Why I Write Silver Romance by Lynne M. Spreen

by Lynne M. Spreen

All my life, I dreamed of literary success. I wanted to write and publish a blockbuster novel and live the life of the successful author. The universe had other plans, so I set the dream aside and applied myself to earning a paycheck. While rearing my son, climbing a career ladder, and working my way through three marriages, a singular fantasy sustained me. It looked something like this: a phone call, a breathless literary agent asking if I was sitting down, and the offer of a massive amount of money for my debut novel. 

Cue the hysterical laughter, right? 

The reality was more gritty. I exhausted my creativity in service to family and career. By the time I was finally able to retire, everything had changed. The internet, in its infancy, was disrupting everything, and the publishing industry was consolidating. Now, instead of simply offering a great story to a publisher, authors were expected to first build a “platform:” a minimum of ten thousand fans already eager to buy their books. Platforming involved websites, algorithms, social media, and a million other extrovert activities unrelated to sitting at our keyboard and crafting beautiful scenes. Authors were demoralized and befuddled. We wrote words! We didn’t build platforms! 

Another factor concerned me: ageism. Then in my fifties, I wanted to write about the impressive and underappreciated lives of older people, but doubted the industry would want it or me. Sure, there was a market for “seasoned” romance, but the characters had to top out at thirty-nine.

Anger brewed. I had waited so long, I couldn’t just abandon my dream. The self-publishing wave was building. Plenty of authors eyeing the traditional publishing industry and thinking, “If I can sell ten thousand books, why do I need you?” 

Thus, I became that Little Red Hen of publishing–an indie author. My debut novel, Dakota Blues, tells the story of two women, ages fifty and ninety, who embark on a life-changing road trip. It won an award, and I kept writing.

In the intervening years, I published nine more books, most of them full-length novels. I’ve honed my craft and won awards. I founded a writers’ guild in my city and served on the boards of two others. I’m so busy in retirement, I don’t know how I ever found time to work.

So, back to Silver Romance. When I finish reading a lovely novel about two young people who find each other, slay their personal demons, and walk off into the sunset, I want to know what happens next. Like, thirty years from now. Are they empty-nesters? Did the kiddos launch satisfactorily or is there a troubled child to worry about? Is everybody still speaking? For that matter, is the couple still intact, or have they been parted by death or divorce? If the latter, are they open to finding another partner? How do they live now, in their late fifties, sixties, seventies and beyond? 

My books feature men and women in that age group, and they’re dealing with some pretty deep issues. Loneliness in older age is a big one. Becoming less of a doormat and finally putting oneself first. Forming a family of choice after being rejected by one’s adult children.

And romance. Love at this age is different. It might involve role-reversal, where in a long-term marriage, they play new parts. There might be new tattoos, hairdos, hobbies, or activism. They summon courage and risk rejection. They find a new gear.

In every one of my books, I make sure the main female character has a scene where she discovers her inner badass and experiences the thrill of power and triumph. I don’t do it to enrich the story, although that happens. I do it to indulge my inner badass, which is tired of quaking internally for decades. I love turning good girls into something else.

So, how is the writing life now? I’m doing okay! I love when a review says it’s nice to read about strong, impressive people their age.

My age.

Now seventy, I leap out of bed every morning–figuratively, of course–eager to check my sales figures and attack the long list of tasks comprising the life of an indie author. I’ll never be finished learning my craft, fine-tuning my productivity, and conquering the art of advertising and publicity, but it’s an exciting and gratifying life. The constant challenge is good for my soul and, I’ve heard, for the development of new brain cells.

Although I’ve earned the right to sit on my behind, an insecure childhood turned me into a workaholic, and I don’t see that changing. Also, I like helping people. I’m driven to share life strategies, to encourage and empower others. To help them avoid the mistakes I made, having lived for so long as a codependent doormat.

As a result of my experience, my characters are compelling. They might have gray hair and bad backs, but they’ve got a certain look in their eyes that says don’t fuck with me. The women are strong and the men are grateful. They’ve been through the wars, all of them, but they’re still hungry. Proud. On fire to do something new, different, and possibly even earth-shattering with the time they have left.

And so am I.

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After a career in public education, Lynne M. Spreen reinvented herself as an author. In that role, she speaks about the positive side of aging, and writes uplifting novels and short stories featuring characters in the second half of life. 

Lynne published her first book at age fifty-eight.  Dakota Blues told the story of a middle-aged woman who embarked on a life-changing road trip with a ninety-year-old friend. The novel won an award for excellence in women’s fiction. 

Lynne has now published ten books featuring mature main characters, thereby mining a rich, untapped literary vein of human drama. Her books receive many positive reviews, as well as comments thanking her for writing about “people our age.” She hopes through her writing to demonstrate that the second half of life can be as inspiring and amazing as the first.

For more information about Lynne and her writing, please visit AnyShinyThing.com.

LINKS:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LynneSpreenAuthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnespreenwrites/

Website: https://www.AnyShinyThing.com

STARTING OVER IN SEDONA

Broke and lonely, she has one more shot at happiness. There’s only one problem.

Tired of grieving, Sue Weston is excited when her estranged sister promises to leave her the family homestead in Sedona, Arizona. Is this her chance to emerge from sorrow and start living again? With Roseanne, it’s never that simple.

Rafael Palacios has been given the chance of a lifetime. His dying friend, Roseanne, has promised to leave him her property, a priceless red rock mesa with a killer view. He will sell it to the highest bidder and buy himself the security he’s been seeking all his life.

When Sue and Rafael meet at Roseanne’s deathbed, they’re horrified to discover they’re both inheriting the land. Now, they’re pitted against each other, even as they resist the greatest love of their lives.

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Tags: featured, women writerss

Category: On Writing