Romance
for Old Adults?
That's not what I'm
posing here. Listen up. Most of us have read or read about New Adult fiction,
right? You know, those books for readers who were hooked on YA fiction but are
older now, yet still buying novels with characters their own age. Many kids who
grew up reading Harry Potter and Lemony Snicket still want to feel the
captivating love for a series and its characters. Only they are adults now so
they want some lust, some sex, maybe a lot of lusty sex, and a plot that
resonates for them. New Adult readers are no long under eighteen, dealing with
high school bullies or mean girls. Instead, these twenty-somethings are focused
on getting jobs, trying to pay the rent, and finding love. They read books
about characters facing these same hurdles.
So here's my question:
what about the other end of the spectrum? What about those of us who are past
the young adult stage, past the new adult stage, maybe even past the adult
stage and too rapidly approaching the older adult phase of life? Our own kids
are out of the house (thank god) and our marriages are still solid. Or not.
Maybe we're looking for love, or recovering from a bad one. Mourning the loss
of a lover or spouse. Whatever our circumstances, whatever our age, hey: we
need romance too. Maybe we'd like to read romances featuring heroes and
heroines over the age of twenty-nine. Or fifty!
I've written a couple
of romance novellas like this (PROFESSIONAL GRIEVERS and ME GO MANGO). I will
be honest here and say: sales are not brisk. I think it's a shame because I do
like to read about women over forty falling in love. I'm curious to know what
it's like to be a fifty-something year old guy who has lost the love of his
life. I enjoy reading about people older than my kids.
Do you? Let me know
what you think on the subject. I'd love to hear your opinion.
***
Mickey J. Corrigan
writes pulpy fiction. PROFESSIONAL
GRIEVERS was released by Breathless Press early in 2013. ME GO MANGO was
published last spring by Champagne Books. Her newest release is GEEKUS
INTERRUPTUS, a romantic comedy featuring people younger than Mickey. She might
write GEEZER INTERRUPTUS, but only if she thinks you'll read it.
Visit at www.mickeyjcorrigan.com
or on Goodreads at
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5828647.Mickey_J_Corrigan
Buy links for GEEKUS
INTERRUPTUS:
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/357720
I agree. When I wrote my first novel, my heroine was an empty-nester. I was told she was too old, and if I planned on querying and getting published, I needed to make her younger. But I wouldn't mind reading a story about people my approximate age.
ReplyDeleteWith the self-publishing craze changing the market, maybe we should write it. It might catch on if enough people do.
Great post! :)
Hey Mickey, I'm with you on this one. I loved your novel ME GO MANGO. We may be over fifty, but we're not dead. Personally, I feel that the best is yet to come. Well, it freaking better be. I feel a need to write about people in their prime too. So what should we call this genre. Mature adult fiction maybe?
ReplyDeleteGreat post! My novel Chapters of Life, is suitable for women of all ages, but, it features a gentle paced romance between a couple in their sixties, and has a lovely ending :)
ReplyDeletePeople in their later bloom of life still want to read about love and romance, and yes sex, although personally, I don't want to read the nitty gritty, I prefer to have it done gently and left up to my imagination.
So, just because we are over fifty, doesn't mean we are lacking in warmth and emotion - we still have hearts and feelings :)
That is so true Tina. I loved the way your novel handled the romance between the elderly couple. You are right, the novel was suitable for readers of all ages as it had something for everyone.
DeleteSeems like there are a lot of us who want to read about...mature love. Hollywood is catching on. Some great films lately about people over fifty. Still vital, still interesting.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments!
I recall reading one or two empty nester romance books. I enjoyed them.
ReplyDeleteMickey's work sounds fascinating.
Empty-nesters fall in love, so why not have books that cater to this age-group. There seem to be enough movies in this category.
ReplyDelete