Comments on: Over Forty Romances http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2006/09/10/over-forty-romances/ What's hip, what's now, what's tomorrow in the romance genre world. Sat, 09 Jan 2010 20:26:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Liane http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2006/09/10/over-forty-romances/comment-page-1/#comment-11988 Liane Tue, 19 Sep 2006 12:21:20 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/?p=737#comment-11988 I think you have to consider the views of the target audience. Women over forty are approaching menopause. Usually, their careers have peaked, their children are grown and gone, and they're wondering "what's next?" They are reassessing, taking stock, and wondering if what they settled for is truly what they wanted. I see women going through this spirtual transformation into a "new life" fascinating, compelling, and rich with potentials for drama. I'm not quite there yet, but I find myself reading, writing, and longing to see more of women getting on with the second half of their (love) lives. I think you have to consider the views of the target audience. Women over forty are approaching menopause. Usually, their careers have peaked, their children are grown and gone, and they’re wondering “what’s next?” They are reassessing, taking stock, and wondering if what they settled for is truly what they wanted.

I see women going through this spirtual transformation into a “new life” fascinating, compelling, and rich with potentials for drama.

I’m not quite there yet, but I find myself reading, writing, and longing to see more of women getting on with the second half of their (love) lives.

]]> By: Marie Donovan http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2006/09/10/over-forty-romances/comment-page-1/#comment-11821 Marie Donovan Tue, 12 Sep 2006 19:37:18 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/?p=737#comment-11821 This is a very interesting discussion to me because my agent is currently shopping around my first single title. My heroine is a forty-something divorcee and the hero is a fifty-year-old widower. The interesting twist is that he is the less experienced one due to marriage at a young age and his late wife not being very interested in sex. I think that mid-life romance can be even more satisfying because the protagonists realize what they were missing all those years and really treasure their new love. There are also great opportunities conflict-wise for young adult children and elderly parents all sticking their noses into the romance. Although I am in my thirties, I had an absolute blast creating the characters and writing the book. It was just a lovely experience. Marie This is a very interesting discussion to me because my agent is currently shopping around my first single title. My heroine is a forty-something divorcee and the hero is a fifty-year-old widower. The interesting twist is that he is the less experienced one due to marriage at a young age and his late wife not being very interested in sex.

I think that mid-life romance can be even more satisfying because the protagonists realize what they were missing all those years and really treasure their new love. There are also great opportunities conflict-wise for young adult children and elderly parents all sticking their noses into the romance.

Although I am in my thirties, I had an absolute blast creating the characters and writing the book. It was just a lovely experience.

Marie

]]> By: Jenna Bayley-Burke http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2006/09/10/over-forty-romances/comment-page-1/#comment-11795 Jenna Bayley-Burke Tue, 12 Sep 2006 05:01:55 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/?p=737#comment-11795 Karen - I loved JULIE & ROMEO. JULIE & ROMEO GET LUCKY is in my MP3 right now! So yes, I like older heroines...though I'm still of the younger generation myself. Karen – I loved JULIE & ROMEO. JULIE & ROMEO GET LUCKY is in my MP3 right now!

So yes, I like older heroines…though I’m still of the younger generation myself.

]]> By: Jay http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2006/09/10/over-forty-romances/comment-page-1/#comment-11793 Jay Tue, 12 Sep 2006 03:23:33 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/?p=737#comment-11793 <i>As a side note: the one main problem I think many baby boomers have with contemporaries is overly successful heroine who by the age of 28 has fought her way to the top of the company, seems to spend a couple of hours a day at her job and has plenty of free time. We know that doesn’t happen.</i> That's the problem I have with many contemporaries (and much of chick lit) as well and I'm 25. I know it's not accurate, and yet it still manages to make me feel bad for not having my life together as much as this fictional woman does (or seems to). As a side note: the one main problem I think many baby boomers have with contemporaries is overly successful heroine who by the age of 28 has fought her way to the top of the company, seems to spend a couple of hours a day at her job and has plenty of free time. We know that doesn’t happen.

That’s the problem I have with many contemporaries (and much of chick lit) as well and I’m 25. I know it’s not accurate, and yet it still manages to make me feel bad for not having my life together as much as this fictional woman does (or seems to).

]]> By: Barbara Samuel http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2006/09/10/over-forty-romances/comment-page-1/#comment-11786 Barbara Samuel Mon, 11 Sep 2006 19:22:23 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/?p=737#comment-11786 How annoying--half my post was lost. Sorry about that! In a much abbreviated reply: I believe romances can be very romantic between two lovers of any age. It's the same emotions flooding through you, the same fears, the same hungers, the same desire be seen and loved as you are. I write about all ages of women falling in love. There are certainly different things going on at various ages, especially externally, but love is love is love. Maybe it's even more heartfelt later--when it's harder to just fling yourself into something, knowing how time can sometimes flow....how sometimes even the best intentions don't fix things. Oops, well that's not very abreviated! Barbara How annoying–half my post was lost. Sorry about that!

In a much abbreviated reply: I believe romances can be very romantic between two lovers of any age. It’s the same emotions flooding through you, the same fears, the same hungers, the same desire be seen and loved as you are. I write about all ages of women falling in love. There are certainly different things going on at various ages, especially externally, but love is love is love. Maybe it’s even more heartfelt later–when it’s harder to just fling yourself into something, knowing how time can sometimes flow….how sometimes even the best intentions don’t fix things.

