Sex, Drugs, and Jimmy Buffet: The Unexpected Stories of 20 over 60

We all have a story to share. One of mine, purely fiction, stemmed from a conversation with a colleague who tested positive on a work screening for a sexually transmitted infection (STI). That evening, her husband shook her hand in lieu of a goodnight kiss. The handshake joke continued until she received her corrected, decidedly negative, results.

The event stirred my writerly brain to consider a plot involving an STI in someone who, like me, had been married for decades. Lab Results was submitted to a variety of publishers, and I was uncertain if it would carry any appeal for readers. I was thrilled to have it accepted in the anthology 20 over 60, scheduled for release on October 6, 2026, by Regal House Publishing. The rather unusual premise for the collection, 20 short stories written by authors over age 60, drew me to the submission call.

Editorial Vision

I recently spoke with the editors of 20 over 60, David Galef and Beth Weinhouse. We discussed how their vision filled a need in a market overflowing with books from younger authors containing similarly-aged lead characters. David and Beth shared the difficult path they had to bring the collection to publication.

The editors are, themselves, in the over-60 set. The married couple met through a mutual friend close to 40 years ago. A long-distance relationship turned into lifelong love over a first date of NY Deli pastrami and matzoh ball soup, straight from, as David says, “The pages of the NY Times’ Metropolitan Diary.”

The twohave notable resumes. David’s PhD is in Modern British Literature, and he teaches creative writing at Montclair State University after co-founding the respected MFA in Creative Writing program at the University of Mississippi. He has authored multiple novels, children’s books, and short stories, and is the editor of The Vestal Review, “the longest running flash fiction magazine on the planet.” His newest book, Tradeoffs, a collection of short fiction, will be released in mid-October.

Beth is a journalist and editor and has taught academic and magazine feature writing here and abroad. She specializes in health and medical writing. She has two nonfiction books to her credit and led Prevention Magazine as its Executive Health Director, among other impressive jobs. Twenty years ago, approaching their 40s, they took notice of a collection of short stories touting up and coming writers titled 20 under 30. The age limit hit hard.

“We knew so many talented writers over 30,” Beth stressed. The couple responded with a joint venture in 2006. 20 over 40 includes short stories by popular authors like Pulitzer Prize Winner Percival Everett and Guggenheim Fellow Gish Jen, as well as lesser-known writers. David and Beth hit upon an age group they considered rife with interesting experiences as evidenced by the complexity of the stories within. At the time, they joked, “One day we’ll publish 20 over 60,” not quite imagining that distant date on the horizon. The day arrived.

Call for Submissions

The call, in part, read, “We’re looking for stories about a range of experiences, written by a mix of established and emerging authors. Diverse voices welcome.” Hundreds of stories were submitted. Beth searched for three-dimensional characters instead of the stereotypical wise older woman or grumpy old man. Her preference for stories “that were a little bit surprising” gave added interest to the collection. The challenge the editors faced, somewhat unexpectedly, was finding a traditional publisher to tackle the project.

They approached several literary agents and received no offers to represent the anthology, despite universal praise. The feedback emphasized the scope of the literary contributions, with award-winning authors again in the mix. They were told that short stories were a “hard sell” despite the presence of other collections from younger authors. David considered the ageism factor that older writers often face. Beth’s frustration grew. She “pressed her journalistic brain” and dove into market research. “I compiled statistics on older readers, how much they spend.”

Finding a Home

The data demonstrates that older readers buy a third of all books sold and that number translates to millions of dollars spent. Regal House Publishing’s Editor-in-Chief Jaynie Royal offered to publish the collection. She said, “These ‘baby boomers’ are themselves great readers and want to see characters of their generation represented in fiction.” She reviewed the numbers and understood the potential of an anthology directed at the over-60 reader. She agrees that protagonists over 60 and authors of similar age are not represented well enough in today’s market. “It is important, where one can, to counter ageism in fiction (and, indeed, in publishing) and to value the sagacity, experience, and maturity of characters, readers, and authors over 60.”

