executive, twice named a Top Woman in her field, and a woman who started over at 60.
You’re Always 39: How to Survive Late Career Job Loss and Reinvent Yourself
Why This Book. Why Me. Why Now.
The inciting moment
It was 6 a.m. on a cold February morning. I was already dressed for work when I signed on for what my calendar listed as an “urgent” meeting with my manager. She didn’t waste any time. After 40 years in corporate America — after leading global teams, winning over 150 industry awards, and mentoring countless colleagues — she told me: as of 8 a.m., I was no longer an employee.
I sat at my desk. Just sat. I hadn’t had a quiet moment in years.
I was 60 years old and I had just been fired.
What it costs women to stay stuck
There were no guidebooks for what I was going through. No roadmaps. No one told me how to protect my rights, manage my finances through the gap, rebuild my confidence or think clearly about what came next. I needed a guide, and none existed.
So I wrote it myself.
Women are 40% more likely to lose their jobs in their 50s and 60s than their male peers. That represents nearly 15 million women — senior professionals pushed aside, demoted, or fired not because of performance, but because of age. Most of them don’t know their rights. Many never fully recover financially or professionally. And almost none of them had a guide when they needed it most.
What changes with this book
You’re Always 39 is that guide. It is the book I wish had existed. It draws on my own experience, on the stories of dozens of women who shared their journeys with me, and on deep research into the statistics, the law, and the corporate cultures that allow this to happen. Whether you suspect it’s starting to happen to you, you’ve already lost a job you loved, or you want to protect yourself before it does — this book meets you where you are.
“I’m here to help you, the aging professional woman, prolong your career, remain in the workforce, or start something new.”
— Lynne Gravis
What This Book Does
This book helps you go from blindsided, isolated, and unsure of your rights to informed, empowered, and ready to act — or to start over stronger.
Recognize the subtle signs of ageism before they become a crisis
Understand your legal rights and how to document what’s happening
Navigate the EEOC process and decide when to pursue legal action
Manage your finances, insurance, and tax exposure through job loss
Rebuild your professional identity and land meaningful work again
Know what to say — and what not to say — to protect yourself
Stop blaming yourself and start seeing the systemic picture clearly
What’s Inside
Fifteen chapters covering every stage — before, during, and after late-career job loss.
Part I: Understanding the Landscape
- Chapter 1: From Rosie to Reinvention — the history of women in the U.S. workforce
- Chapter 2: Hags, Witches and Grams — how culture shapes the way companies see aging women
- Chapter 3: Cowgirls Don’t Grow Old — confronting the myths about aging and relevance
Part II: Recognizing & Responding
- Chapter 4: It’s Not Your Imagination — how to know if your employer cares about your age
- Chapter 5: The Patriarchy’s Dirty Secret — how women are turned against each other
- Chapter 6: Ageism vs. Age Discrimination — the critical difference, and why it matters
Part III: Protecting Yourself Legally & Financially
- Chapter 7: It’s Happening to Me — now what? Your first steps
- Chapter 8: Getting Help — working directly with the EEOC
- Chapter 9: Going Legal — when and how to pursue an age discrimination case
- Chapter 10: The Legal Process — what to expect and how to prepare
- Chapter 11: Finances and Taxes — managing the financial reality of job loss and settlements
- Chapter 12: Your Employer Through the Process — understanding the other side
Part IV: Coming Back Stronger
- Chapter 13: Getting Ahead of the Risk — how to prevent or stop age discrimination
- Chapter 14: Back to Work Again — working after age-based job loss
- Chapter 15: Be a Better Workplace — what companies can do (and what you can ask of yours)
Who This Is For
The Professional Woman Who Feels the Shift
What she’s living with
She’s done everything right — high performance reviews, loyal to her company, built a reputation over decades. Now her manager has changed, she’s being left out of meetings, and a colleague half her age has been given her projects. She can’t prove anything. But she feels it.
What most people tell her
“You’re overreacting.” “It’s just restructuring.” “Maybe it’s time to think about what comes next.”
What this book gives her
A clear checklist of early warning signs, a documentation strategy, and the language to name what’s happening — so she can act, not just wonder.
