I first decided to become a writer when I was 27 years old. It was, of course, frowned upon by family and friends until I agreed with them it was a ridiculous idea and that I should concentrate on finding a proper job so I could support my son. I wrote secretly at home late at night and told no-one. It was only when my first piece of writing was published 10 years later that my secret was exposed, so to speak. My family thought I was an overnight success. I allowed them to think they were right. So is thirty too old to pursue a dream as a writer? Not at all. Here I have listed four famous writers who were over forty before they were published. So keep your dreams and passion alive and never give up.

1. Sherwood Anderson was born in Ohio and held many dead-end jobs, including a newsboy and a manager in a paint factory, until he decided to follow his dream as a writer. His first novel was part of a three-book deal, Windy McPherson's Son, which was published in 1916 when Anderson was 40 years old, followed by The Marching Men the following year. These were regarded as practice novels since he is most well known for his collections of short stories, the most famous being Winesburg Ohio which was published when Anderson was 43 years old. Anderson wrote nine novels altogether, but he is best known for his four works of short stories. 

2. Raymond Chandler made the brave decision in 1932 to become a detective novelist after losing his job in an oil company during the Great Depression. He was 44 years old at the time. It was a wise move because he became known as one of the finest detective novelists of all time. His first published work in 1933 was called Blackmailers Don't Shoot and was published in Black Mask magazine. It would be another six years before Chandler's first novel The Big Sleep was published. He would go on to write a further six novels. His eighth novel Playback was a work in progress when he died in 1959 and had to be completed by Robert B Parker. His work has been made into movies many times, including the role of Phillip Marlowe played by Humphrey Bogart.

3. Laura Ingles Wilder began her writing career well into her forties and it would be a further 20 years before her famous Little House In The Big Woods was published. The series of children's books were based on her own childhood experiences and inspired by her daughter, Rose. Ingles also gave birth to a son who tragically died 12 days later. The books were made into a TV series which featured Melissa Gilbert as Ingles. There were eight Little House books in total, the final being published in 1943 when Ingles was aged 76 years old.

4. Anna Sewell, the author of the famous Black Beauty novels. At the age of four, Sewell injured her ankle badly and could not walk long distances; she used a crutch throughout her life. The only way to get around would be by horse-drawn carriage and that began her love of horses and inspired the creation of Black Beauty. The classic children's tale was originally written for adults who worked with horses to help them understand the animals and hopefully inspire better treatment. Sewell began the manuscript of Black Beauty in 1871 and completed the work in 1877. She was at that time suffering ill health and had to dictate the words to her mother. She died a year after the novel was published, aged 58.