Late Bloomer Stories

Madeleine L’Engle: Tenacity and The Tesseract

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“…if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.” How one of our most beloved children’s books almost didn’t get published.

The Magnificent Folly of Mary Somerville

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Mary Somerville’s father feared for her sanity. Why couldn’t she interest herself in music and fashion magazines? But no, Mary wanted to be a mathematician, and in the end, Oxford named a college after her.

Beauty of a Woman: An Ode to Erma Bombeck

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When you contemplate beauty, I doubt Erma Bombeck comes to mind. But Erma possessed the attribute that makes every woman into a stunner — humor. And she didn’t launch until almost 40.

Let’s Get Back to Storytelling

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When did storytelling become storySELLING? The Roman poet Horace defined the essence of great storytelling when he wrote, “Change the name, and the story is about you.” Not burgers, cereal, deodorant, or Cialis. Plus, Later Bloomer is looking for guest posts!

A Late Bloomer’s Tale for Twain’s Birthday

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In his late 40s, Kent Rasmussen looked upon the dark night of the soul. He obsessively read Mark Twain to raise his spirits. Now he’s one of the world’s foremost Twain authorities.

Go Granny! Two Marathoners Speed Past 90

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Need inspiration to get off the couch? Guinness World Book just named Gladys Burrill, age 92, the Oldest Female Marathon Finisher.

How Bram Stoker Handled A Soul-Sucking Boss

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Why am I so obsessed with Bram Stoker and Dracula? The sad truth — I spent too many years too afraid to ditch a series of soul-sucking jobs. But at least Bram had a creative solution!

Julia Margaret Cameron on Failing in the Dark

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At age 48, Julia Margaret Cameron taught herself to use a new invention, the camera. Photographers still admire her images, many of which have changed the way we view the medium.