About Prill
Like the women she writes about in Defying Gravity, Prill Boyle is a late bloomer. After graduating from college at 38, she became an English teacher. Then in January of 2000 she read an article in The New York Times about a 65-year old Kentucky woman named Wini Yunker who had waited 39 years to join the Peace Corps. Inspired by this woman’s persistence and courage, Prill decided to write a book about late bloomers--even though she had never written anything before. At age 47, she left her teaching job to write full time.
About Defying Gravity
1. What inspired you to write this book? Do you consider yourself a late bloomer?
A woman named Wini Yunker inspired me. I read about her in The New York Times back in January of 2000. She was 65 years old and finally fulfilling a 39-year dream of joining the Peace Corp. The day the article came out, she was leaving for a two-year assignment in Ukraine. She reminded me of some of my community college students—that’s what initially drew me to her story. Like them, she was a single parent of modest means who worked full-time while earning a degree. I thought my students would be inspired by her persistence. I myself was so inspired that before I even finished reading the paper, I decided to write a book about people who refused to give up on themselves and their dreams—even though I had never written anything before! (That’s how inspired I was.) I ended up interviewing over 100 individuals from all walks of life with a variety of obstacles to overcome, ultimately choosing 12 for the book. One woman became a flight attendant at 71. Another didn’t even have a high school diploma in her 40’s and became a professor of anthropology at Brown University at age 60. And, yes, I’ve done a fair amount of late blooming myself. I graduated from college at 38, published my first book at 50, and now, on the cusp of 54, am writing my first novel.
2. All of the women you profiled have very special stories, but is there one in particular you found especially poignant?
Rainelle Burton’s. Rainelle grew up a virtual prisoner in her house, allowed to leave home only for school. She battled dyslexia, depression, and homelessness. One winter in Detroit, she even lived in her car with a new baby. Despite all of this, she managed for years to hold down a full-time job at Blue-Cross, Blue-Shield. Then at age 50, she surmounted both her dyslexia and her depression to write a critically acclaimed first novel. What I say about Rainelle in my book is that “she’s been through hell, but has emerged without a trace of soot on her spirit.” A true inspiration, Rainelle is one of the lightest, most joyful people I’ve ever met.
3. Who are some of your own late blooming heroes?
I list a number of famous late bloomers at the back of my book—people such as Katherine Graham, who was a full-time wife and mother until age 46 when her husband committed suicide. Initially shy and insecure, she took over his job as the owner/publisher of The Washington Post. It was under her tenure that the Post published the Pentagon Papers and gained a national reputation. But the late bloomers who inspire me the most are the everyday ones. Elizabeth Eichelbaum, for instance, who hadn’t even completed fifth grade by the time she was in her fifties and earned a doctorate at age 90. Or Arthur Krakower, who in his late 70’s became the oldest graduate of the San Jose School of Art and at age 87 is still painting up a storm.
4. What advice do you have for women who are considering “defying gravity now” in their own lives?
Well, first of all, don’t put too much stock in tips. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to blooming—at any age. There are no substitutes for hard work. There are no shortcuts to the top. But remember: When you’re doing what you love, it’s not exhausting, it’s exhilarating. Beyond that, I would tell people to keep in mind the 3 P’s:
1) Pay attention. If you’re open, a simple comment by a stranger can change your life. Even your body can be your ally if you’re attuned to what it’s saying. A wrenching gut is a warning cry. A soaring heart is a sign saying, “Enter here.”
2) Pull on the thread of your passion. Don’t second guess yourself. If something makes your heart sing (see P #1), pursue it. You don’t have to quit your day job, but make room in your life to delve into something you love. See where it takes you.
3) Persist. It sounds trite, but it’s true. Most people give up on their dreams too soon.
4. What is next for you? A new book?
I’m writing a fictional sequel to Defying Gravity. I just finished the first draft.
