Very happy to have you here today, as you know, and psyched about your book -- that cover is terrific!

I had to laugh at the algebra, I was never great with math, LOL, but I have a friend who in her 40s did a wild trip in London and had flings with several younger men, and she also had some math based on her son's age... I should ask her how that went.

Mike is 9 months younger than I am, so I think we are mathematically safe, but for myself, I have crossed some psychological line where I really only find men within maybe 15 years of my own age attractive -- so no one under 31, and that would be pushing it. :) I think it's from raising a boy of my own, and also from teaching college for so many years, they all look like students to me. Not sexy at all. ;) I do find men my own age and older often very sexy, though.

But if I had no idea of age, maturity is definite necessity, and intelligence, kindness. Anyone lacking those three are also immediately unattractive. If it was just a matter of hot sex, ability to carry that off well, and some physical aptitude would definitely count. *G*

This should be a fun blog -- can't wait to hear what people say. ;) Welcome again, and congrats! Can you tell us about any other books you have in the works or coming out? Inquiring readers want to know. :)

Sam

Hi Anne,

If your friend is lusting after Tim Riggins, I have to say that's age-appropriate no matter how old she is. I don't think any woman could (or should) resist Tim. He needs lots of love. (Plus, the actor who plays him is quite old-he's at least 28...) ;-)

I have a friend in her early fifties who has started dating again. It's interesting with our generation of women that this experience isn't the same as it used to be. I think in earlier generations, women in their late forties and early fifties who started dating again would have had grown or mostly grown kids. My friend's offspring are both in elementary school. Makes for some interesting times.

Your book sounds great. Best of luck with your writing!

P.S. I guess technically she's not in my generation since I'm gen X and she's a boomer, but you get the point. ;-)

Truthfully, I'd have trouble dating a guy younger than me. I literally balk at it. I think it's literally mental programming, lol. It'd take an exceptional situation--and a guy who didn't tell me his age--to get me to do it. Interestingly, my mom is about 5 years older than her husband, but she's really young at heart and he's a curmudgeon, so everyone thinks it's the other way around. Maybe that might work, but I'm wildly happy with my guy, who's three years older and seven inches taller, lol.

What? I'm a stiletto girl!
Dee

Hi Anne! Great post. Love the math. I am on the older side of womanhood and I like guys who keep themselves in shape, but accept the age that they are. Does that make sense? I don't see that many guys my age who do it for me, but there are a few, and it only takes one, right?

By the way, your husband sounds like a real keeper :)

Jeannie

Hey, Anne--
First, congratulations on the release of your debut novel!! They're all exciting to see, but that first one is something extra special. Way cool! And congratulations on your sale to Spice Briefs, too! I'm looking forward to reading them both.

As far as younger men? While I find it easy enough to lust from afar after certain younger men--Chris Pine from the upcoming Star Trek movie, Olympic athletes, etc.--I find in reality that there is a built-in laughter factor if the guy is too much younger than me. No math for me, either, if I can help it. So it has to do more with the "age" the man projects into the world. Is he mature? Has he had some life experience? Is there character and integrity there? Can he laugh at himself and be confident in his own skin or is he still trying to figure himself out and prove something to the world?

As my son becomes a young man, and his friends mature into young men as well, I find that any man who reminds me of my son or his buddies makes me respond to them in a maternal way rather than something else. I make friends with them, I'll mentor them. But lusting after them? Sorry, it makes me giggle. I'm more likely to want to play matchmaker for them than to think about possibilities for myself.

This conversation makes me think of the Romantic Times Convention I attended last month, with all the male cover models in attendance. They're told to schmooze the attendees, to work on their charms and learn about romance and earn some readers' choice award votes. I had fun picking out which ones I thought would look good on the cover of one of my books (winner Charles Paz won that honor in my opinion, too!), who'd make a good villain, etc. They were cute. Nicely built. Charming. Funny. A few were even decidedly clever. But mostly I kept thinking things like, "Didn't I teach you in sophomore English?" or "You look like my nephew."

So, if they're too much younger, it wouldn't work for me. But... that's reality. In fiction, if he's hot, mature enough to be comfortable in his own skin, and he cares about the heroine, I'm interested ;)

I'm looking forward to LIBERATING LACEY. Sounds like a fictional younger man I'd be interested in, too!

