Nicholas Sparks and wife of 25 years separate

For one of the most prolific romance writers, there won't be a "happily ever after."

Nicholas Sparks -- the author of "The Notebook," "Walk To Remember," "Message in a Bottle" and many other popular romance novels -- is separating from his wife of 25 years.

The 49-year-old bestselling author told PEOPLE, "Cathy and I have separated. 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."

Back in 2013, Sparks sat down with HuffPost Live and explained how his wife inspired many of the strong female characters in his stories.

"I married a woman who loves a lot," he said to host Nancy Redd. "Certainly every female character I've ever crafted is a lot like my wife. They're intelligent and loyal, they're funny. And most of all, they're not wishy-washy women. They're good, solid women."

Nicholas and Cathy sparks married in 1989 and have five children between the ages of 12 and 23; three sons and two daughters.


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