The Woman Who Was Suddenly Let Go
What she’s living with
A 6 a.m. call. A message through HR. A box to pack. She gave that company decades. Now she doesn’t know who she is without that title, that team, that purpose — and she doesn’t know where to start.
What most people tell her
“At least you got a severance.” “You’ll be fine!” “Have you thought about consulting?”
What this book gives her
A step-by-step guide from emotional recovery through financial planning, legal options, and a real strategy for what comes next — written by someone who lived it.
The HR Professional or People Leader
What they’re living with
They see patterns in hiring, promotion, and attrition. They know something is wrong. They want language, data, and frameworks to push back — or to build a culture that gets it right.
What most companies give them
Compliance training that checks a box and changes nothing.
What this book gives them
Chapter 15 specifically addresses what companies can do — practical, evidence-based guidance for building genuinely age-inclusive workplaces.
The Daughter, Friend, or Advocate
What she’s living with
She watches someone she loves navigating this alone — and doesn’t know how to help.
What this book gives her
A framework for understanding what’s happening, validation for the woman going through it, and a starting point for real conversations.
Perks & Packages
How to Choose Your Tier
If you’re buying for yourself: start with “Founding Reader” ($49) for a signed copy, e-book, and a library donation in your name. Ready to join a private community of women committed to this mission? “Stronger Together Champion” ($149) adds founding membership in the private You’re Always 39 LinkedIn group — plus two launch party invitations.
If you want to give: “Women’s Voices Champion” ($99) gives you two signed copies — one to keep and one to pass on — plus a library donation. Every tier includes at least one library donation, because access to this guide matters.
If you’re an advocate or professional: “Rise Together Advocate” ($299) and “Rise Together Leader” ($599) are built for those who want to spread this message wider — with multiple copies, launch tickets, and a named listing in the Resource Appendix.
If you’re an employer or organization: the “Break Through Business” tiers include private workshops with Lynne and an HR expert from the book — designed to create real, lasting change inside your organization. Only a handful of slots are available.
Choose the tier that fits your goal — whether you’re buying for yourself, gifting to someone you know, or championing this mission at scale.
$49 — Founding Reader
›
Best for: Solo readers who want to be first
- 1 signed final copy of You’re Always 39
- 1 free e-book
- 1 signed copy donated to a library of your choice
- Name listed as a Founding Member in all published editions
Limit: Open
$99 — Women’s Voices Champion
›
Best for: You + a friend who needs this book
- 2 signed final copies
- 2 free e-books
- 1 signed copy donated to a library of your choice
- Name listed as a Founding Member in all published editions
Limit: Open
⭐ $149 — Stronger Together Champion Most Popular
›
Best for: Connectors and community builders
- 2 signed final copies
- 2 free e-books
- 1 signed copy donated to a library of your choice
- Founding membership in the private You’re Always 39 LinkedIn group
- 2 invitations to the launch party
- Name listed as a Founding Member in all published editions
Limit: Open
$299 — Rise Together Advocate
›
Best for: Advocates, professionals, and generous givers
- 5 signed copies
- 5 free e-books
- 2 signed copies donated to libraries of your choice
- Founding membership in the private You’re Always 39 LinkedIn group
- 5 invitations to the launch party
- Name listed as a Founding Member in all published editions
Limit: Open
$599 — Rise Together Leader
›
Best for: Mission multipliers and named contributors
- 10 signed copies
- 10 free e-books
- 3 signed copies donated to libraries of your choice
- Founding membership in the private You’re Always 39 LinkedIn group
- 10 invitations to the launch party
- Listed as a named contributor in the Resource Appendix
Limit: Open
$1,500 — Business Sponsor
›
Best for: Change-driver organizations ready to invest in their people
- 25 signed copies
- 25 free e-books
- 5 signed copies donated to libraries of your choice
- Founding membership in the private You’re Always 39 LinkedIn group
- Organization listed in the Resource Appendix
- 1-hour private virtual Q&A session with Lynne
Limit: Open
$5,000 — Break Through Business Champion 5 slots only
›
Best for: Companies committed to fighting ageism from the inside
- 50 signed copies
- 50 free e-books
- 10 signed copies donated to libraries of your choice
- Organization listed in the Resource Appendix
- 1 customized private workshop with Lynne + HR expert from the book
- Travel expenses billed separately if in-person
⚠ Only 5 slots available
