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How many more years?

Posted on 1st October, 2025

Since I became an octogenarian in May I’ve become obsessed with time – particularly the lack of it where I’m concerned. I’m hoping I’ll be able to keep writing for another five years at least which means fifteen books for Boldwood and hopefully the same amount of Regency books which I will be Indie publishing in future. My publisher already has almost 40 of my books – sixteen new titles and the rest back list.
I believe that Barbara Cartland continued to dictate her extraordinary historical romances when she was in her nineties. I know of other writers who didn’t start until they were seventy and wrote until they were mid nineties. Actors often carry on that long and as far as I’m concerned being an actor is as difficult as being a writer. As long as I enjoy the process, have the energy and mental acuity to write then I’ll continue.
I’ve already written over a hundred books in twenty years – would be good to make it hundred and fifty before I grind to a halt. My contract with Boldwood takes me until 2028 – I know they’ll be only too happy to keep publishing my books as long as I can keep writing them. Fortunately, being a modern digital first, forward-looking publisher age and appearance plays no factor in their decision to take you on. If you can write a good book that’s all they want. I’m not quite the oldest on their books but certainly in the top five – however, I know of a dozen at least who are in their mid-70s so with any luck I’ll have a clutch of octogenarians to join me before I stop writing.
There aren’t many careers where you can keep going long past official retirement age – the creative industry is where you will find most of them: writers, artists, actors, directors, choreographers and so on happily continuing with their talent when society and the government considers them to be “elderly, vulnerable, people”.
As far as I’m concerned it’s not my age that will stop me being a writer it will be my health – two quite separate things.

Best wishes,
Fenella J Miller