Authors

It’s Never Too Late

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Whatever our age, at one point or another, we may feel that our one big chance has passed us by. Whether it’s to be published, appear on stage, accomplish something amazing …. whatever it is, we missed that magical time. Here are some amazing facts that say we’re wrong.

At age 23, Tina Fey was working at a YMCA.
At age 23, Oprah was fired from her first reporting job.
At age 24, Stephen King was working as a janitor and living in a trailer.
At age 27, Vincent Van Gogh failed as a missionary and decided to go to art school.
At age 28, J.K. Rowling was a single parent living on welfare who was clinically depressed and at times has contemplated suicide.
At age 28, Wayne Coyne (from The Flaming Lips) was a fry cook.
At age 30, Harrison Ford was a carpenter.
At age 30, Martha Stewart was a stockbroker.
At age 37, Ang Lee was a stay-at-home-dad working odd jobs.
Julia Child released her first cookbook at age 39, and got her own cooking show at age 51.
Vera Wang failed to make the Olympic figure skating team, didn’t get the Editor-in-Chief position at Vogue, and designed her first dress at age 40.
Stan Lee didn’t release his first big comic book until he was 40.
Alan Rickman gave up his graphic design career to pursue acting at age 42.
Samuel L. Jackson didn’t get his first major movie role until he was 40.
Morgan Freeman landed his first MAJOR movie role at age 52.
Kathryn Bigelow only reached international success when she made The Hurt Locker at age 57.
Grandma Moses didn’t begin her painting career until age 76.
Louise Bourgeois didn’t become a famous artist until she was 78.

Just because we haven’t found fame and fortune by the age of 21, it doesn’t mean we’re over.
Maybe we’re still figuring out what our big dream is, what it is that sets our soul on fire.
Things can change on a dime, so never tell yourself you’re too old to make it.
Never tell yourself you missed your chance.
Or that you aren’t good enough.

It’s never too late.

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Photo by Jared Weiss on Unsplash

Sharing the Story Behind the Story

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Saturday, July 8th, I was in the Author’s Tent at the annual Tinicum Arts Festival from 2-4 p.m. with my picture book, Where Do Butterflies Go at Night? One of the purposes of the event, of course, is to promote my book.

However, part of the fun of being there is to chat with customers about the story itself. Visitors are interested to know about how I came up with the idea for Butterflies, and what was my creative process in writing the story. People are often interested in the book journey itself, from concept to print, and what’s involved in an author being at an event talking to them right then!

I think exchanges such as these are truly a part of what makes publishing a book so interesting and worthwhile. We always go to events hoping for sales, and that’s an important motivation, but why this book sprang from our hearts and minds is very important, too. It’s nice to know others want to know that.

Pictured above is a fellow author, an entomologist and engineer, Chris Alice Kratzer, whose book is The Social Wasps of North America. The festival plan was for one adult and one children’s author to share the tent for two hours, and Chris was a delight. To Hannie, the Author’s Tent event organizer, and the Tinicum Civic Association for inviting me to participate – thank you!!

Come Meet Me at Tinicum!

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In the area Saturday? Come join me at the Author’s Tent from 2-4, and I would be delighted to sign a copy of my picture book, Where Do Butterflies Go at Night? and talk picture books – or butterflies – with you!

The festival is almost completely in the shade, and makes for very pleasant touring about. The 130+ artists and artisans featured are truly top-notch, plus there’s live entertainment, and much more. Check here for details:

This is a 2-day event, so if Saturday is not good for you, come Sunday and enjoy the art and festivities!

Perseverance

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That’s what it takes. Once you have done the groundwork, the research, the introspection, etc., etc., then the real work begins. You have thought about this idea, this dream, this possibility, at great length, done the endless worrying and questioning if it would be worth it, and decided `yes.’

Now the real work begins.

It’s time to put the pedal to the metal, shoulder to the grindstone, and all that. In other words, let’s get going and be ready for whatever may pop up in the road ahead while you work to fulfill a dream.

If you’ve been there, you know the journey. I’ve been on this road, and am starting out at a newer and higher point. The view is great, and I’m doing it. I shall persevere.

For you (and me, too!), I have pulled together a bunch of quotes on the subject for Instagram (@jeannebalsam), but two of my favorites are here. You are the person you’ve been waiting for. Let’s forge on together.

School Assemblies with “Butterflies”

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I was invited by Principal Melissa Goad (below right) to give a presentation on June 15th at Patrick McGaheran Elementary School – a talk on butterflies and a reading of “Where Do Butterflies Go at Night?”

I was a little anxious in anticipation. This would be my first experience with groups this large – three assembles of 120 kids each, pre-K through 2nd grade. I put a tremendous amount of time into the preparation, not only modifying my talk for a large group, but also learning Power Point, and creating my first slide show ever.

It paid off! I knew my material, and the talk improved with each presentation as I relaxed, became more spontaneous, and got used to using a mic and managing the presentation on my laptop while talking.

The school had really prepared well for me, too. They had gotten books and had read them to all the students in advance. I worked with a wonderful PTA liaison, Kelly (above left) who’d put so much together before I even got there, and had another assistant, Stacy (above right), to help me while I read aloud.

The students had been building a butterfly habitat in their garden-like courtyard, and were very excited to learn more about butterflies and be read to. It turned out to be so much fun. Children today know much more than we did at that stage in our education, and I loved taking their questions. They were shy in asking, but had very relevant points they wanted to know. I could have spent half the time with them just doing Q and A!

I breathed a deep breath when we were done; it went well! 360 small children were more well-behaved and eager to be involved than I had anticipated – whew! – and we all learned a lot. Thanks to all at Patrick McGaheran School!