Grow Old Along with Me--The Best is Yet to Be

""The need to be loved, the importance of family connections, an acceptance of the aging process,"" are all concerns of the contributors to this new collection by the editor of the Abby-winning When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple. These poems, short fiction and photos by men and women over 50, are written from experience and from the heart. In many cases, they pinpoint for an instant exactly how it feels to be older. In some, the best has already been, as in the devastating ""Choices"" by Nancy Robertson and ""Can Opener"" by Dianna Henning, two deceptively simple poems. But the romance of Anne C. Barnhill's story, ""Washing Helen's Hair,"" the surprise of Peter Meinke's ""A Woman Like That,"" and the guts and energy of ""Aerodynamic Integrity"" by Rose Hamilton-Gottlieb show a wealth of posibilities ahead. Each piece can be enjoyed for itself, but together they speak well for a growing but overlooked population. The many photos throughout show strength, resilience and devotion. Sooner or later, if they're lucky, everyone moves into this stage of life. And, as many of these writers point out, they're still the same inside, only the packaging has changed. Borrowing the title from Robert Browning, quoted at the beginning, may seem a bit cheeky, but in this case it fits. 100,000 first printing; $100,000 ad/promo; 15-city author tour. (Sept.)