The idea for Empty Nest came about in 2004, during a Rosemont College magazine publishing class taught by Frank Quattrone. Robin Bonner was a student in the MA in English and Publishing program there, and she just couldn’t let the idea die. She couldn’t find a magazine that appealed to her and really addressed issues faced by couples with "older" families. And, even more enticing, the subject matter was just what she wanted to write about. (After years of managing book publishing projects, she had gotten the bug for writing her 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 College. Again, Robin was the student, inspired now to do an online magazine, to eliminate the need for a nest egg. The following year, when the time came for her thesis, bingo! She put two and two together and gathered some friends together (and two very supportive advisors—you guessed it, Elizabeth and Frank) and worked hard to get out the first issue of Empty Nest.

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

Robin thanks Rosemont College, Elizabeth, Frank, and the following people who either wrote articles or contributed in some other way, for their help and support in getting this first issue launched:

Amie Bonner
Gary Bonner
Sarah Bonner
Marian Buckner
Clare Frey
Lauren McKinney
Juilene Osborne McKnight
Alicia Wright
Dr. Daniel Young

Robin gives special thanks to Elizabeth, who she considers a goddess for her help with the web aspects of this publication. She also gives her dear husband Gary big hugs for putting up with her (and being there as IT guy) during the process.