Crone Chronicles 20-20© is a priceless collection of short stories, poems and songs, (all single-sitting reads) written by female elders venerated for their experience, judgment, and wisdom.

This book project created an opportunity for both published authors and first-time storytellers to craft stories about their lives that tell the world who they really are. No holds barred! Ms. Gish promotes storytelling to empower and heal; by transforming life-long learning into sage wisdom, we devote our elder years to self-awareness and self-expression for the higher good.

More than just 'coming of age' stories, Crone Chronicle 20-20 writers hold their heads high, laugh, cry, and explore what it means to grow old: unapologetically demystifying and debunking the meaning of CRONE. Societally, crones get a bad rap, labeled as 'ugly old hags' or 'witches' and are not perceived as useful or productive. This disparaging treatment of female elders is a loss for everyone who would benefit from knowing us. From loving us. From holding us. Crones often become abandoned and invisible after raising families, retiring or being alone in the world due to divorce, death, sexual preference, poverty, or illness.

Crone Chronicles 20-20 reshapes negative images of crones by reclaiming the crone archetype 'wise woman.' Writing heals while producing 'generativity' i.e., "what I've gleaned from my experience, I now want to share so future generations will also benefit."

While Crone Chronicles 20-20 cannot resolve all discrimination of female elders, it does provide a platform for individual and collective healing. Crones describe life-defining moments with an eye toward fortifying their conviction and position. These crone writers tap into the hearts and minds of readers, creating compassion for their struggles and conquests to teach us all about life.

Gish created this anthology of women's stories to unveil and identify the magnificent lives of crones: amazing adventures that inspire and empower us to rise, surpassing our own hopes and expectations for what we can accomplish later in life.

Debra L. Gish, Managing Editor of Crone Chronicles 20-20©: Intimately Inspiring Glimpses into the Lives of Wise Women 52+ has gathered a priceless collection of short stories by female elders (crones). Gish is also Founder of Crones Landing; a published poet and author of Displaced: A Perilous True Story of an Expatriate Working to Right Wrongs from the Past, Steuben Press, April 2017.

Recognizing the glaring ignorance related to women's roles worldwide, Gish has dedicated her life to promoting women's worth. She empowers crones, who often become 'invisible' after raising families, retiring, or being alone due to divorce, death, sexuality, poverty, or illness.

Gish is an international development practitioner, peace mediator and learning coach engaged in multi-disciplinary fields: women's, elder's, and indigenous rights, transformative justice, civil society, education, public health, food security, disaster relief, child and adolescent workers, immigration reform and human trafficking. She is a recognized expert in gender analysis, a humanist, and above all, a feminist. She has been on the front lines for five decades. Gish directs programs for international organizations and NGOs, e.g., CRS, CARE, Irish Aid, US State Dept., US Labor Dept., USAID, UNDP, UNODC and UN Women. She leads pioneering work that educates and empowers women, youth, elders, indigenous and minorities in countries around the world.

Gish conceived of Crone Chronicles 2020©, after witnessing and confronting violence and global systematic oppression of women and girls throughout her career. She feels this book is a viable means to help heal deep wounds. Readers will learn from our wisdom and be inspired to make positive changes in society.

It is Debra's personal quest to empower crones in transforming life-long learning and experiences into sage wisdom so we can be a positive force for humanity. Crone Chronicles 20-20 is a magical experience; crones explore and surface the divine waiting to be tapped and nurtured inside each of us. For the confidence instilled in her by the 57 selected storytellers appearing in these pages, she feels deeply honored.