The Author’s Mic™ with Laureen Quick | Why It’s Never Too Late to Write Your Story
# The Author’s Mic™ with Laureen Quick | Why It’s Never Too Late to Write Your Story
Is it ever too late to become an author?
No. And if you need proof, **Laureen Quick** is a beautiful example of why.
In this episode of **The Author’s Mic™**, I sat down with author and poet Laureen Quick to talk about reinvention, grief, identity, poetry, and what it looks like to rediscover yourself in a completely new season of life.
🎥 Watch the full episode here:
##Quick Answer: Can You Become an Author Later in Life?
Absolutely.
There is no age limit on becoming an author.
In fact, some of the most meaningful books come later in life, when experience, wisdom, heartbreak, healing, and perspective have had time to shape the person telling the story.
Laureen’s journey is a powerful reminder of that.
## What Happens When Life Changes and You No Longer Recognize Yourself?
Laureen shared something I think a lot of people, especially women, will immediately understand.
About seven years ago, when she turned 60, life looked very different.
Her husband had passed away.
Her children were grown and living their own lives.
She had retired from the workforce.
And suddenly, many of the roles that had defined her life were gone.
She was no longer actively raising children.
She was no longer going to work every day.
She was no longer a wife.
That kind of transition can shake you.
Because when the roles fall away, you are left with a difficult question:
**Who am I now?**
And that’s not always an easy question to answer.
## How Poetry Became a Path to Healing
For Laureen, the answer came through writing.
More specifically, through poetry.
She joined an online writing experience that offered prompts and group conversations, and something unexpected happened.
Poetry emerged.
What I appreciated most about Laureen’s explanation was how she described poetry as a way of getting to truth when direct language feels hard.
Sometimes you can’t say the thing directly.
Sometimes you have to write around it first.
Poetry creates space for that.
Writing gave Laureen:
• clarity
• healing
• self-love
• emotional release
And over time, that writing became her book, **Lanterns**.
## Why Publish Instead of Keeping It Private?
Writing for yourself is one thing.
Publishing is something else entirely.
Publishing means deciding that what helped you might help someone else too.
That was Laureen’s motivation.
She works with women as a guide, helping them navigate major life transitions, and she wanted *Lanterns* to be another tool for that work.
She wanted women to know:
You are not alone.
So many people move through grief, transition, or reinvention believing they’re the only one struggling.
They’re not.
And sometimes the right words at the right moment can help someone feel seen.
## The Identity Shift: “I’m Not Really an Author”
This part of our conversation really stood out.
At first, Laureen saw poetry as a hobby.
She thought:
“I’m not really an author.”
I hear that from people all the time.
They write.
They create.
They pour themselves into the work.
But they hesitate to claim the title.
Author.
Writer.
Poet.
Why?
Because saying it out loud feels big.
But identity shifts.
Over time, Laureen stopped seeing poetry as something she merely did.
It became part of who she is.
That internal shift changed everything.
She reached a point where she could finally say:
I can do this.
I can publish this.
I can share this.
Sometimes the biggest barrier isn’t talent.
Sometimes it’s permission.
## Legacy Becomes More Important with Time
Laureen shared that she had always dreamed of becoming an author.
But for years, that dream stayed in the “someday” category.
Then came a realization many people eventually face.
Someday is not guaranteed.
That changes things.
If not now, when?
Because the truth is, none of us know how much time we have.
That reality can be scary.
But it can also be clarifying.
Laureen now has a second poetry collection coming called **The Body Speaks**, which explores the dialogue between body and mind.
She’s also finishing a children’s book for her grandson called **Crazy Nana Love**.
Those books become more than projects.
They become legacy.
Her grandson will have that forever.
That’s powerful.
## Self-Publishing Has Changed What’s Possible
Laureen is self-publishing all of her books.
Years ago, many authors would never have had access to the tools we have now.
Today, authors can bring their work directly into the world.
That doesn’t mean it’s easy.
But it does mean access has changed.
Indie authors now have more control over:
• timing
• production
• ownership
• creative direction
And that matters.
## Final Advice from Laureen Quick
I asked Laureen for one grounded piece of advice for women navigating a difficult season of life.
Her answer was simple and beautiful.
Quiet yourself.
Quiet your mind.
Listen to that little voice deep inside you.
It’s there.
It may be quiet.
But if you listen, it gets louder.
That advice applies to more than women in transition.
It applies to writers.
It applies to creators.
It applies to anyone trying to figure out what comes next.
Most of us already know what we need to do.
The hard part is getting quiet enough to hear it.
## FAQ
### Is 60 too old to become an author?
No. There is no age limit on becoming an author. Many people publish meaningful work later in life.
### Can writing help with grief?
Yes. Writing can be a powerful tool for reflection, healing, and emotional processing.
### Is self-publishing a good option for first-time authors?
It can be. Self-publishing offers more control over creative decisions, timelines, and ownership.
### Do poetry books still matter?
Absolutely. Poetry continues to connect deeply with readers because it often expresses emotions traditional prose cannot.
## How TrustBridge™ Supports Indie Authors
TrustBridge™ connects indie authors with bookstores, book clubs, and podcasts through curated introductions and real relationship-building.
Because writing the book is only part of the journey.
Getting visibility is the next challenge.
TrustBridge™ Author Services
https://brightheadedpublishing.com/trustbridgetm-author-services
TrustBridge™ Partner Networks
https://brightheadedpublishing.com/partner-with-us
Laureen’s story is a reminder that becoming an author is not about age.
It’s about courage.
It’s about deciding your story matters.
And if you’ve been waiting for someday, maybe this is your reminder.
Someday is now.
Follow Laureen Quick:
https://www.instagram.com/laureen_quick
Substack
https://laureenquick.substack.com/
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**Free Guide: So You Wanna Write a Book**
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