[John Jarrold]

It's part of what one does, Teresa. With an author who is brand new, as an editor you need to give your sales and marketing colleagues as much information about them as possible when they are first mentioned at a publishing meeting, because marketing, publicity and promotion is tailored to individual writers. In the case of a known author, it isn't necessary. The book trade already has them fixed in their collective mind. But with a new author, the publisher chooses how to promote them to the trade and the public. So their age is another thing to consider - it may be a promotional point, or it may not. This isn't about 'Young is good, older is bad'. It's just necessary information with a brand-new author of any age. Most UK publishers have an author information sheet, which the author fills in when they are taken on, which includes favourite writers, hobbies, trade contacts...and age. It's not a big deal, just another piece of information.