I'M DEFINITELY LEADING MY BEST LIFE'

Best-selling author Jojo Moyes tells us why she's pushing herself out of her comfort zone - and why her 50s are shaping up to be her best decade yet

- LAURA BENJAMIN

As someone who has sold more than 57 million copies of her books worldwide, with one, Me Before You, turned into a hit film, Jojo Moyes could be forgiven for resting on her laurels. But for the past few years, the best-selling author has been on a mission to push herself out of her comfort zone.

"I find older women doing interesting things so inspirational," Jojo, 55, tells us in this exclusive interview. "I remember in my 40s feeling as though it would be easy to lead a smaller life, outside my career.

"So in the past five years, I've pushed myself to keep looking outwards. In January, I went swimming with sharks. It was exhilarating - I think I was on a high for about two weeks." As the Kent-born author, who has three children with her ex-husband, releases her 17th book, We All Live Here, she is determined to enjoy every moment - a feeling encapsulated by HELLO!'s Second Act initiative, which celebrates women of a certain age who are living their best lives.

"We only get one shot at life," she says. "It's such a cliché, but life is not a dress rehearsal, and it hits you when you get to this age. I'm definitely leading my best life. It has its challenges, but it's really rewarding."