Hello lovely !

I'm not sure why this is, but I've never been one to care about social niceties and norms.

I was raised, like most of us are I suspect, with parents who advised me to never talk about money, to avoid conversations about politics and religion outside our family unit, and above all else, to never ask a woman her age.

In my twenties, I started to test the limits of these social rules and found that nothing bad happened when politics, religion or income were raised ... in fact, discussions often led to expanding my understanding of the subjects I was told not to talk about.

The one social rule I always found hardest to challenge was about asking people their age. I told myself it was okay since age is basically irrelevant. (Ah, the naiveté of youth!)

But having achieved crone status, my thoughts about this have shifted.

Age is important to talk about since, like income, political views, and religious beliefs, age is used to "other" us. It becomes obvious once we've reached an age where suddenly we're either being told, or thinking that we're "too old" to do, be, accomplish, start, finish, or have something that we'd like to do, be, accomplish, start, finish, or have.

I am fifty-six-years old.

My romance writing career started when I was fifty-four. By that point in my life, I was already calling myself an old woman—with a laugh and with a good amount of irreverence since I don't feel old. But, by societal standards of age, my body is no longer worthy of selling any product other than age defying make-up or leak defying underwear.

One of the main reasons I love romance as a genre, is that at its core, romance novels serve many important, rebellious roles in society.

From being a safe place to have characters talk about hard subjects, to normalizing gay love, to letting women (for the most part) know that their desires, whatever they may be, are okay,

romance is where we can see ourselves and know that we are worthy of love.

When I started writing romance, I was told that readers want to escape into the lives of heroines who they can relate to BUT, who are a better version of themselves. AND, that the better version, is younger. So that's what I wrote.

As I've matured as a romance author, found my voice after over twenty-five years as a non-fiction ghost writer, I've come to realize that writing about characters who are half my age—my son's ages 😳—is a lost opportunity to embody what is most important about my voice among the literal millions of romance titles that are available.

I'm an old woman by many standards—though not in my head or heart, which is truly all that matters.

I'm an old woman who lives in a shoe—a running shoe with a special insole, since I have killer plantar fasciitis. Heels may be sexy, but mobility is way sexier, IMO.

I'm an old woman who had a second chance at love in my forties. And I've sustained that love into the second half of my fifties.

I'm an old woman who wants to write love stories about older women.

Making a living as an author is not easy. Aside from the actual work of writing a good story, there's perhaps the more important part and that is writing stories people want to read. And since my husband has retired, I have to write stories people want to read.

Last week I asked you to share your thoughts on a couple of questions I have about my current book and my next series. Eighty-one of you responded. (If you missed it, I'd still love your opinion, here's the link.)

I cannot express how much joy I felt seeing this result.

I'm not sure why I didn't add "heroine in her 50s" or "heroine in her 60s." I think I was assuming I'd see a different result. Tsk, tsk, Danika.

Her Seasoned Romance, was me dipping my toe into writing an older couple. She's 39 and he's 43. I'm thinking this will become my bridge romance—the one between characters in their twenties and those in their forties, possibly even fifties.

If you're a reader who loves happily ever afters with older couples, and you're on Facebook, this group will bring you joy!

Worth the wait!

Worth the Wait Seasoned Romance Readers

The authors and readers here love to explore characters who have experienced the ups and downs of life. Maybe they’ve focused on their careers, haven’t found that special someone yet, or been disappointed by failed relationships or widowed. In seasoned romance, love is always worth the wait!

Get ready for fun and frank discussions about books, life, love, sex, aging, and so much more.

And we have a winner!

Big thanks to every one of you who let me know what kind of story you'd be most interested in reading (from me). Eighty-one names were dropped onto a spreadsheet for the $10 Amazon gift card. I asked Mr. Bloom to pick a number.

"Fifty-seven," he called over the Formula One pre-qualifying he's watching. (Why do sports broadcasters have to yell so much? Honestly, we'd hear you just as well with your inside voice.)

I scrolled down the list to the name in row 57 ... and that person didn't leave a name or email address. What a let down!

So, I re-sorted the list by the contact info field and number 57 is ...

🎉 Diana C 🎉

Diana, watch for an email from me so I can confirm this is the email address you'd like to have the gift card sent to.

New release!

Fans of 1990's movies like Swimming with Sharks or Beautiful Girls will love this throwback romantic comedy.

After a devastating accident at sea, the only job Sullivan Calloway can get is one that few have survived.

If time and tide wait for no man, neither does Helen O'Neill. She's spent years forging her own path in the movie business. The young hunk she's hired to replace her latest assistant to leave in tears may be a sight for sore eyes, but expectations will not be lowered. If he can’t do the work, he’ll be out on his very fine behind.

If only her heart would get the memo.

Don't miss this slow-burn, boss-assistant, entertainment biz romance from USA Today bestselling author Karen Grey.

Read now!

Thanks for spending a few minutes of your Saturday with me. After some cake for breakfast (Mr. Bloom made it with real pumpkin puree so it's healthy-ish!), I'll be diving back into my work-in-progress which features a heroine in her forties. (I am a good listener—despite having hearing that's been somewhat ruined by too many concerts in my twenties!).

Resolve: A new year's anthology for choice

This anthology features feel-good fiction that's heartwarming, often hilarious, and hot enough to light your sparklers.

Raise a cup of kindness to the days of auld lang syne, and settle in for a steamy read.

100% of the royalties from this collection will benefit the National Network of Abortion Funds.

Authors include: me, Liz Alden, Lainey Davis, Karen Grey, Tinia Montford Alexa Rivers, S.E. Rose, Marie Tuhart, Kathy L Wheeler, Sara Whitney, and Addie Woolridge

Pre-order for just $0.99

Love & no apologies for the grey,

Danika

xo