Reinvent Life At Any Age With New Book, Changing Cadence, By Andra Douglas

On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, discover how former professional football star Andra Douglas and her mother navigate life’s toughest transitions in Changing Cadence, a funny and poignant true story about reinvention, resilience, and an unlikely intergenerational bond.

Life rarely moves in a straight line. Eventually, everyone reaches a point where they must figure out how to reinvent themselves when familiar roles fade away. This universal human challenge is at the heart of Changing Cadence: Friendship, Football, and the Art of Transition, a poignant and humorous new book by author, artist, and former elite athlete Andra Douglas.

Rooted in the author’s extraordinary real-life experiences, the book explores identity, aging, and resilience by weaving together two vastly different communities: gritty New York City athletes and outspoken small-town Florida seniors.

From Gridiron Glory to a Bitter-Sweet Farewell

The narrative centers on Christine, a driven entertainment industry executive and middle-aged athlete residing in New York City. For two decades, she served as the heartbeat of the New York Sharks, the most prestigious franchise in women’s tackle football, acting as both the team’s quarterback and owner.

However, time eventually forces a difficult reality. Having aged out of playing on the field, Christine faces a major crossroads. Although a team sale is already in motion, she negotiates one final season—a last hurrah to preserve the identity that defined her adulthood before handing over the reins to new leadership.

A Parallel Passage in Rural Florida

While Christine navigates the fast-paced world of urban athletics, a simultaneous transition unfolds hundreds of miles away in rural central Florida.

Christine’s mother, Dorothy, the matriarch of the family ranch, leaves behind her longtime home known as “The Hill” to move into The Commons, an assisted living community in Zephyrhills. In this tight-knit environment, residents who have known each other for decades confront the realities of growing older together, rediscovering old friendships, and reliving familiar social dynamics.

An Unlikely Intergenerational Alliance

When word spreads through the Florida community that Christine is selling the Sharks and embarking on a final season, the residents of The Commons become dedicated fans. Driven by a mix of curiosity and investment, the group begins following the team’s journey via FaceTime calls and streamed games in the facility’s movie room.

This sparks a moving and unexpected bond between two contrasting worlds: high-energy young female athletes in the country’s biggest metropolis and opinionated octogenarians in a small Southern town. The collision of modern urban life and “Old Florida” highlights surprising shared struggles beneath surface-level differences, offering a humorous and deeply touching look at human connection.

About the Author: Andra Douglas

The book draws heavily from the remarkable life of its creator. A central Florida native and graduate of Florida State University and Pratt Institute, Andra Douglas has lived a remarkably diverse life:

• Athletic Achievements: A National Champion in rugby, a quarterback in women’s tackle football, and an inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
• Entrepreneurship & Leadership: Founder of the Fins Up! Foundation for Female Athletes and owner of the two-time national champion New York Sharks for 19 years.
• Corporate & Artistic Success: Former Vice President and Creative Director at Atlantic Records/Time Warner, and an established mixed-media artist based in Greenwich Village.

Changing Cadence offers an emotional and entertaining look at the chapters of life that arrive for everyone, proving that it is never too late to find new purpose, laugh through the hardships, and begin again.

Find more from Andra Douglas now:

Kindle: https://amzn.to/4waiEXS

Paperback: https://amzn.to/3SeIlJ4