'Nobody in Tesco buys spy books by women': how female authors took on the genre

Publishing’s long established boys’ club in espionage fiction is having its cover blown by a new school led by Stella Rimington, Manda Scott and Charlotte PhilbyWhen Stella Rimington, the former director general of MI5 and spy author, wrote a new foreword last year to The Spy’s Bedside Book, Graham Greene and his brother Hugh’s 1957 anthology , she was glowingly complimentary. She had just one complaint. “After everything we have done for spying, there is, apart from the obligatory reference to Mata Hari, hardly anything in this book about women!” she wrote.The Greene brothers aren’t alone in their short sight. Wikipedia lists 127 notable writers of spy fiction, dead and living, and only seven of them are women. (Rimington is one of them.) Pick any list of the best spy novels, and it will usually be peopled only by male writers such as John le Carré, John Buchan, Rudyard Kipling, Erskine Childers, Joseph Conrad, Len Deighton, Ian Fleming, Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum.Publishing has become much more gender-blind – before it was: ‘Only blokes can write this’ Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2020-01-07 09:00:54 UTC ]
News tagged with: #male writers #rudyard kipling #joseph conrad #ian fleming #tom clancy #anthology

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Book Deals: Week of December 21, 2015

Newbery–winner Dan Santat signs a four-book deal; PW’s own Gabe Habash sells his debut novel; Ilyasah Shabazz inks a deal to write a children’s book about her mother, Betty; and more in this week's notable book deals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishing Perspectives’ Top Books of 2015: Mark Piesing

Wrapping up the year, Publishing Perspectives contributors share their top books of the 2015. Mark Piesing chooses five nonfiction titles. The post Publishing Perspectives’ Top Books of 2015: Mark Piesing appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book tech: Time to step up

"I’m calling for more women to start up and step up next year." Bec Evans, co-founder with Chris Smith of Write-Track and head of innovation with Emerald Group Publishing, noticed that while our FutureBook 2015 (and Author Day) programming was well-balanced in terms of men and women—s Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Heneage to chair 2015 Costa Book Awards

Writer James Heneage, founder of the Ottakar’s chain of bookshops, will chair the final judging panel of the 2015 Costa Book of the Year. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Quiz: 2015 in books – how closely were you reading?

Who found the manuscript for Harper Lee’s Go Set a Watchman? Which taunt did Martin Amis level at Jeremy Corbyn? And who hasn’t had an adult colouring book devoted to them (yet)? Test your knowledge of this year’s books here1. Which star’s debut novel was a black comedy about industrial... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harper lee #jeremy corbyn #black comedy


Author Peter Dickinson dies on 88th birthday

Author and poet Peter Dickinson OBE died yesterday on 16th December - his 88th birthday - in Winchester, following a brief illness. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Local authorities risk 'breaking law' on libraries

A new nationwide library campaign will hold the government to account over its legal responsibilities towards libraries and has called on local authorities to put all changes to library services on hold or risk breaching the law. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #legal responsibilities #local authorities #library services


Nielsen: ‘More books likely to be bought this Christmas’

New data from Nielsen Book suggests UK consumers will buy more books for Christmas this year than they did in 2014. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ingram Buys Direct Sales Company Aer.io

The Ingram Content Group has acquired Aer.io, a service that allows publishers, retailers and authors to sell and fulfill print and digital books directly to readers via their websites, blogs and social networks. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Is Digital Publishing to Blame for Books Getting Longer?

The average book’s length has grown from 320 pages in 1999 to 400 pages in 2014, a shift some blame on digital publishing. The post Is Digital Publishing to Blame for Books Getting Longer? appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barefoot Books' Oxford studio to close

Publisher Barefoot Books has told business associates it will close its Oxford studio at the end of the month. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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MCB to publish children’s book by Chris Hadfield

Macmillan Children’s Books (MCB) will next year publish a children’s book by Canadian astronaut Commander Chris Hadfield. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #books mcb #publish children #macmillan children #chris hadfield #year publish


Hachette Livre buys Editions Kero

Hachette Livre has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to buy general literature publisher Editions Kero. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Throne of Glass colouring book from Bloomsbury

Bloomsbury Children’s Books has acquired the world rights to The Throne of Glass Coloring Book, based Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass series. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bloomsbury children #world rights #glass series


Diversity drive on track in children's, but call for more BAME authors

Authors, agents and publishers have praised the increase in the number of books with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and mental health themes in 2015, but added that more needs to be done in terms of publishing BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) authors and books that feature... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bame authors #diversity drive #feature characters


Looking for the Perfect Book Present? Try the Penguin Hotline Really.

Testing Penguin Random House's "Hotline" for a personalized list of book suggestions for gift givers, our correspondent comes away impressed. The post Looking for the Perfect Book Present? Try the Penguin Hotline Really. appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Your Bookshelves Are At the Heart of New Book Discovery Engine

A new app aims to shake up book recommendations with a little help from some bookshelf selfies. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Macmillan buys tween fiction from Skylark Literary

Macmillan Children’s Books has bought the world rights to A Girl Called Owl, a new tween fiction novel, from Skylark Literary. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #macmillan children #world rights


Book Deals: Week of December 14, 2015

Gizmodo’s former editor signs with Tor, Barry Eisler inks a two-book deal with Thomas & Mercer, and more in this week's notable book deals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book deals #thomas mercer


Books of the Year 2015: newspaper round-up

In our third annual Best of the Best round-up, The Bookseller takes a broad look at which titles are gathering consistent mentions as highlights of the year in publishing in newspapers' "Best of 2015" lists. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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