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
Jules Verne: The Failed Stockbroker Who Foretold the Future
Verne graduated from law school, but never practiced. He took up playwriting, but never made a living at it. Desperate for funds, he sold stocks. How did he finally become the father of science fiction?
Freya Stark: A Freak Accident Inspired Her to Become a Late-Blooming Explorer
Freya Stark has been called “the last of the romantic explorers.” She lived to 100, but didn’t start her adventures until age 35, after many hardships.
Liz Smith: “I’ve never considered a facelift because I earn my living by looking old”
Liz Smith (not the gossip columnist) is a beloved English character actor who got her first break at age 50 and went on to co-star with Johnny Depp and Patrick Stewart.
Penelope Fitzgerald: England’s Most Famous Unknown Author Started Writing in Her 50s
The Guardian UK has called Fitzgerald “one of the finest British novelists of the last century.” She started writing in her late 50s and won the Booker Prize at age 63.
Grandma Moses: This Doyenne of Outsider Art Didn’t Start Painting Until Age 78
“Painting’s not important. The important thing is keeping busy.” Grandma Moses acquired her wisdom from 101 years of living, the last 25 spent as an iconic painter.
Alex Haley: His Inspiring Journey from College Dropout to Pulitzer Prizewinner
Alex Haley took a meandering route to his calling. He dropped out of college to join the Coast Guard and honed his writing skills at Playboy magazine before publishing Roots at age 56.
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