An Interview with Anne Fowler

I grew up in Toronto and, like many of my generation, pursued a career in nursing. It was not for me and I bailed to join American Airlines as a stewardess, known these days as a flight attendant. My love of travel did not end when I left that job and I continued to visit countries around the globe throughout my eighty-three years! However, the bulk of my business career was spent in human resources, and for almost thirty years I owned the well-known Toronto personnel agency, Hamilton Enterprises. In 2000, I closed my company and “retired” to pursue philanthropic projects in Honduras where I now spend six months of each year.

I have two children, two grandchildren, two grand dogs, and outlived two ex-husbands. My very full life has taken me down roads I never expected to travel; some filled with interesting but risky adventures. I’ve been accorded unforeseen opportunities both in business and my personal life, blessed with a loving family, supportive friends, and the belief that I am following the path that God intended—life is good!

Learn more at anne.honduranhope.net.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

There were two reasons for me writing my memoir: 1) I did it on a dare from friends who had been encouraging me to write it for years, and 2) Covid hit, I couldn’t go home for my normal six months, all my Honduran projects were canceled due to lockdown—I had to do SOMETHING to occupy my mind. Once started, I finished it when I returned to Canada.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

I had been struggling with finding a title and it finally was offered by a fellow safari traveler as we enjoyed an evening cocktail in Capetown. As a woman who is frequently seen wearing a hat, for many years I have been nicknamed “the hat lady.” Given my many different life activities, it seemed to fit. There was an incident many years ago when I was being introduced as that evening’s speaker and the MC said, “And look, she has hair!!”

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

The book cover I had designed but what I wasn’t prepared for was the size of the book….I had actually written a book!

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

The one that comes immediately to mind is Frank Sinatra’s “I Did It My Way.”

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

The book produced a reader reaction that I didn’t see coming. Although it has been out for over two years, I continue to receive letters from people who have been touched/inspired by my life. Here is an example:

“The consensus of opinion by our book club members who have been reading I’ve Worn Many Hats is that it’s definitely not your average run-of-the-mill memoir! Content spans a wide range including humour, outrageous behaviour, tragedy, and redemption. Life experiences are laid out so honestly it was impossible not to identify with some of them. For the first time in many years one of our group shared her experience with rape and its consequences. Most of us had never heard about her trauma and it seemed that opening up to us was very liberating for her. It definitely encouraged more discussion! We strongly recommend that you buy this entertaining book not only for your own enjoyment but to support the author’s work with children in Honduras. Anne Hamilton Fowler is truly an inspiration; her life is remarkable.”

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

Besides the fact that it is helping to fund my Honduran work, that it is helping people and providing inspiration, an unexpected result that I didn’t see coming was the cathartic result and closure that I obtained by actually writing/describing incidents in my life that I had never fully dealt with more than fifty years ago.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.