Comments on: The Age Of Love http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/01/17/the-age-of-love/ 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: Michele Dunaway http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/01/17/the-age-of-love/comment-page-2/#comment-23122 Michele Dunaway Sun, 20 Jan 2008 16:30:10 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/01/17/the-age-of-love/#comment-23122 Don't forget that the expert of Facebook is 23. And just how old are those Google guys anyway? The principal of my high school is 33 and he's considered an expert in the area & our district (he even has his PhD.) Being an expert in your field depends on the field, I think, and how the author writes the character. It can't simply be a label, for that's not believeable. That said, I don't think the locations for books are all that narrow. I've written plenty of big city category romances, including New York, Chicago, Washington D.C. and Kansas City. I use St. Louis a lot since I live here. As for the ages of my heroes & heroines, it just depends. The guy I date is 9.5 years younger than me. We've been dating 6 years. (And no, we don't want to get married, which is probably why it works. I've been there, done that.) I think the age thing is again believability--why do the characters need to be the ages they are? An age gap can cause for conflict, but I think that gap is irrelevant once one of the characters is in his or her mid-late 20s. Personally I keep it to 10 years or less, simply because I find the whole Girls Next Door thing kind of gross. Don’t forget that the expert of Facebook is 23. And just how old are those Google guys anyway? The principal of my high school is 33 and he’s considered an expert in the area & our district (he even has his PhD.)

Being an expert in your field depends on the field, I think, and how the author writes the character. It can’t simply be a label, for that’s not believeable.

That said, I don’t think the locations for books are all that narrow. I’ve written plenty of big city category romances, including New York, Chicago, Washington D.C. and Kansas City. I use St. Louis a lot since I live here.

As for the ages of my heroes & heroines, it just depends. The guy I date is 9.5 years younger than me. We’ve been dating 6 years. (And no, we don’t want to get married, which is probably why it works. I’ve been there, done that.)

I think the age thing is again believability–why do the characters need to be the ages they are? An age gap can cause for conflict, but I think that gap is irrelevant once one of the characters is in his or her mid-late 20s. Personally I keep it to 10 years or less, simply because I find the whole Girls Next Door thing kind of gross.

]]> By: Sam http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/01/17/the-age-of-love/comment-page-2/#comment-23121 Sam Sun, 20 Jan 2008 12:51:57 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/01/17/the-age-of-love/#comment-23121 I really don't give much thought to the age of the characters although I have to say it amuses me when I read a historical and a single female character who is younger than I am (I'm 32) is considered "on the shelf". I'm still single so older heroines give me hope especially around here where it seems like everyone marries right out of high school and I somehow missed that boat completely. When I hear about the average age of 1st time marriage being 27 I think "where?". However, I grew up hearing stories of a great-grandmother who didn't marry until 35 so I've always thought there was no need to rush. I also get irritated with the idea of someone being an expert in their field by 30. I guess that's because due to health issues in my 20's I didn't graduate from college until I was 29 so I hate to think I've achieved all I'm going to! I feel like I'm still just getting started. I really don’t give much thought to the age of the characters although I have to say it amuses me when I read a historical and a single female character who is younger than I am (I’m 32) is considered “on the shelf”. I’m still single so older heroines give me hope especially around here where it seems like everyone marries right out of high school and I somehow missed that boat completely. When I hear about the average age of 1st time marriage being 27 I think “where?”. However, I grew up hearing stories of a great-grandmother who didn’t marry until 35 so I’ve always thought there was no need to rush.
I also get irritated with the idea of someone being an expert in their field by 30. I guess that’s because due to health issues in my 20’s I didn’t graduate from college until I was 29 so I hate to think I’ve achieved all I’m going to! I feel like I’m still just getting started.

