The master of romance novels, Nicholas Sparks, has ended his marriage to his wife of 25-years, Cathy.
Nicholas Sparks has been open about getting inspiration for his novels from his wife, as “The Notebook” was “a story inspired by [my wife’s] grandparents” and “The Rescue” was inspired by the couple’s son.
“Every morning when I wake up and see my wife. That is the kind of love that I write about in the novels,” Sparks told the Daily News in October 2013.
Despite the split, Sparks and his wife “remain close friends,” according to CBS News. The couple reportedly share five children together and were married since 1989.
“Cathy and I have separated,” Sparks told People magazine in a statement, according the NY Daily News.
He added, “This is, of course, not a decision we’ve made lightly. We remain close friends with deep respect for each other and love for our children. For our children’s sake, we regard this as a private matter.”
The 49-year-old novelist has written and released 17 romance novels, nine of which turns into feature films. Twitter users have expressed their sadness over the couple’s recent decision to split.
Noooo! Nicholas Sparks & his wife split up after 25 years of marriage. Which means true love is dead & there's no hope for the rest of us.
— Jamie Primeau (@jamieprimeau) January 6, 2015
Nicholas Sparks and his wife have split. We're all doomed. — Laura Leoppard (@DefLeoppard) January 6, 2015
NO! Nicholas Sparks and his wife split. but... his words... his romantic creativity... I thought he'd be living a life like his books.
— Summer Rae. (@_sumerae) January 6, 2015
Nicholas Sparks just split from his wife. That's how bad the world is right now. — Brandon Shaw (@digitalbshaw) January 6, 2015
