Balmer was born in
Chicago to Helen Clark (Pratt) and Thomas Balmer. In 1909, he married Katharine MacHarg, sister of the writer William MacHarg. After her death, he married Grace A. Kee in 1927. He began as a reporter for the
Chicago Tribune in 1903 before writing for books and magazines. He was editor of
Redbook (1927–1949) and later became associate publisher. He would then commission young writers to write up these ideas for inclusion in Redbook. He died at
Phelps Hospital in
North Tarrytown, New York on March 21, 1959, at age 75, and was buried at
Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago. == Novels ==