I once received a fan letter (yes, I do have a few fans) that said, “I really appreciate the fact that you have written a book about a woman in my age group.”
As Baby Boomers retire, they have more free time. And I contend that women readers of romance enjoy books about women like themselves. In fact, several Facebook groups have been created for readers and authors like “Romance in her Prime” and “Seasoned Romance.”
Karen Booth from the Seasoned Romance FB Group says that “Seasoned Romance is a place for readers and writers of love stories with characters in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond. Romance can get better with age, so let’s read, write, and talk about it!” This FB group has almost 1200 members.
There’s even a new website called Later In Life Romance featuring “older characters.” The site asks: Are you over 40 and tired of reading romances with characters half your age? You’ve come to the right place.
The niche is underserved but growing. I wrote my book Secrets, hoping to sell it to a traditional publisher, but an author who wrote for that publisher warned me that books with 40-year-old heroines were taboo. This has changed some now, but at that time I chose to publish Secrets through a small press, and then later self-publish it.
“I was very excited to find a romance with a mature couple,” someone wrote about my free first book in the Bluegrass Homecoming series.
I like writing about older heroines who get their second chances. I’ve lived it. I know it. I’m no longer the starry-eyed youngster looking for love for the first time. I hope I can bring some of my life’s perspective to my seasoned romance books.
Recently, a woman who won a paperback in my giveaway wrote: “I average reading five books a week. I just can’t imagine not being able to read. I am 81yrs old and spend lots of time enjoying the world and never leaving my chair.”
Providing books for readers like this is why I love writing them.
Guess what? The Bluegrass Homecoming series is now on Kindle Unlimited if you get your books from there.
Jan, you made some great points. My mom read every day until she died at 94. She wasn’t always a reader, but started when she retired and my aunt gave her a copy of THORN BIRDS. Several years later, she confided, “I’m sorry I wasted all those years not reading books.” We can’t forget we write for all ages.
Caroline, My mom wrote down every book she read so she wouldn’t forget. She died in 2004. Sadly, I tossed the lists last month. I figured I can’t keep everything.