]]> By: Allison Brennan http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/01/17/the-age-of-love/comment-page-2/#comment-23120 Allison Brennan Sun, 20 Jan 2008 07:09:25 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/01/17/the-age-of-love/#comment-23120 Sorry I missed this post earlier! Most of my heroines are in their 30s. I'm 38. My heroines are usually between 30-40. My youngest heroine is the one I'm writing now. She's 29. I didn't really plan it that way, but story purposes dictated that she needed to be on the young side and when I did the timeline, she ended up 29. My single biggest pet peeve about age in books is when there is a very young heroine (say in her 20s) who has a very professional career and is "seasoned." . . . for example, an FBI agent who is 28 and in charge, or a 27 year old detective. Okay, it's possible, but it's not likely. I think my heroines tend to be in their 30s because I want then to be experienced law enforcement, or at least have the life experience to handle the kind of situation I'm going to throw at them and make it believable. Not that I wouldn't write a young FBI agent ala Clarice Starling some day, but her agent and status would be part of the story, not just a device to keep her "young." As far as heroes go, my youngest I believe was 35, my oldest 41 or 42 (boy, I'M getting old because I can't remember!) Again, I'm sure there are 50 year old guys who can kick butt and chase down the bad guys, but it's harder for me to buy into it, so I figure it would be harder for readers to buy into it. Sorry I missed this post earlier! Most of my heroines are in their 30s. I’m 38. My heroines are usually between 30-40. My youngest heroine is the one I’m writing now. She’s 29. I didn’t really plan it that way, but story purposes dictated that she needed to be on the young side and when I did the timeline, she ended up 29.

My single biggest pet peeve about age in books is when there is a very young heroine (say in her 20s) who has a very professional career and is “seasoned.” . . . for example, an FBI agent who is 28 and in charge, or a 27 year old detective. Okay, it’s possible, but it’s not likely. I think my heroines tend to be in their 30s because I want then to be experienced law enforcement, or at least have the life experience to handle the kind of situation I’m going to throw at them and make it believable. Not that I wouldn’t write a young FBI agent ala Clarice Starling some day, but her agent and status would be part of the story, not just a device to keep her “young.”

As far as heroes go, my youngest I believe was 35, my oldest 41 or 42 (boy, I’M getting old because I can’t remember!) Again, I’m sure there are 50 year old guys who can kick butt and chase down the bad guys, but it’s harder for me to buy into it, so I figure it would be harder for readers to buy into it.

]]> By: Kimber Chin http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/01/17/the-age-of-love/comment-page-2/#comment-23113 Kimber Chin Fri, 18 Jan 2008 21:01:24 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/01/17/the-age-of-love/#comment-23113 Can I simply keep the wrinkles I do have? Maybe stop using that miracle cream that claims to banish them (the cream hasn't worked... yet, but there's always hope)? Yes, I'm going prematurely grey AND wrinkly while my Guyanese-Chinese hubby still looks like he's 18. Blasted genes. BTW... congrats on the great reviews for Key West Magic. You know I love that book. "You can do magic You can have anything that you desire Magic, and you know You're the one who can put out the fire." Goodness, now I'm singing America songs. Can I simply keep the wrinkles I do have? Maybe stop using that miracle cream that claims to banish them (the cream hasn’t worked… yet, but there’s always hope)?

Yes, I’m going prematurely grey AND wrinkly while my Guyanese-Chinese hubby still looks like he’s 18. Blasted genes.

BTW… congrats on the great reviews for Key West Magic. You know I love that book.

“You can do magic
You can have anything that you desire
Magic, and you know
You’re the one who can put out the fire.”

Goodness, now I’m singing America songs.

]]> By: Ciar Cullen http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/01/17/the-age-of-love/comment-page-2/#comment-23112 Ciar Cullen Fri, 18 Jan 2008 20:48:22 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/01/17/the-age-of-love/#comment-23112 Oh all right, Kimber Chin. Maybe just one extra wrinkle. Oh all right, Kimber Chin. Maybe just one extra wrinkle.

