Empty Nest evolved from an idea in a magazine publishing class at Rosemont College in 2004 to its fifth (!) year as a published e-zine in 2011. My endless gratitude to Frank Quattrone and Elizabeth Replogle, my advisors at Rosemont, for helping me develop the first issue for my M.A. thesis (2007). The publication has changed over time and our readership has grown (with as many as 15,000 hits per month). Our mission is to reach out to empty nesters across the globe and share their stories. Along the way, we’ve grown from one editor to two, and from four contributors to many—some seasoned, published writers and some new to the craft, but all with a story to tell:

Gail Adams, Abbey Alpert, Jean Barto, Aaron Becker, William Bedford, Marian Bellus, Donna Blinebury, Bonnie Boehme, Amie Bonner, Anaise Asousa Bonner, Gary Bonner, Sarah Bonner, Marian Buckner, Carol Dorey, Louise Doskow, Phyllis Eckelmeyer, Donna Faria, Sharla Feldscher, Marianna Fiani, Carol Field, Adele Fine, Clare Gassler Frey, Patty Grasty, Ellen Britz Gerber, Janette Gerber (pseudonym), Dr. Burt Ginsberg, June Gondi, Dale Goodner, Dr. Dan Gottlieb, Margie Greenberg, Gretchen and Emilie Haertsch, Leslie Hawke, Carol Holst, Maria “Dancing Heart” Hoaglund, Matt Hugg, George Kell, Kris Kelly, Jill Landsman, Jeremy Lifsey, Sandra Long, Julie Longacre, Lauren McKinney, Juilene Osborne McKnight, Patricia McLaughlin, Tammy Jo Meier, Liz Milner, Helene Moccia, Dana Murray-Resénté, Ellen Newman, Wendy Pellinore, Kerry Peresta, Jim Porterfield, Frank Quattrone, Joan Sartor, Jill Sherer Murray, Chris Slawecki, Maryanne Soper, Laurine Valenti, the Van Anglen family, Jerry Waxler, Connie Wesley, Dr. John Wesley, Joy Williamson, Linda Wisniewski, Alicia Wright, and Dr. Daniel Young.

Special thanks go to Bonnie Boehme, Empty Nest's Associate Editor and copyeditor, and to Ellen Newman Feinstein, another seasoned editor who frequently lends her expertise and lend a hand with the editorial work. Finally, I thank my husband, Gary ("IT Guy"), who does the photo prep work and html coding, and troubleshoots technical issues—alongside me in the true spirit of empty nesting. This, of course, frees my time for developing leads, writing, and managing the publication!

A Little About Me
My background is a B.A. in English (with an art minor), and I enjoy "putting it all together." In 2007, after almost 25 years in book publishing, I completed an M.A. in English and Publishing at Rosemont College, where I focused on writing and magazine publishing. I manage publishing projects for Aptara, Inc. and am also available for consultation and/or independent editing projects at rcbonner@comcast.net. When I'm not working or writing, I hang out with my husband, grown daughters, or friends—hiking, bicycling, sailing, or otherwise enjoying the great outdoors. I also enjoy margaritas, food, and interesting conversation on almost any topic.

Robin C. Bonner
Editor, Empty Nest