The literary world is constantly on the lookout for that fresh young voice and industry critics love nothing more than heralding the arrival of a prodigy. But what of the slow burners, those who take their time in arriving at the door of literary ability (and respectability)? The link goes to a list of authors who got started late in life. Some interesting names in here:
“Age at which Toni Morrison published her first novel, The Bluest Eye: 39.
Age at which Marilynne Robinson published her first novel, Housekeeping: 37.
Age at which Mary Anne Evans, a.k.a. George Eliot, published Adam Bede: 40.”
http://therumpus.net/2012/03/for-the-conspicuously-old/