What if your graduation card came with actual life advice, not the generic “follow your dreams” kind, but the wisdom that helps you navigate awkward situationships, critical conversations, and the inevitable recreational explorations? That’s the spirit behind Not Your Mother’s Advice, the new book from Colorado-based author and former agency executive Jennifer Lancaster Dana. A mother of five with a long career in high-pressure marketing leadership, Jennifer is no stranger to the messiness of real life and the questions no one tells you how to ask. Her book is a funny, heartfelt, and unfiltered guide for teens, twenty-somethings (and the parents who love them), offering practical tools for everything from surviving heartbreak to handling housemate drama to managing money. Packed with personal stories, witty humor, and actionable advice, Not Your Mother’s Advice meets young adults where they are — often somewhere between “I got this” and “What the heck am I doing?”
Q&A with Jennifer Lancaster Dana:
Q: What sets your book apart from others in the advice genre?
A: My voice—I share personal stories and my writing is sarcastic, funny, vulnerable, and entertaining. It’s not a lecture. It’s exposure to different perspectives, options, and tools.
Q: What’s a blind spot you see in young adults today?
A: Phone addiction—and it’s not just young adults. It’s intense. My top recommendation is to go into nature and leave your phone at home—even for a few hours a week.
Q: What do you wish more young people knew was survivable?
A: Your first heartbreak—whether it’s a friend or a partner—is survivable. Feel the emotions. Don’t numb or suppress them. When you accept your feelings, you’ll feel a little better. Then, each day, go outside for a walk, call your parents or a friend—just keep moving.
Q: Why are tough conversations so hard, and where can someone start?
A: You don’t want to upset anyone, and it can be awkward. So you suppress, which builds resentment. Start with writing down what you want to say using ‘I feel’ statements. Not ‘I feel that you…’ but something like, ‘I feel sad because I haven’t heard from you.’ And don’t have the conversation when you’re emotionally charged.
Q: Which chapter do readers say they relate to most?
A: The intuition chapter really surprised me. It resonated with both young adults and older readers. I share personal stories, including speaking up when a taxi driver was driving erratically late at night, so I asked him to drop me off at the next gas station we came across. Intuition is about trusting your gut, even when it’s uncomfortable. And the communication chapter is super informational. It’s all about how to have hard conversations, something we aren’t really taught. I give clear steps and real examples of real situations that young adults are experiencing.”
Meet Jennifer Lancaster Dana in person at her upcoming book signing on Saturday, July 19, at 5:30 p.m. at Barnes & Noble in Superior, Colorado. Bring your questions, your awkward stories, or just your curiosity, and pick up a signed copy of Not Your Mother’s Advice. Whether you’re launching into adulthood or parenting someone who is, this is the book you didn’t know you needed.
To purchase the book, visit JenniferLancasterDana.com