Oh, hi!
Welcome to my little corner of the Substack Universe. I’m Alexa Joy Sherman Young (multiple names for multiple personalities) — a writer, editor, author, and perimenopausal empty-nester with a lot of feelings and a very reliable need to process them in public.
Over the past 25+ years, I’ve edited and contributed to print rags like Shape, O: The Oprah Magazine, and Women’s Health, coauthored two nonfiction books (one about fitness, one about casual sex, because … range?), and wrote a four-book YA series called Frenemies which was huge in … France (the publishing business is crazy). It also inspired a Disney TV-movie co-starring Zendaya (though I’m not sure she’d want to admit it, let alone put it on her CV).
Basically, I’ve spent the better part of my adult life saying yes to whatever the working world threw at me … until I became seriously burned out. After taking some time (like, years) to process my shifting roles as a professional, parent, and all-around complicated person, I’ve decided I still have a lot to say.
The Gen-X Journals is where I’m saying it.
Expect personal essays, cultural reckoning, and the kind of honesty that comes from having nothing left to prove. No shame, tons of support for my fellow Midstackers in particular, and the occasional deep dive into a song you forgot you knew all the lyrics to. (I worked in the music business for the better part of the 90s so there’ll be lots of fun stuff from that era.)
ICYMI, here are links to my first few posts (and you best believe there is so much more to come):
Welcome to The Gen-X Journals Why am I even here? Does anybody know?
Cougar Puberty A not-so-silent meditation on 40 years of menstruation (and counting...)
Ticket Tuesday: My First Concert On falling in love with Andy Fletcher in 1986, falling out of love with live music 40 years later, and getting the balance right
Opportunities
I’m not great at asking for support, let alone compensation for my creative endeavors, but I’m trying to get better at that. If the things I’m sharing here resonate, I would love for you to become a paid subscriber — not because it’ll make a huge dent in the cost of living these days (I mean, can you even?), but because it might signal to me that we connect on a deeper level. Or not! Just know it’s appreciated and I’ll try to make you feel extra special … within reason.
At some point, I may even wind up offering these as extras:
Key to the closet: Access to the secret chat-room
Key to the diary: Paywalled posts and other bonus content
Key to my heart: Giveaways (like a signed copy of one of my books or a Cougar Puberty magnet)
A Bit More About Me
I’m a Southern California girl who’s never quite fit in, geographically or otherwise. Born in 1970 in the smog and meth capital of the world (AKA Riverside), I was raised by a first-generation Bronx boy and an ambitious British mother, alongside a brilliant older brother. My parents were both biologists (Mom later became a deputy district attorney and judge … it was a lot to live up to), and that allowed me to spend idyllic childhood summers on Cape Cod before I dutifully checked off all the expected boxes — college, career, marriage, kid.
My son (one and done) moved out a couple of years ago and is engaged to a super cool chick. They collect guitars (he plays guitar and bass, just like his dad), and are especially into 80s metal bands and 90s grunge. She’s in early child education, he’s working towards becoming a pilot, and they are the proud parents of three cats.
As an empty-nester, I spend lots of time with my husband and three rescue dogs, reading, writing, gardening, traveling, making art, and trying to figure out where I left my glasses (which are progressive, like me!).
