Today Amanda Ward tells us about
her ‘older’ heroes and heroines.
I am an author of romance novels
specifically with the hero and heroine in their 40s and above. I would like to
point out I do not write ‘mum, chick, nan or granny’ lit. Mine are romance,
pure and simple with a quirky sense of humour woven throughout, and I admit
that I have great fun in writing them.
In my early teens, twenties and
thirties I was an avid reader of romance novels. Travelling to work each day
with a Temptation book in my handbag and immersing myself completely. During
those years raising my family they were my one indulgence, a means of escaping
from the nappy changes, whining and moaning (and not just from the kids) in the
evenings. Now I’m in my early forties and a grandmother I am looking for something
a little more ‘my age’. A couple of years ago, I couldn’t find anything, so I
started writing and here I am now a fully-fledged member of the RNA as of
January 1st 2014 and attended my first conference in July.
I wrote my first novel Without Saying a Word during Nanowrimo and submitted it to Books to
Go Now which they accepted within a few days. I am currently working on a
Christmas novella for them. As for the MisAdventures
of Pann Haggerty, well they started out as a series of short stories. I put
them together and sent them to Secret Cravings Publishing, with whom I am
contracted for the next two books in the Pann series.
Both Secret Cravings and Books to
Go Now offer a wide range of romance novels, and I have been supported and
encouraged by them to write more for them, and in this age range.
I have seen in the past five
years especially a major shift in what categorizes a romance novel. From the
mainstream tropes, we have Christian/inspiration/Amish romances and at the
other end of the scale the erotica side. In between, the list is extensive. So
if there are readers who are buying these, who is to say there isn’t a call for
writing which raises the age of the hero and heroine.
It is a fact that women are
living longer than men. I will happily put my hand up here and say that I have
been married 3 times. In my 20s and twice in my 30s. My current (and last ever
one) was himself in his 40s when we married, and how we met, well it’s a story
in itself. So what fun can there be with the older couple? Well, let’s see. They’ve
passed the turmoil of their youth. While the younger couple are setting out on
the road to house buying, nappy changes, school runs and teenager hood, my
couple have done it and better than that… survived. Ted and Shirley are either divorced/widowed/never
married. Meet at the park or been set up by one of their kids on a dating
website. They have a fair bit in common like remembering the 70s and the power
cuts and telling each other about how their children/grandkids are doing. I’m getting ideas for a future book here. This
is a couple who can talk to each other and spend time together without rushing
off here there and everywhere. As for the physical side of the relationship, a
sense of humour is the way I usually write them. Let’s face it nothing is perky
anymore, there are going to be a few awkward moments, but writing it with
compassion and sensitivity (especially if there is a medical problem) is
tantamount. What I really do love when I write about this couple is that they
work out any issues together, because they truly love each other.
Older hero and heroine
romance…BRING IT ON!
Links:
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Amanda-Ward/e/B008LTIKVI/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1406190869&sr=8-1
Thank you, Amanda,
for showing us that romance is out there for everyone – no matter what their
age.
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