Congrats!

Julie Miller

Hi, Anne!

Congrats on your debut! As for the math, yikes ;) I've fallen out of the habit of using that particular part of my brain :D And as for looking for love (or sweaty sex), I agree with Sam--maturity, intelligence, and kindness are musts. Sense of humor would be good, too. I think the rest are somewhat negotiable. I do admit that I would likely be uncomfortable with someone either much younger or much older than myself--if I find myself having to explain too many cultural references or if I'm thinking I could be his mom, then I don't think I'd be able to pursue it. Likewise, not sure I'd feel great if the guy's old enough to be my dad. So yes, age is just a number, but it's also how the person behaves, too.

Love your equation. So true though you know it? People tend to gravitate towards that in their romance novels! :)

Agree with you too, I'd rather have a hottie 20 something than someone in their 40's goign through a middle age crisis. LOVED your interview today! Keep up the awesome work Miss Anne!

lyoness2009 @ hotmail.com

If it's old enough to be my kid - there will be no love-looking or sweaty sex. So mathmatically for me - cannot be more than 20yrs. (I'm almost mid-forties). But for love-looking no more than 10-15 years. You got to have some maturity. And humor. Lots of humor.

Congratulations on your debut!
I am in my late 60's and would not entertain the idea of seeing anyone under 55.

Anne, what fun to run into you here -- it doesn't seem like that long ago we were going through homework together, and now you're announcing your debut novel? Congratulations!

I love the question about what women want as they (well, WE :) get older...I remember reading that some survey discovered women in their 20s had "looks" at the top of their list, women in their 40s said "money," and women in their 60s had "kindness."

The only thing that didn't change with age was "sense of humor" -- EVERYBODY wanted that.

Laurie, who'll take half a shot of money and half of kindness with a humor chaser

Hi Anne! So nice to meet you! I like!!! I'm so bad at math, that I think you did wonderful, LOL. I tried to avoid Math classes so I was never good but I got the info! I love those reads with a older heroine than the hero. I think that's called Cougar? (I could be wrong on the definition, since I don't know what about of age that would be between? Maybe a formula for that too :). I've been married soon 26 years next month and for us, we were in college and didn't even have that future that we would know much about our salary etc. We fell in love for who we are. I think tho if I wasn't married, I think the same thing would go. Its hard with the age thing because it really depends how much time in between. I guess I just would hate to seem so old when he's looking so young, LOL.

Loved reading about your book! Congrats again!

I think age is not an issue. My best friend is married to a man 12 years younger than her, and he is what we call an old soul. All of his friends are older, and he has always related better to older people. It's kind of funny because at parties he always seems to gravitate towards older people and doesn't really socialize with people his own age.
On the other hand, I am dating someone quite a bit older than me, but we have no difference realting to each other. He rides a motorcycle, is very outdoorsy and is more active than most men half his age.
It really just depends on the person.
What I would like to see in books are older heroines. People can find love in all age groups.

Congrats on the debut, Anne!

The old cliche about age being a state of mind comes to mind here. My mom is 2 years older than my dad, and I don't think they'd have it any other way. DH is 2 days and a couple hours shy of 8.5 years older than me. Not quite algebra, but rather detailed for most people's tastes. I've always been friends with the older types, he's young at heart, so we work well together.

If he wasn't around - ack, I can't imagine that! - I don't think I'd let age be a hindrance. Certainly not for the eye-candy or the no-strings-attached simple sweaty sex! :-) Most likely not for a relationship, either, if his attitude is right. And salary certainly wouldn't be an issue. Having just moved 3000 miles to be in the state we wanted to live in, DH got laid off. So, now we're moving another 200+ miles for him to take a job he's dreamed of...which pays only 40% of what he was making! Can we say life-style change? Oh baby! :-) But it will be an adventure, and I just can't resist the contagious enthusiasm he's got when he is loving what he's doing. (Yeah, I'm a softy.) :-)

Liberating Lacey sounds great!

Tucco, as chosen by the main cause of my gray hairs - my son! Tucco, please email me at anne.m.calhoun@gmail.com and I'll get your download to you!

Anne
www.annecalhoun.com
www.annecalhoun.wordpress.com

Thank you so much! I just sent an email!