The idea for Empty Nest came to me in 2004, during a Rosemont College magazine publishing class taught by Frank Quattrone. I was a student in the MA in English and Publishing program there—and an empty nester, as well. I just couldn’t let the idea die. I hadn't come across a magazine that appealed to me and really addressed issues faced by couples with "older" families. And, even more enticing, the subject matter was just what I wanted to write about. (After years of managing book publishing projects, I had gotten the bug for writing my own stuff.) There was no way to get such a project off the ground, though, without a real nest egg to finance it.

Fast forward a year, to Elizabeth Replogle’s web-writing class, also at Rosemont. Again, I was the student, inspired now to do an online magazine, to eliminate the need for the nest egg. The following year, when the time came to do my thesis, I put two and two together, enlisted the help of some friends (and two very supportive advisors—you guessed it, Elizabeth and Frank), and worked hard to get the first issue of Empty Nest out in the spring of 2007.

More than a thesis, the first issue was a springboard to the real thing. My writers, editors, and I expect the magazine to be an evolution, with more and better things in store...

I would like to thank Rosemont College, Elizabeth Repogle, Frank Quattrone, and the following people who either wrote articles or contributed in some other way, for their help and support in getting issues in the first two volumes launched: Marian Bellus, Donna Blinebury, Bonnie Boehme, Amie Bonner, Gary Bonner, Sarah Bonner, Marian Buckner, Carol Dorey, Louise Doskow, Donna Faria, Sharla Feldscher, Adele Fine, Clare Gassler Frey, Ellen Britz Gerber, Janette Gerber (pseudonym), Dr. Burt Ginsberg, Dr. Dan Gottlieb, Carol Holst, Lauren McKinney, Juilene Osborne McKnight, Patricia McLaughlin, Liz Milner, Helene Moccia, Jim Porterfield, Frank Quattrone, Joan Sartor, Chris Slawecki, Maryanne Soper, Connie Wesley, Alicia Wright, and Dr. Daniel Young.

Special thanks go to Bonnie Boehme, Empty Nest's Associate Editor, who lovingly copyedits each issue. Her gift for the written word is amazing. I also thank my husband, Gary (IT Guy), who has pretty much taken over the html end of putting together the issues—in a true spirit of empty-nesting togetherness—which frees my time for developing, managing, and writing.

A Little About Me
I did my undergraduate work at Ocean County College, Toms River, New Jersey (Honors, A.A. in Art/English) and Millersville University, PA (B.A. in English, minor in Art, magna cum laude). In 2007, I completed an M.A. in English and Publishing at Rosemont College (PA). My career in publishing and communications spans more than 25 years. When I'm not working, I hang out with my husband, grown daughters, and friends—bicycling, climbing, playing guitar, sailing, dining out, discussing politics and religion (things I don't do here), and drinking margaritas—not always in that order.

Robin C. Bonner