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'd 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 the first two issues launched:

Amie Bonner
Gary Bonner
Sarah Bonner
Marian Buckner
Louise Doskow
Clare Frey
Lauren McKinney
Juilene Osborne McKnight
Frank Quattrone
Maryanne Soper
Alicia Wright
Dr. Daniel Young

Special thanks go once again to Elizabeth Replogle. Allthough I am now doing the HTML myself, Elizabeth continues to lend her suport. Once again, I also thank my husband, Gary, for putting up with me (and being there as "IT guy") during the process.

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, Pennsylvania (B.A. in English, minor in Art, magna cum laude). In 2007, I completed an M.A. in English and Publishing at Rosemont College (Pennsylvania). 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, dining out, discussing politics and religion, and drinking margaritas, not always in that order.

Robin C. Bonner