According to a recent study, millennials also come in second in the moviegoing public. Beth notes, “I started seeing more older protagonists in Hollywood movies.” She considered that filmmakers must have a reason for using older people as the stars of recent movies. “They were seeing who was actually going to the theaters. I hope publishers take notice. Who is reading the book, who their audience is and start to be more welcoming of older protagonists.” Millennials and Baby Boomers are the target audience for 20 over 60.

Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll, and More

The anthology revolves, often, around the aging process and failing bodies yet includes comedic moments, flights of fancy, and characters who dare to take chances. Jaynie adds, “Persistent tropes in fictional works depict elderly characters as physically unattractive or infirm, with wrinkled skin, failing eyesight, and poor hearing, or they are used as plot devices representing cognitive decline and unreliability in genres like crime and detective fiction. What I love about Beth and David’s collection is that the variety of stories convey individuals over 60 as complex, active protagonists who are exploring life changes and challenges with nuance and a sparkling wit.”

David stresses that even stories based in places like nursing homes present opportunities for older protagonists to “surmount health issues.” He offers the example of the first story in the collection by author Lisa Williams Kline. Jimmy Buffet Died relays the escapades of an older female protagonist who visits her husband in a nursing home and reunites with her ex-husband, a patient in the same facility.

No topic is out of reach for older protagonists because a variety of experiences collect across a long lifespan. As Beth says, “Life over 60 is just as rich and varied and different and funny and sad as life at any other age. It’s not just a slow decline. It’s surprising.” The recounting of a vibrant lived experience is a valuable resource for all ages. We learn how to navigate situations, even as we edge into our next century.

Among the authors in the collection are writers with storied careers like Joyce Carol Oates, Richard Bausch, and a posthumous entry from Jane Gardam, who passed away after her story was accepted. The famous are paired again with the lesser-known in this offering and the editors mesh the tales with expertise. Many stories make their debut in the anthology. They vary in length and some are quite short, like Incongruous, sid sibo‘s tale about a man and his granddaughter who carry their respective grief along the Irish coast, in search of a perfect spot to leave their loved one’s ashes.

AARP Loves It!

The editors, writers, and publisher were collectively thrilled to have the anthology listed as one of AARP’s Picks for Fall, alongside sure to be best-sellers like Ariel Lawhon’s The Pirate Queen and Deesha Philyaw’s The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman.

In addition, it is important to note that short story collections offer a shorter reading commitment. 20 over 60 is an easy book to pick up and relax with a little at a time. There is a treasured story inside that will satisfy every reader. And, because of advanced sales interest and the demographic of the audience, the publisher agreed to create a large print version for those who prefer it. It is available from the Regal House Publisher’s website.

How Creative Writing Speaks to All of Us

Sharing our experiences from the perspective of an older lived life brings new ideas into the world. David says, “You can alter people’s views. You reach them.” Though the stories are written with a fiction lens, the characters and scenes spring to life on the page. Learning what others do in situations dealing with grief, finding sexual pleasure, valuing and caring for one another, and atoning sins makes fascinating reading.

David did not want to add his own work to the collection, but editor Beth insisted. The final story to wrap up the anthology is his aptly titled Receding Portrait. The idea came from notes David amassed throughout his life. He noticed a theme in many – aging. Receding Portrait acts as a crescendo to the entire collection, following a man who confronts his recovery at a rehabilitation facility while processing life events and his relationships. Its message is both poignant and hopeful. As David’s character says, “This life will have to do. You won’t get another.”

Join the Conversation:

Do you enjoy reading short stories? Have you ever written one? If you read 20 over 60, let me know. Email me a photo of you with the book and I’ll post it on my Instagram. Drop me a note here or email me – nancy@nancyjfagan.com and tell me about your ideas. I love hearing from readers! As always, the above is 100% human written content.