]]> By: Kimber Chin http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/01/17/the-age-of-love/comment-page-2/#comment-23111 Kimber Chin Fri, 18 Jan 2008 20:46:47 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/01/17/the-age-of-love/#comment-23111 Fedora, Yeah, I can see myself growing out of my current age preferences, just as I grew out of my fascination with Barbara Cartland (okay, to be honest, that happened once I had read all her books but still...). Hopefully when I do, there will be plenty of older heroes and heroines around to select from. Fedora,

Yeah, I can see myself growing out of my current age preferences, just as I grew out of my fascination with Barbara Cartland (okay, to be honest, that happened once I had read all her books but still…).

Hopefully when I do, there will be plenty of older heroes and heroines around to select from.

]]> By: Kimber Chin http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/01/17/the-age-of-love/comment-page-2/#comment-23110 Kimber Chin Fri, 18 Jan 2008 20:43:52 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/01/17/the-age-of-love/#comment-23110 Now come on Ciar, don't curse us out for having literary preferences. The thing is that there are thousands of romances published every year and only so many hours in the day. So some of us allocate those hours first to romances with innocent young bluestocking Regency misses. I'm not as shallow as I sound... truly! LOL Now come on Ciar, don’t curse us out for having literary preferences.

The thing is that there are thousands of romances published every year and only so many hours in the day.

So some of us allocate those hours first to romances with innocent young bluestocking Regency misses.

I’m not as shallow as I sound… truly! LOL

]]> By: Ciar Cullen http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/01/17/the-age-of-love/comment-page-2/#comment-23109 Ciar Cullen Fri, 18 Jan 2008 20:34:12 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/01/17/the-age-of-love/#comment-23109 May all of you under 50 collect extra wrinkles and those icky brown spots and extra weird hairs sprouting out of very unusual places for your romance ageism. :roll: May all of you under 50 collect extra wrinkles and those icky brown spots and extra weird hairs sprouting out of very unusual places for your romance ageism.
:roll:

]]> By: Fedora http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/01/17/the-age-of-love/comment-page-2/#comment-23107 Fedora Fri, 18 Jan 2008 19:26:48 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/01/17/the-age-of-love/#comment-23107 Oh, gross, Maddy! Eeeww... definitely don't want to read anything like that--who wants to imagine sharing your guy with anyone, much less your mother!? Kimber, I think that the older I'm getting, the more I prefer older heroines and ones with a bit more life experience. I find myself irritated with the naive innocents (probably unfairly), and like the ones with a bit more life under their belts ;) And I do agree with everyone about prefer less of an age difference between the hero and heroine--definitely dislike those that exceed ten years! Oh, gross, Maddy! Eeeww… definitely don’t want to read anything like that–who wants to imagine sharing your guy with anyone, much less your mother!?

Kimber, I think that the older I’m getting, the more I prefer older heroines and ones with a bit more life experience. I find myself irritated with the naive innocents (probably unfairly), and like the ones with a bit more life under their belts ;)

And I do agree with everyone about prefer less of an age difference between the hero and heroine–definitely dislike those that exceed ten years!

]]> By: Kimber Chin http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/01/17/the-age-of-love/comment-page-2/#comment-23102 Kimber Chin Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:23:13 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2008/01/17/the-age-of-love/#comment-23102 Maddy, If having a personal preference makes us bad people, then I'm a bad, bad person. Hhhmmm... I kind of like the sound of that. The rebel romance reader. The hero slept with her MOM? Oh, jeepers, I hope you kept that novel. That's one for the groaner shelf (along with that Christina Dodd cover with the three armed heroine). Maddy,

If having a personal preference makes us bad people, then I’m a bad, bad person. Hhhmmm… I kind of like the sound of that. The rebel romance reader.

The hero slept with her MOM? Oh, jeepers, I hope you kept that novel. That’s one for the groaner shelf (along with that Christina Dodd cover with the three armed heroine).

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