Guiding Light alum Tina Sloan releases new novel, celebrates women over 50

While preparing for the launch of her new book, Chasing Cleopatra, actress-turned-author Tina Sloan (ex-Lillian Raines, Guiding Light) rounds up some of the best actresses over 50. Soap fans probably agree she should be on the list, as well!

Daytime fans loved Tina Sloan in the role of Guiding Light's Lillian Raines, a character that enchanted fans for 26 years despite the fact that she wasn't one of the "young ones." In fact, viewers were delighted when the CBS soap opera wrote a romance between Lillian and Buzz (Justin Deas) in 2007 that began with casual dates and blossomed into a meaningful relationship and marriage. Sadly, Guiding Light was canceled before fans had the chance to see if Buzz and Lillian truly had a happily ever after, but the popularity of the senior romance proved that fans have an appetite for stories that span the ages. In celebration of that, Lillian's portrayer has compiled a list of actresses over 50 who are keeping Hollywood glamourous.

In a guest-writer capacity, Tina Sloan penned a column for Frolic about how women used to be marginalized at age 30 but now have the chance to shine at the ages of 40, 50, and above.

"I started on Guiding Light as the star, then became the mother of the star, then the grandmother of the star and my lines were still fabulous," she writes. "I wasn't diminished as I would have been if I had become 50 in an earlier decade."

Sloan goes on to name eleven Hollywood stars in the latter decades of their lives who continue to work and be celebrated around the globe. Some of the names she lists include Heather Graham, Allison Janney, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Maggie Smith -- though many soap opera fans would argue she probably should have made the list, as well!

In addition to writing for Frolic, Sloan has been busy penning her new novel, Chasing Cleopatra: A Novel of Love, Betrayal, and Suspense, which was released on Saturday, February 1. The book follows a beautiful, clever, and wealthy trained killed named Cleopatra who finds herself colliding with an intricate terrorist plot when she enters into a love affair with the much younger, irresistibly handsome rogue Jake Regan. For more information, check out Sloan's new book on Amazon. It's available in Kindle, hardcover, and paperback versions.

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Sloan starred on Guiding Light from 1983 to 2009 and also played Another World character Olivia Delaney from 1980 to 1981. She previously appeared on the digital drama Venice the Series and currently stars on Beacon Hill. Chasing Clepatra is the actress' second novel, following the 2010 release of her book Changing Shoes: Getting Older -- Not Old -- with Style, Humor and Grace, based on her autobiographical one-woman show.

What do you think about Tina Sloan's article celebrating women over 50? What do you think about the premise of her new book, Chasing Cleopatra? How much do you miss seeing her as GL's Lillian Raines? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.

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