Clearing the Way: A Story about Love after Fifty

Clearing the Way is a love story between two senior citizens who meet by chance and their lives are enriched by a mutual passion for the creative process. Lyle, a widower and retired building contractor, buys an old home near Anita, a widow who has painted and sculpted for years and turned to writing after the death of her husband. Together they build a rewarding relationship while he is restoring his home. With struggles and growth experiences, their offspring also learn to find new and rewarding purposes to their lives. Anita's son, Joel, convinces his brothers that they were wrong in trying to dissuade him from being a standup comedian. Each of the characters learns to clear the way for a happier life.

'Irene Stretten's Clearing the Way is a refreshing look at love after fifty. Stretten has woven a tale of hope and renewal. We believe in the characters as they each find a new joy in life, and we are richer for knowing them."-Margo LaGattuta, poet, essayist, author of Embracing the Fall