Yuma native turns cancer experience into empowering book

  Mattie Mills will never forget her halfway point in writing an empowering book for women over 40. It's when she discovered a lump in her breast.

  But Mills refused to let that invader within her body steal her spirit and momentum. Instead the Yuma-born author simply wrote the cancer into her book, alongside all the other real-life triumphs and tragedies aimed at giving women an honest, inspiring look at the wonders of growing up.

  "It's all real life. It's all in there!" Mills laughed during a phone interview from her San Diego home. "Women have said they are so relieved to find that someone else feels the same way they do. Women laugh and cry and sometimes feel empowered and charged up. They are excited to see other women speaking so honestly about real life."

  Mills, 48, who was born and raised in Yuma, is a 1978 graduate of Yuma High School. She now lives in San Diego, where she works as a professional singer and does voice work for commercials and

  Mills wrote her book, appropriately called "Forty Schmorty," with longtime gal pal Eve Selis. In their book, the two women cover everything from marriage and children to aging parents and finding one's true beauty.

  The self-published book is hot off the presses and is currently only available on the authors' Web site: www.fortyschmorty.com.

  "When a woman hits 40, our culture tells us that the little black cloud has appeared over our heads," the authors write in their publicity materials. "It's time to slow down, fatten up and start walking funny. You know what we say? FORTY SCHMORTY!"

  Mills and Selis make the argument that if being 20 is great, then being 40 must be twice as good.

  "We're wiser, tougher, smarter, twice as skilled and twice as sexy," the authors write. "40 over the hill? Not by a long shot. You better make it 80, 'cause we're the youngest of the Baby Boomers and we've got some serious bang left."

  "Forty Schmorty" is written in dialogue form, like a conversation between the two girlfriends.

  "We want women to feel like they are that third person sitting in a chair listening in on the conversation," Mills said. "Eve is a wonderful conversationalist. I just love talking to Eve. We get going back and forth and by gosh, by the time we are done with a conversation, we own the world!"

  Just as Mills experienced cancer during the book's creation, Selis discovered she was pregnant at 43.

  Both have led some pretty interesting lives, adding even more color to their wit and insight. 

  Selis works as a singer and songwriter based in San Diego. Mills said her friend's rock music is especially popular in the United Kingdom, where she goes on concert tour each year.

  Mills' career in show business took off right after high school graduation. She toured internationally with the singing group Up With People for one year to nations ranging from England and Holland to Spain and the former Yugoslavia.

  Back in the U.S. she discovered quite a career in voice work, recording speaking and singing performances that have been used by Disney On Ice and Barnum and Bailey Circus. For the latter, in addition to singing, she was the recorded voice of the invisible ring mistress for some time.

  But the highlight of her career has been singing as a lead vocalist with the San Diego band The Heroes. She's performed with that group for 21 years, sharing the stage with Elton John and performing at several Super Bowls.

  "It's been a great ride," Mills said with clear satisfaction.

  Mills, who was breastfeeding a 13-month child at the time, discovered the lump in her breast in 2006 - on Mother's Day. Mills is mother to four children, ages ranging from 3 to 19.

  "I almost died twice and I begged God, made a deal with God. I pleaded with him to bring me back for my family. I said, 'I'm not done yet and I promise to go out and help others as much as I can.'

  "I'm such a believer. I know God has a plan with this. I am living so I can go out and help women and give them strength and encouragement to move on with their lives."

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Mills' musical accomplishments with The Heroes band:

• Performed with Elton John at a corporate event in Boca Raton, Fla.
• Staged shows for Pricewaterhouse Coopers in Bermuda and Orlando.
• Traveled through Spain, Germany, Greece, Italy, Sicily, Sardinia and Crete during Desert Storm, performing for the troops as guests of the Defense Department.
• Performed five USO shows on aircraft carriers.
• Appeared in several Super Bowl shows, including those in San Diego, Miami and Tampa.
• Shared the stage with The Steve Miller Band during the Street Scene festival in San Diego.
• Performed several shows with Jay Leno and an evening backing Lea Salonga, the original "Miss Saigon" and the singing voice of several Disney characters.
• Invited by Harrah's in Las Vegas to perform during the casino's High Roller New Year's Eve show several years.

More of Mills on the Web:

• See a video of her band's music at www.TheHeroes.com
• Order her book at www.fortyschmorty.com
• Watch Podcasts filmed while writing the book at GorillaSoapBox.com

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Darin Fenger can be reached at
dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.