I honestly can't think of anyone who writes awesome old ladies, particularly as protagonists, besides Terry Pratchett (who admittedly does a fantastic job, but should not be so damn alone in that). Seriously, where are all the classic novels with gnarly old ladies reflecting on their lives and their youthful adventures and their journey to where they are now or whatever?

Also, no, dudes in their forties will never be old men, omg. Unless they are halfheartedly rejecting the advances of the lovely young ingenue - "I'm too old for you!" "I don't care!" - in which case they don't really mean it. I am so utterly fed up with May-December romances, btw, and have no interest in seeing any more of them until I see some more older ladies getting it on without being branded as cougars, or weird, or anything like that. (I am bitching because I am currently marathoning my way through Dexter, and they just put one of my favorite ladies into a May-December pairing that is annoying me fiercely.)