Oops, well that’s not very abreviated!

Barbara

]]> By: Patricia http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2006/09/10/over-forty-romances/comment-page-1/#comment-11780 Patricia Mon, 11 Sep 2006 13:42:53 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/?p=737#comment-11780 I don't really pay attention to age as much as the story. I like older heroines, probably because I'm in my 40's and can relate to them, but I'm not prejudiced either way. I think heroines come in all shapes and sizes. Not all middle age heroines have the life experiences we think. Take Star Jones, for example, who just married for the first time in her early 40's, and was as starry eyed as any 20-year-old when she did. In the end, it's all about the romance. I don’t really pay attention to age as much as the story. I like older heroines, probably because I’m in my 40’s and can relate to them, but I’m not prejudiced either way. I think heroines come in all shapes and sizes. Not all middle age heroines have the life experiences we think. Take Star Jones, for example, who just married for the first time in her early 40’s, and was as starry eyed as any 20-year-old when she did. In the end, it’s all about the romance.

]]> By: Mary Stella http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2006/09/10/over-forty-romances/comment-page-1/#comment-11779 Mary Stella Mon, 11 Sep 2006 13:28:17 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/?p=737#comment-11779 I would love to see more romances with over-40 heroines. I'm over 40 and absolutely believe that romance and love still exist and are as vibrant for women and men my age as for any other age demographic. Life experience does not necessarily mean negative baggage. I have a richer, fuller life in my 40s than I did when I was in my 20s. I think I'm a helluva lot more interesting at this age than I was 20 years ago. *g* So, it follows that a romance heroine can also be interesting, rich and full of life. I would love to see more romances with over-40 heroines. I’m over 40 and absolutely believe that romance and love still exist and are as vibrant for women and men my age as for any other age demographic. Life experience does not necessarily mean negative baggage. I have a richer, fuller life in my 40s than I did when I was in my 20s. I think I’m a helluva lot more interesting at this age than I was 20 years ago. *g* So, it follows that a romance heroine can also be interesting, rich and full of life.

]]> By: B.B. Medos http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2006/09/10/over-forty-romances/comment-page-1/#comment-11778 B.B. Medos Mon, 11 Sep 2006 00:56:11 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/?p=737#comment-11778 I honestly can't remember whether I've ever read any over forty romances. Guess I don't pay attention to age. Anyway, one thing I would be interested in seeing is maybe some anthologies featuring older romances and they wouldn't even all have to be the "falling in love" variety either. Seems to me that a short story format would be perfect for exploring all those other romantic moments in life. :wink: I honestly can’t remember whether I’ve ever read any over forty romances. Guess I don’t pay attention to age. Anyway, one thing I would be interested in seeing is maybe some anthologies featuring older romances and they wouldn’t even all have to be the “falling in love” variety either. Seems to me that a short story format would be perfect for exploring all those other romantic moments in life. :wink:

]]> By: Cynthia Reese http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2006/09/10/over-forty-romances/comment-page-1/#comment-11776 Cynthia Reese Sun, 10 Sep 2006 23:20:14 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/?p=737#comment-11776 For those of you trying NEXT, it's a great series -- basically because it DOES have boatloads of conflict and does reflect "real-life" heroines from 35 on up. Do remember, though, that this is Harlequin's women's fiction line -- the romance is the sweet whipped cream on top -- not the whole pie. As for me ... I have to agree with those who say that any couple, regardless of age, in the hands of a good writer, can create a compelling romance. The older I get (and I'm just in my late 30s), the harder it is for me to relate to stories about younger women, because I find myself shaking my head and tut-tutting, muttering, "Oh, yeah, SHE's only 25 -- she'll learn!" But of course, in the hands of a great writer, any age heroine can draw you in and have you rooting for her and believing she's capable of earning her HEA. For those of you trying NEXT, it’s a great series — basically because it DOES have boatloads of conflict and does reflect “real-life” heroines from 35 on up. Do remember, though, that this is Harlequin’s women’s fiction line — the romance is the sweet whipped cream on top — not the whole pie.

As for me … I have to agree with those who say that any couple, regardless of age, in the hands of a good writer, can create a compelling romance.

The older I get (and I’m just in my late 30s), the harder it is for me to relate to stories about younger women, because I find myself shaking my head and tut-tutting, muttering, “Oh, yeah, SHE’s only 25 — she’ll learn!” But of course, in the hands of a great writer, any age heroine can draw you in and have you rooting for her and believing she’s capable of earning her HEA.

]]> By: Barbara Samuel http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2006/09/10/over-forty-romances/comment-page-1/#comment-11775 Barbara Samuel Sun, 10 Sep 2006 21:51:24 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/?p=737#comment-11775 Nancy wrote: The insistence on “young’uns only” sends the message (whether intended or not) that romance is only for the younger crowd, and if it doesn’t happen by the time you’re 35 or 40, you’re out of the game. I find that dismissive, depressing, and incredibly short-sighted. Nancy wrote:
The insistence on “young’uns only” sends the message (whether intended or not) that romance is only for the younger crowd, and if it doesn’t happen by the time you’re 35 or 40, you’re out of the game. I find that dismissive, depressing, and incredibly short-sighted.

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