Our house has been more like a merry-go-round than anything since my three girls reached adulthood. Hop on. Hop off. Hop back on again. And while we’ve always been happy to open our home to family, a couple of weeks ago we reached a new milestone—
The Empty Nest.
We still watch our grandson Boo several days a week, but wow, what a difference it is just the two of us. It’s so wonderfully, beautifully quiet—unless we don’t want it to be. We can crank our TV as loud as we want and not have to close the door because someone might be sleeping. We’re both night owls, so our schedule looks different than most people’s. We stay up really late, often into the early morning and then sleep late.
We’re hoping to get an RV soon so we can do a little traveling. I can take my writing and editing work anywhere, so the idea of seeing the US and Canada greatly appeals to us. Plus, now we have one daughter and her family (with my granddaughter) living in Washington state and another in Utah…two very good reasons to travel! And of course, there’s always The Texas Tenors to go see.
As I was sitting here thinking about what a big change this is in our lives, I got to thinking about my heroes and heroines and how I’ve mostly written heroes and heroines in their late twenties/to mid-thirties. I wonder what readers want and like?
So here’s my question—would you like reading stories with older heroes and heroines? Forties? Fifties? Sixties, even? What about those empty nesters? Is that just like eww, yuck, not appealing at all? Or are you perhaps wondering why more books like this haven’t been written? I’m leaning toward thinking an older hero and heroine might make for a very interesting story.
Let me know your thoughts and I may just write it!
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Wemble says
Hi Deb, I know my mum enjoys travelling around the place and having my sister and I living in different places means she has lots of excuses to do so. She also enjoys setting her own schedule, and I know she enjoys not having to cook anymore (only for herself now).
Your travel/exploration plans sound fun- enjoy researching and planning for possible trips:)
Blessings:)
Ausjenny says
Yes please to older hero and heroines. I am in my 50’s and single never married and I remember when Kaye Darcus had a couple of books with the character’s in their 30 never married and at least one had never had a boyfriend before. People say this is unrealistic but its not. I have had a couple of friendships. One was a holiday romance if you could call it that as we were the only ones on the tour under the age of 30! most were closer to 60+ so it wasn’t a real romance. And the other I went on a Christian singles camp with other Christian singles from around the country. We did both touristy things and Worship sessions. I did like one guy there and even went to stay with him once but it was over before it started.
So reading books with older hero/heroines gives me hope. I don’t mind stories with one of the people widowed or even both but would love some with at least one person single never married and maybe never having had a major romance.
Maybe you could have a singles camp/retreat with people from around the state or area and having them meet and form a relationship. The thing I found really interesting about the camp I went to (I went a couple of times) is how many wanted to see the counselor they had cos they were struggling being single and several were surprised I was ok with being single. I had gone cos it was singles and not to find love. but I know many did go to find love.
Mary Preston says
I love the idea of reading characters who are older. After all, so am I.
Renate says
Hi Deb! Welcome to the Empty Nest Club. We have no kids and no fur babies anymore. I watch grandkids 4 days a week, but Oma Daycare is closing on June 12. Lord willing we want to travel more – maybe squeeze in one more trip to Germany & Europe. I enjoy reading romances with older adults. Marion Ueckermann has written several (A Time to Laugh & Pushing Up the Daisies) and in the new series Chapel Cove by Marion Ueckermann, Alexa Verde, and Autumn Macarthur the heroines are 40. Life happens and I know of many older romances. Best wishes.
Laurie Larsen says
So glad to hear you’re enjoying the empty nest. So am I! I love knowing that my kids are well prepared to live their own lives and make their own decisions. I love to visit them and shower them with unexpected help. But I also love my own life. I see it as our reward for parenthood! <3
Lori Smanski says
Congrats on your book. I know what you mean about the empty nest thing. We are so enjoying it right now. For a few years we weren’t sure what was going to happen. The kids were back and forth. And we had one of my nieces living with us for a while also. Now our son is married and our daughter moved to CA. ( uggghhh way too far away) We see our son and daughter in law often, so now we are thinking of traveling to CA to see our daughter.
I would love to read a book about a couple who become empty nester’s and one or both of their children go back and forth and how that tests their faith and patience. Or about older people who fall in love.
Paula Marie says
Good morning! I love the older generation novels, we still are allowed romance as we get older, right??
Merrillee Whren says
Even though I’m much older than the characters I write and read about, I’m not sure I like older characters. Maybe I just like to feel young again.
Trudy says
I love books with older characters!! I’m in my 50’s, never married, and like to read about “older” couples!! That’s part of the reason I love the new Chapel Cove books. There’s love and romance to be found at any age. Also, we can find God, mature in our faith, and all kinds of things at an older age, too!!
Betty says
Yes to books with older characters!
Lelia (Lucy) Reynolds says
I would love to read older characters. Love has no age limit.
Valerie Comer says
You’ve got some great story ideas there, Jenny! Although I’ve been married for many years, I have several friends (of various ages) who are older than the average romance heroine and never married. In some cases have never been in a longterm relationship, either. It may not be common, but it’s also not unheard of!
Valerie Comer says
I laugh that for you empty nesting means being able to crank your music loud! For me, it meant FINALLY some silence. LOL
I’ve got an older heroine and hero coming up (next year). She’s been widowed and still has teens at home (she’s an already established character), but I’m not sure about him. Anyway, I have at least half a dozen stories to write before I get to them, so I have plenty of time to mull!
Ellie says
Ausjenny, My hubby and I got married (a first marriage for both) in our 40’s and the owner of the shop that I bought my wedding dress at said that she has seen a dramatic uptick in first time brides in their 50’s! There is hope!!!
Ellie says
I love the idea of books being written with older heroines and heros! Whether it’s m their first time around or widows/widowers, I would love to read their stories!
Deb Kastner says
Wonderful ideas for new books, Jenny. I do think people are waiting longer before getting married. My girls are millennials and they are more career-oriented than wanting to get married and start a family right away as I did.
Deb Kastner says
Right? And the funny thing is, I look different on the outside (thank you, menopause) but don’t FEEL different. I’m the same me…maybe wiser.
Deb Kastner says
I’ll have to check those books out. They sound wonderful. My son-in-law and his mother are from Germany so he and my daughter would like to travel back there soon.
Deb Kastner says
I’ll have to check those books out. They sound wonderful. My son-in-law and his mother are from Germany so he and my daughter would like to travel back there soon.
Diana says
I like heroines and hero’s of all ages. We are also empty nesters doing daycare during the day for grandkids only. I did in home daycare for 30 years so only doing grandkids is fun!!