6 Writers Who Debuted Their First Books As Senior Citizens | Writer’s Relief (UPDATED 2024)

by | Inspiration And Encouragement For Writers | 39 comments

Review Board is now open! Submit your Short Prose, Poetry, and Book today!

Day(s)

:

Hour(s)

:

Minute(s)

:

Second(s)

Deadline: Thursday, February 22nd

Late nights writing and rewriting, long hours spent pounding on a keyboard and searching the Internet for the right markets—it may seem that writing is a young person’s game. Don’t let a few gray hairs stop your dream of getting published! Writer’s Relief knows of many writers who were over fifty years old when they were first published (some of them are our clients!). In fact, some of the world’s most beloved authors didn’t publish their first novels until long after their 20s and 30s.

So park your motorcycle, take advantage of that senior citizen discount on your cappuccino, and check out these six authors who prove that it’s never too late to start writing!

 

Laura Ingalls Wilder: Best known for her Little House series, Wilder didn’t publish her first book until she was sixty-five years old! Her debut book, Little House in the Big Woods, sparked the beginning of her incredibly successful run as a children’s book author. Her work also served as the inspiration for the hit television series Little House on the Prairie.

But even Wilder had trouble breaking into the writing industry. If you are stuck in literature limbo, learn more about submission strategies to get you published!

 

Bram Stoker: While this author had a long history in the publishing world, he didn’t publish his novel Dracula until he was fifty years old. Dracula is still considered one of the most popular novels in the vampire genre to date. Move over, Stephenie Meyer!

 

Raymond Chandler: Published when he was fifty-one years old, Chandler’s The Big Sleep is widely considered one of the greatest detective novels in American literature. Chandler used the ideas drafted in his younger years to write his greatest work later in life.

 

Richard Adams: His now classic novel Watership Down was published when he was fifty-two years old. Adams was working in civil service when his daughters’ request for a story sparked the idea for this well-known yet deeply unsettling tale. While the book was originally only designed to scare children (his in particular), it eventually won the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian children’s prize.

 

Submit to Review Board

Frank McCourt: This author found his passion for writing after retirement. His debut memoir, Angela’s Ashes, was published when he was sixty-six years old. After a career as a teacher, McCourt wrote three books and became an award-winning novelist!

 

Lorna Page: The oldest debut novelist on record! Page’s first novel, A Dangerous Weakness, was published when she was ninety-three years old. She took the money she earned from the book and bought a bigger house for herself and a few of her friends so they could properly enjoy their golden years.

With the right tools, time, and passion, writers can make their dreams come true at any age! The most important element of getting your completed story or novel published is submitting to the right markets! The research experts at Writer’s Relief can help you pinpoint the best literary agents or journals for your work. Learn more about our services and submit your work to our Review Board today! If you don’t want to go the traditional publishing route (which can take quite a bit of time and money), we also have a self-publishing division, SelfPublishingRelief.com, and invite you to schedule a free consultation. Lots of senior writers have gone this route as well (and with great results)!

Question: Which of these authors’ books have you read, or are planning to read?

39 Comments

  1. Rosie

    Love the ‘Little House’ series and ‘Watership Down’! I’ll be in good company when I publish in my old age!

    Reply
    • Cynthia

      Richard Adams, Watership Down. I’m 66 and has always been my passion to write a memorable children’s story and have published. My brother , my inspiration, published several books and artist run in the family. I read chapter books to my now 30 yr old son w/CP every night. Finding a story today is a challenge. The top of our list for Best Story Ever is The One and Only Ivan.

      Reply
  2. Deborah Wallace

    I’m 61. There’s hope for me. I’ve written eight books over the past three years. Now to get published.

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine

      Hi I am 82 and started the book in my 70’s but just picked it up again. I will finish it this time.

      Reply
  3. Judi Howe

    Thanks for the inspiration. I

    Reply
  4. Laura

    Would love to see the names of recent authors who published for the first time after age 50. I’m not sure it’s so easy in today’s high tech publishing arena.

    Reply
    • Gail Ingis

      I was 80 in 2015 when Sole Mate published my first book, then Indigo Sky, renamed and self-republished in 2019, The Memorable Mrs. Dempsey, a new cover in 2023. My second book, The Unforgettable Miss Baldwin, new cover and republished 2023. Now working on my Memoir. Having a good ol’ time!!! Hope I can keep writing and ballroom dancing.

      Reply
      • Blog Editor

        Wow! Keep writing and dancing, Gail!

        Reply
      • rosemary

        Also working on mine/hope to complete series of my travels with MS – hope helps others – hit 77 late November – need to get on with it!

        Reply
    • Nicole Dean

      Bonnie Garcia, for one. Her first novel came out at 65 and was turned into a huge Netflix hit.

      Reply
  5. Ken Johnson

    I wrote my first novel, Hell and Highwater, at 56. I’m now 70 and working on my eighth, Hell on Earth.

    Reply
    • Alex Peters

      Where can I find one of your books?

      Reply
  6. Mark

    I’m 62 and my debut novel, JASON, has just been accepted for publication! All being well, it will hit the selves mid-2023. If that timescale is right, when it actually becomes available, I will be 63!

    There is hope for everyone.

    Reply
    • Mark

      Thanks Mark for the timely story

      Reply
  7. Mary Grayer Clarke

    I completed my first novel DARK REGRESSIONS at the age of 84, which will make me 85 at the time of publishing – January 6th 2023. My second book DARK REVENGE has been accepted for publication.
    Age is just numbers!

