Age is just a Number

These days many people in their sixties say how young they still feel. Some, like me, have reinvented themselves in retirement through new interests, skills and energetic social lives. I started writing poetry several years ago, and spurred on by the extra confidence which the Silversurfers Showcase gave me, have gradually become a public speaker and performance poet, raising money for charity, with many repeat bookings. But I wasn’t content until I had written a full-length book.

So finally, this week I have realised my ambition with the publication of my debut novel ‘Different Genes’. It tells the story of how sixty- two year old, Louise, discovers she is adopted and embarks on a journey to unlock her past. Intertwined within the mystery, is a love story. The publisher describes the book as ‘a moving tale of love in later life’. It has come as no surprise to me that the book appeals to older readers. One reviewer said, “As a recently turned 63-year old, it was satisfying to read a novel about a woman ‘of a certain age’, a woman who discovers that her life is not over AND still holds some surprises, albeit some she didn’t expect.”

But I struggled to market the book for an older audience without implying that the novel was aimed at readers who are a bit ‘past it’, which blatantly they are not. There is a whole generation of 50 + readers who most definitely cannot be described as ‘old’.

I approached friends and asked for advice about whether I should try and create a new genre. I couldn’t find the vocabulary to catch the ‘feel young’ essence of an older generation at whom my book was aimed. Indeed, some people I consulted were quite affronted that I dared to suggest any books were more suited to an older age group. Nevertheless, the majority of readers and authors, who I asked, agreed that some books are more likely to appeal to older readers. Many of these are featured in the Silversurfers Book Club.

So, at risk of offending my contemporaries, I took it upon myself to create a small website. It is rather unimaginatively called ‘Books for Older Readers’. The publications are nominated by their authors, and the number of titles is growing daily. Unlike me, the website is truly young and in its early stages of development, but I am proud of what I have achieved.

I wonder how many other Silversurfers have turned a corner in later life and taken on new projects?