Shirley Novack Escapes 25-Year Marriage and Becomes Bestselling Author at 76

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Shirley Novack, a first-generation American born to Polish and Russian parents, has spent her life challenging every limitation placed before her. Now in her late 70s, Novack is the author of two books, including her latest release, Stolen Lives, a novel addressing human trafficking. Her journey into writing was fueled by personal trials and triumphs, including escaping a deeply unhappy marriage and launching a decades-long interior design career after returning to school while raising three children.

“I grew up in one of the most negative households that anyone could ever live in,” Novack said. Her mother suffered from severe depression and routinely told her what she couldn't do. “The more she told me no, the more I told myself yes.”

Novack’s resilience followed her into adulthood. Married at 21 to escape her home environment, she found herself in a marriage with a man who was bipolar and emotionally unstable. “He woke up the first morning of our honeymoon catatonic,” she said. For years, she remained in the marriage while building a successful career, eventually founding her own interior design firm. Her husband’s resentment toward her achievements only intensified. It was not until he issued an ultimatum, to either quit her business or face divorce, that Novack saw her opportunity. “I went, yes!” she said. “That was my freedom.”

The divorce took four years, complicated by massive financial debts she was unaware of due to her husband's secret gambling. Despite the turmoil, Novack remained focused on shielding her children from the emotional fallout. “We didn’t fight,” she said. “I wanted them to have a happy upbringing because I didn’t.”

During the pandemic, Novack fulfilled a lifelong dream by writing her first book, a historical fiction novel based loosely on her father's life. Her father, a Holocaust survivor, endured significant trauma, including being raped as a child while living in a brothel before immigrating to the United States. She drew on that legacy to create her debut novel, which received mostly five-star reviews. “I wrote without an outline. I just wrote every day,” she said.

Novack attributes her passion for writing to a fourth-grade teacher who encouraged her after she penned a poem about spring. She honored him in her first book, reprinting the original poem and dedicating the story to him. “I just wanted his family to know the effect that he had on a nine-year-old child,” she said.

In her second book, Stolen Lives, Novack addresses human trafficking. Though the subject was unfamiliar territory, she pursued it with intensity. “It’s a tough read, but it flows,” she said. She credits her fascination with true crime television as a source of inspiration and regularly watched programs like Dateline and 48 Hours.

Her publishing journey included navigating both hybrid and traditional routes. After a disappointing experience with a traditional publisher who dropped her unexpectedly, Novack signed with an independent publisher that released Stolen Lives within 12 weeks.

Now married for over 23 years to her second husband, Novack says she finally found joy in both her personal and professional life. Her message is clear: “The three dirtiest words in the English language are would've, could've, and should've,” she said. “You can't go back and undo something you've done. You can just learn from it and go forward.”

Her books are available through Amazon, BookLocker, and other major retailers.

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