$10,000 — Break Through Business Leader 3 slots only
›
Best for: Enterprise-level commitment to age-inclusive workplaces
- 100 signed copies
- 100 free e-books
- 10 signed copies donated to libraries of your choice
- Organization listed prominently in the Resource Appendix
- 2 customized private workshops with Lynne + HR expert from the book
- Travel expenses billed separately if in-person
⚠ Only 3 slots available
TIMELINE + WHAT YOUR SUPPORT MAKES POSSIBLE
The Book’s Journey
| Phase | Status / Notes |
|---|---|
| Writing | Manuscript draft is complete. I have been accepted to the publishing programme. |
| Developmental Editing | Development editing is complete (draft manuscript completed). |
| Presale Campaign | Commences April 20, 2026 and runs until May 25, 2026. Target: at least 200 copies sold, 150+ backers and fans. Monetary goal: to fund the publishing and production phase — the next step on the journey to becoming a published author. |
| Revisions Editing | Begins immediately after the presale campaign ends — a 16-week intensive process transforming the manuscript into a polished book ready for publication. |
| Design | Manuscripts provides a professional design team who handle all final book production elements, including cover design, illustrations, and layout. |
| Editing | Manuscripts has a professional team of copyeditors and proofreaders to ensure the book is properly edited and ready for print. |
| Printing will take place in late December 2026 and early January 2027. | |
| Ship | Signed copies delivery to Founding Members in January 2027. All Founding Members will be kept up to date on the print and production schedule. |
| Published | Publication is planned just after Founding Members receive their copies — you will be the first to read the book. |
| Workshops, Events & 1:1s | Summer 2026 – Summer 2027. I will keep you updated. |
Where Presale Funds Go
Your purchase helps build the audience for you’re always 39. Not only are you getting your own copy, but you are donating to your local library so others have access to the message too. If you purchase greater quantities, you’ll be helping to spread the message even more. Workshops are for companies whom want to lead in this area.
Risks & Challenges
Every meaningful creation carries an element of the unknown. Here is my honest commitment to you:
The manuscript is well underway, with draft 1 complete and acceptance into the publishing programme secured. The core work is done.
The most common source of delays in book publishing is the design and printing timeline. I am committed to keeping Founding Members informed every step of the way, with transparent updates shared within our exclusive Author Community.
Workshops, immersions, launches, and events are scheduled with lead time built in. In the unlikely event a session needs to be rescheduled, every effort will be made to find a time that works for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why am I running a presale campaign?
Builds an initial audience for the book and generates conversation about the topic.
2. What will appear on my credit card statement?
You will see MANUSCRIPT reflected on your credit card statement.
3. When will I receive the book?
Signed copies for Founding Members are expected to ship in January 2027. I will keep all Founding Members informed of the print and production schedule as it unfolds.
4. Where does shipping come from, and what does it cost?
Shipping is included in the price of each package. Once the books are printed, they come to me so I can sign them and add a personal note. I will keep you informed of all the details as the process unfolds.
5. Can I get a refund or cancel my order?
Manuscripts manages the platform and holds all funds. Should I not complete the programme, they will fully refund all backers. Individual refunds and changes to packages are assessed on an individual basis. The standing rule is: purchases are not refundable, they are transferable.
6. Can I buy multiple copies or gift a package?
Yes! You can only buy one package per transaction, but using the same email address you can return as many times as you like to purchase additional packages or leave a donation.
7. How do I claim my bonuses — the meditations and community access?
Once my presale campaign is completed, I will be in touch with each backer individually to confirm their purchase and discuss delivery details.
8. Will the book be available on Amazon later?
Yes — the book will be published on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online platforms, and will be available to order from local bookshops and libraries. Being a Founding Member means receiving a personally signed copy, acknowledgement in the book, first access, and your name listed as a Founding Member in all published editions.
9. How to contact me?
Email me: cgwipper@gmail.com
Follow me on Linkedin
PRESALE PERKS AND PACKAGES
