late bloomer, n.
1. An adult whose talent or genius in a particular field only appears later in life than is normal—in some cases only in old age. [Wikipedia]
2. A person who doesn’t give a pomegranate about what’s normal and blooms in their own time; see LaterBloomer.com. [Debra Eve]
Ernestine Shepherd became a professional bodybuilder at 71
Welcome to Later Bloomer
A Captivating Archive of Lives Well-Lived
Arthur J. Penn: After Decades as an Educator, He Wrote a Thriller Set in Sardinia
Sardinia is an island of stunning beauty with a deep, enigmatic past. Late-blooming novelist Arthur J. Penn taps into its splendor and mystery for his first book, Nada, a political thriller.
Why I Write Science Fiction by Lindsay Edmunds (Guest Post)
Author Lindsay Edmunds stopped reading fantasy and science fiction her twenties, when she became a “responsible adult.” So why does she write it now, decades later?
Fabulous Tales from Dozens of Late-Blooming Writers
What do Miguel de Cervantes, Bram Stoker, Lee Child, Claire Cook, and a lot of my friends have in common? They’re all scriveners who published their first book past their fifth decade!
Anne Ramsey: This Beloved Actor’s “Overnight Success” Took 39 Years
Beloved “Goonies” actor Anne Ramsey fought through cancer to a late-blooming Oscar nomination for “Throw Momma From The Train.” We lost her too soon, but she lived her dream to the end.
An Inspiring Poem for Late Bloomers: Sean Connery Reads “Ithaca”
For me, The Odyssey has always been a metaphor for the late-blooming journey. This beautiful poem by C.P. Cavafy, read by Sean Connery, captures it perfectly.
Midweek Motivational: The Rightness of the Timing (Guest Post)
Today’s post begins a new midweek series—art, storytelling, and/or inspiration from a good book. This one is “A Modern Ancient Folk Tale.”
Later Bloomer is currently on hiatus. Please enjoy the archives!
There is nothing in the caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly.
—Buckminster Fuller,
who patented the Geodesic Dome at age 50