What happens when the passion that has defined your life comes to an end? That’s the question at the heart of “Changing Cadence: Friendship, Football, and the Art of Transition,” a new memoir inspired by author Andra Douglas’ career in women’s professional football.
Released by AmpliFLY Books, the memoir tells the story of Christine, a New York City entertainment executive whose identity has long been intertwined with the New York Sharks, one of the country’s best-known women’s tackle football teams. As both the team’s quarterback and owner, she has spent two decades building a franchise while helping grow a sport that has often existed outside the national spotlight.
But after years on the field, Christine is forced to confront an unavoidable reality: her playing career is coming to an end.
Preparing to sell the Sharks, she negotiates one final season before handing the organization to new ownership. The farewell campaign becomes more than a championship chase—it becomes a journey of self-discovery as she grapples with life beyond football.
Running alongside Christine’s story is that of her mother, Dorothy, who is facing a major transition of her own. After leaving the Florida ranch she has called home for years, Dorothy moves into an assisted living community in Zephyrhills, where she reconnects with old friends while adjusting to a new chapter of life.
The two worlds collide in unexpected ways when residents of Dorothy’s retirement community become invested in Christine’s final football season. Gathering to watch livestreams of Sharks games and cheering the team from hundreds of miles away, the seniors develop an unlikely connection with the athletes, creating friendships that bridge generations and lifestyles.
Douglas uses these parallel stories to examine universal themes of identity, resilience and purpose. While football provides the backdrop, the memoir focuses on the emotional challenges that accompany aging, career changes and family relationships.
The book also shines a light on women’s professional football, a sport whose athletes have long competed with limited financial resources and media attention while helping pave the way for future generations of women in contact sports.
Blending humor with heartfelt moments, Changing Cadence illustrates that reinvention is rarely easy but often opens the door to unexpected opportunities and meaningful relationships.
Published on March 5, 2026, the memoir offers an uplifting reminder that while careers, communities and circumstances may change, purpose can often be rediscovered in surprising places. For readers navigating retirement, career transitions or family milestones, Douglas’ story delivers a timely message about embracing life’s next chapter with courage, resilience and optimism.