Welcome to granmance.com!

Granmance is a portmanteau of “grandparent” and “romance.” One definition of romance is: a story of love between two people, often containing exciting events or magic Cambridge Dictionary. 

As I wrote FINDING IZZY over the course of five years, I came to realize that my story was a “granmance.” The term was probably also flitting around my subconscious due to the many close friendships I shared with older women who offered me tremendous empathy, understanding, and wisdom, especially when I was navigating a personal problem. I called one of these women—a lifeline at times—and I always came away from our interaction feeling better, knowing better. Relationships are healing and that is one of the greatest insights I have into why I wrote FINDING IZZY.

I also believe the grandparent-grandchild relationship is one of the most quietly powerful relationships in contemporary storytelling. FINDING IZZY puts that bond at the center of a young adult narrative.

At a time when we are increasingly fragmented and many people across age groups report feeling lonely and isolated (Arthur Brooks speaks about this), a story about a teenager and her dying stepgrandmother building a profound friendship speaks directly to those concerns. 

Izzy is caught in the tension of struggling to connect with her own mother while also recognizing that her step-grandmother, Sally, is seriously ill with cancer. At fifteen, she is still young enough to underestimate consequences, so when she throws herself into Sally’s bucket list, she does so with an impulsive energy. Together, they set off on adventures that rival the Hollywood blockbusters filming down the street. 

I believe the beauty of the “granmance” is that it may give people of all ages a new way of viewing their relationships—one where we deeply treasure all those people who have touched our lives. 

Ultimately, the granmance relationship transcends the usual boxes. It's a description of deep human connection and influence. It speaks to the way another person becomes woven into our identity. 

-Alisa Fisher