Nicholas Sparks is starting a new chapter.
The author announced Tuesday that he is ending his 25-year marriage. "Cathy and I have separated," he tells E! News in a statement. "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 exes, who wed in 1989, have three sons and twin daughters, ranging in age from 23 to 12.
Nicholas often credited Cathy, a former lending-company account executive, for inspiring his novels. Together, the two created the progressive Epiphany School through the Nicholas Sparks Foundation.
The author—whose other works include Message in Bottle, Nights in Rodanthe, Dear John, The Last Song, The Lucky One, Safe Haven, The Best of Me and The Choice—never claimed to be the best spouse.
"I don't like to give marriage tips," Nicholas told People in 2003. "There are people who are probably much better at marriage than I am—they've lasted a lot longer. I could probably learn from them."
His marriage wasn't all-bad, of course. As the novelist recalled to Southern Living in 2012, "When we got married I couldn't afford a nice wedding ring. After I sold The Notebook the only thing I really wanted to buy was a new ring for my wife. So I did. And then I got down on my knee and said, 'I don't know where life is going to take us from here, but there's no one I'd rather take the journey with than you.'"
Their journey had its speed bumps, and now, Nicholas must embark upon a solo journey. Thankfully, the next few months should keep the best-selling bookworm quite busy. The Longest Ride, adapted from his novel of the same name, arrives in movie theaters Apr. 10. Directed by George Tillman, Jr., the drama stars Alan Alda, Melissa Benoist, Oona Chaplin, Scott Eastwood, Jack Huston and Britt Robertson.
People was the first outlet to report the separation.