What do older heroines bring to romance?

Melanie Jayne, author of The Party Plan, explores why an older heroine might be just the right heroine for some readers.

Melanie: Shh, lean closer, I'm going to tell you a secret. I think there are others who feel this way but won't talk about it, so I will. I just passed the mid-century mark, and there are days when a 22-year-old heroine who has a passionate affair with a billionaire just doesn't do it for me. There. I said it.

I've been an avid romance reader for many years, but as time has passed, I've yearned for characters who are like me. A woman who has made a few laps around life's track, loved, lost, rebounded and persevered. Those heady days of just graduating college, on my first real job and partying until the early hours of the morning are a distant memory. Today I question if the glass ceiling is still in place at my work, wonder if my routine is grinding down my spirit, and the only reason I'm awake at 4 a.m. is to catch a flight.

I believe that an older heroine has so much more to offer a reader. She brings wisdom. She has been there and done that. I won't promise that she won't repeat her mistakes, but she has a wealth of experience to draw from. She can hold her own in an argument or can decide to bypass that battle in order to win the war. She can use her experience, or that of others, to help her make decisions.

Unfortunately, with life experiences comes the baggage. She may base her current decisions on her past mistakes and fears. As a writer, I can create all kinds of turmoil by throwing up roadblocks filled with her fears or misgivings based upon events from her past. She must be strong enough on her own, or with the added support of our hero, to face the future.

An older heroine will have many responsibilities, such as children, the desire for children (tick, tick, tick, tick), and the responsibility of aging parents. Her heart is huge with love for those closest to her. She not only works hard at her job, but her emotions are pushed to the limit in her everyday life. When she allows herself a "me" moment, she goes all-out. She might spend the day at the spa focusing on updating her look or trying a new activity that is outside her comfort zone. These moments are rare, so she will push her boundaries, and yes, there might be alcohol involved so her inhibitions are lessened.

An older heroine is sexual. She knows what she likes, what works for her, but may be open to trying new things because she understands that if it doesn't feel good, then it is time to stop. She may try this with her current partner or search out a new one, or ones. One of the greatest things about the passage of time is that I have learned that my instincts serve me well. Hopefully, she has worked through her body-image problems and can enjoy her body. Let's be honest, if your thighs are rounded in jeans, then when naked, they are going to be rounded. Embrace your body, it is a wonderful tool for giving and bringing pleasure.

Our older heroine knows who she is and who she wants to be. I may sound morbid, but as I approached the 5-0, I started to think about my time left. How I wanted to be remembered, and how I could become that person. Our heroine may be starting over after a major life change and attempting to be a better, stronger version of her old self, or she might want to improve on what is there because life is short. This is a woman who knows herself or is in the process of learning.

The reality is that we are all getting older, and in romance there should be room for many types of character. Sure, I love the fairy tale of the beautiful young woman and the escapism that it provides, but there are also days where I turn to a book to make a new friend, a woman who would fit into my world. That heroine is older, wise, with a few scars from life, full of fun and abandon and not afraid of her sexuality. She is pushing forward, hoping to have learned from her mistakes and willing to make a few new ones, but, most important, she isn't afraid to live.

Here's the blurb about The Party Plan (courtesy of Big Dog Publishing):

Avery Grant has been through a rough patch. She gave up her career to move home to help take care of her ailing parents. She married a man she did not love and he almost bankrupted her family's farm. She divorced the con man and saved her farm. Now she is going to get what she wants and for over twenty years she has wanted Kade Martin.

Kade has been attracted to his sister's best friend for twenty years. In the beginning Avery was too innocent, then she was married and he was busy working hard and playing harder.

The plan is simple, after tonight's party for their godson's engagement, Avery is going home with Kade. One night of sex with no strings, that's the plan.

Find out more about Melanie and her books at www.readmelaniejayne.com.