Sometimes books take many paths to publication.
I wrote the novel Secrets a few years ago, choosing to
explore a romance about a woman caught between the past and her desire to
create a new life for herself. I wanted to submit the manuscript to a traditional
publisher, but was advised at the time by another author that this publisher
did not like forty-year-old heroines. Huh? So, I wrote the book anyway, and I
titled it A Father at Last. A small press published it. Well, I do read
my reviews, and when one reader said the title gave too much away, I changed it
to Secrets.
Flash forward. The small press went out of business. I got
my rights back. However, I wasn’t ready to release Secrets. I’ve learned books do better in a series. So, I decided to
make Secrets part of a series called BluegrassHomecoming to explore my favorite theme of second chances.
But Secrets, the original, takes place in Indiana. I
changed its setting to Kentucky. Then I figured I needed a lead-in story. I
wrote the love story of baby boomers Howie and Grace. Ta-da! The Prequel was born. Their
granddaughter Colleen takes center stage in the third book, Nom de Plume.
And you know what is so ironic? Since the time several ago
when I wanted to write about a forty-something heroine, seasoned romance
has come into wider acceptance.
What about you? Will you read a romance about an older
heroine?
The three-book BluegrassHomecoming is now on Kindle Unlimited. Check them out!
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Seasoned romance is finally coming into its own, at least on the indie and small-publisher front. Wonder when the big five will catch up.
ReplyDeleteThe journey of a book! Love it, great post!
ReplyDeleteOlder people need love too! And I have to admit I'm not a fan of titles that tell you everything that happens in the book. 'Secrets' sounds perfect!
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of the baby boomers who are still voracious readers must be tired of reading about millennial angst. I know I am.
ReplyDeleteI have always loved romances with older heroines. It just shows that life goes on and isn't finished.
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed reading romances with older heroines for many years. Years ago (1980's?)there was a line of books from Berkley Publishing called Second Chance at Love that involved mostly older heroines. Then in the early 2000's Harlequin had a line of books called NEXT that included many romances with older heroines. There are so many romances with young heroines that I really enjoy something different especially as I get older.
ReplyDeleteI'm not picky about the age of characters so I applaud your older heroine. I have a couple of books with older heroines too. After all, love, romance, and passion don't disappear because of age. I've even got secondary romances in some of my books with a 60+ couple and a 40-50+ couple.
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