    Reply
    • Alex Peters

      That’s inspiring

      Reply
  8. Barry Johnson

    My friend Melton Lutrell debuted with a cozy mystery novel at age 92!

    Reply
    • Blog Editor

      Wow! That’s amazing!

      Reply
  9. Edward Farber

    My question is: should you publicize your age if you are an older author (over 90) or just keep that quiet. Will advanced age hurt your book sales?

    Reply
    • Blog Editor

      Whether or not writing is published is based on how good the writing is and how interesting/relevant the topic—not on the author’s age. There’s no need to mention your age in a cover letter, because it’s not a determining factor in whether or not your work will be published.

      Reply
  10. MARK STEVEN PORRO

    Hi all, I just came across this article. I’m also in good company. I found a publisher for my first book because of my story, my voice, and the quality of writing. I was sixty-five (now sixty six). WriteLife Publishing released my memoir “A Cup of Tea on the Commode, My Multi-tasking Adventures of Caring for Mom. And How I survived to Tell the Tale” on Mother’s Day 2023. My story is resonating with many, as I have over 25K followers on my Facebook page, and the reviews have been stellar. Bravo to my fellow senior citizens. Keep writing and don’t give up.

    Reply
    • Blog Editor

      Thank you for sharing that, Mark! Congratulations on your memoir!

      Reply
    • Verona

      Awesome!
      I guess there is still hope for me.
      I have always wanted to write. I just finished my first book that i wrote as a young adult.

      Whew!

      Reply
  11. Rosalinda R Morgan

    I published my first book at 70, ten years ago. So far, I have self-published 3 historical novels and one inspirational book. I renamed my first book, changed the cover, and did a second edition called “The Zigzag Road” coming out next week. I have four more unpublished manuscripts that I will edit and hope to publish one each year for the next four years.

    Reply
    • Blog Editor

      That’s amazing! Congratulations!

      Reply
  12. Trish

    Wow, this is inspirational. I am working on my first novel, and I feel much better about perusing my dream at 62. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Blog Editor

      Best of luck on your novel!

      Reply
  13. Kim Kellogg

    Encouraging! Thank you.

    Reply
  14. Robert Haus

    Harry Bernstein published his debut novel, “The Invisible Wall,” at age 93.

    Reply
  15. Gail Merrifield Papp

    A salute to the debuts of fellow writers in this Comment group! I sold my first book in 2022, a memoir called “PUBLIC/PRIVATE: My Life with Joe Papp at The Public Theater.” Its publishing date is October 2023, by which time I will be 89.

    Reply
    • Blog Editor

      Congratulations, Gail!

      Reply
  16. Diane Brown

    Actually Frank McCourt as 65 or 66 when Angela’s Ashes was published. He was born in August, 1930, and the book came out in 1996.

    Reply
    • Blog Editor

      Thanks for the correction–we have made it.

      Reply
  17. Kathy N Doherty

    NIta Marie Clark (aka my mom) debuted her first children’s book at the age of 79. Taking me along as her illustrator, I illustrated our first book when I was 55. We currently have 10 children’s books in print and mom has 3 more books in various stages on her desk top, and I am illustrating one new book and working on a fully illustrated version of our Christmas book that came out last year.

    Reply
    • Blog Editor

      Congratulations!

      Reply
  18. Brigitte Cushman

    I was amazed about Lorna Page who published at 93 who bought a bigger house and helped her friends to live better. It takes a lot of drive and determination to publish later in life. My first book “Junior’s Dragon” was published in 2023 by myself at the age of 75. I appreciated this article because it inspires me to continue writing.

    Reply
    • Blog Editor

      We’re glad to hear that!

      Reply
  19. Vintage

    I am 65 and I first published when I was 52. I am in the process of writing my ninth novel.

    Reply
    • Blog Editor

      Congratulations!

      Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Review Board is now open! Submit your Short Prose, Poetry, and Book today!

Day(s)

:

Hour(s)

:

Minute(s)

:

Second(s)

 

 

See ALL the services we offer, from
FREE to Full Service!

Click here for a Writer’s Relief
Full Service Overview

Search

Reviews

“Getting that first poem published was the hardest threshold to cross. My team at Writer’s Relief kept encouraging me…then came the acceptance! We celebrated…then I continued writing, and Writer’s Relief continued doing the wonderful work they do!”

—King Grossman, Writer
(Watch King’s video testimonial here!)

“Every piece I have sent out with their help has been accepted for publication! I am looking forward to working with the team on getting my new novel out into the world.”

Services Catalog

Free Publishing Leads
and Tips!

Featured Articles



Featured Video

Follow us!



YES, IT'S MY LUCKY DAY!
Sign me up for
FREE Publishing Leads & Tips
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

WHY? Because our insider
know-how has helped
writers get over 18,000 acceptances.

FREE Publishing Leads and Tips! Our e-publication, Submit Write Now!, delivered weekly to your inbox.
  • BEST (and proven) submission tips
  • Hot publishing leads
  • Calls to submit
  • Contest alerts
  • Notification of industry changes
  • And much more!
close-link


STOP! BEFORE YOU GO...
Sign me up for
FREE Publishing Leads & Tips
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

WHY? Because our insider
know-how has helped
writers get over 18,000 acceptances.

FREE Publishing Leads and Tips! Our e-publication, Submit Write Now!, delivered weekly to your inbox.
  • BEST (and proven) submission tips
  • Hot publishing leads
  • Calls to submit
  • Contest alerts
  • Notification of industry changes
  • And much more!
close-link

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This