‘The pendulum has swung’: Why we female Trinidadian writers are having our moment

Monique Roffey, the Costa-winning author of The Mermaid of Black Conch, on the lit-boom that’s happening on the Caribbean islandLast week, Trinidadian writer Lisa Allen-Agostini’s novel The Bread the Devil Knead landed a coveted spot on the Women’s prize shortlist. As a fellow Trinidadian writer, this is both exciting and unsurprising. These days Trinidad is producing world-class female writers hand over fist. Allen-Agostini’s shortlisting comes on the heels of the announcement, two weeks ago, that Trinidadian writer Amanda Smyth had made the Walter Scott prize for historical fiction shortlist, the only woman on the list, and the first Caribbean writer ever to be chosen. Meanwhile, Celeste Mohammed has become the fifth woman (and third Trinidadian woman) to win Trinidad’s regional OCM Bocas prize.Something has happened in Trinidad, in our small but dense hothouse of a literary world. Perhaps it’s 12 years of the Bocas literary festival, or five waves of feminism, or maybe it’s to do with the internet opening up opportunities for those from developing countries, but in the last decade Trinidad has produced a host of outstanding female writers. It’s a trend that anyone in Caribbean literary circles knows about. Myself, Smyth, Allen-Agostini, Mohammed and others are part of a “lit-boom”, and most of this boom is female. We are finding ourselves on the global stage, on prestigious shortlists in North America and the UK. This huge generational and gender shift would have been... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2022-05-03 13:03:34 UTC ]
News tagged with: #black conch #coveted spot #prize shortlist #literary world #developing countries #global stage #historical fiction

Other Publishing stories related to: '‘The pendulum has swung’: Why we female Trinidadian writers are having our moment'


In Monique Truong’s ‘The Sweetest Fruits,’ 19th-century writer Lafcadio Hearn comes to life

Truong’s book is made up of women’s voices, each of them relating a version of the writer they loved. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-08-29 17:16:30 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #monique truong #sweetest fruits


Bloomsbury snaps up female incontinence book

Bloomsbury imprint Green Tree will publish a “heartfelt” book about female incontinence by writer Luce Brett entitled PMSL: Or How I Literally Pissed Myself Laughing and Survived the Last Taboo to Tell the Tale. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-29 01:52:50 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bloomsbury snaps #bloomsbury


How Literary Agents Agree and Differ: Lessons From the Annual Writer’s Digest Conference

There are some things all agents want to see from writers, but they don't agree on everything. Here's how literary agents agree and differ on what they want from writers. The post How Literary Agents Agree and Differ: Lessons From the Annual Writer’s Digest Conference by Robert Lee Brewer... Continue reading at Writer's Digest

[ Writer's Digest | 2019-08-28 13:00:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary agents


Saga writer Glenda Young strikes three-book deal with Headline

Headline has signed three “compelling” new novels from saga writer Glenda Young. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-28 04:54:36 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Up and Down the Masthead, Male Editors (Still) Significantly Out-Earn Females

Sponsored by Readex Research Against a backdrop of sustained industry instability, editorial salaries have remained relatively consistent year-over-year, according to data from Folio:’s annual survey of compensation levels at consumer, B2B and association magazine publishers, conducted in... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2019-08-27 18:49:12 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital divide #association publishing #sustainable living #publishing industry


The Writer’s Alibi: My Terrible, Dreadful, Hope-the-FBI-Doesn’t-Look-at-This Search History

The internet search histories of novelists can be quite disturbing. Writer Kathleen Valenti shares the methodology behind web searches for her newest medical mystery. The post The Writer’s Alibi: My Terrible, Dreadful, Hope-the-FBI-Doesn’t-Look-at-This Search History by Kathleen Valenti appeared... Continue reading at Writer's Digest

[ Writer's Digest | 2019-08-20 14:00:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #search history #web searches #novelists


The Israeli Children’s Book Writer Who Became a Witch

The illustrator and graphic novelist Rutu Modan offers a homage to Leah Goldberg, one of Israel’s most celebrated poets and children’s authors. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2019-08-16 09:00:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book writer #children’s book


All-female shortlist for Guardian 4th Estate BAME Short Story Prize

This year’s Guardian 4th Estate BAME Short Story Prize shortlist has been announced, with an all-female list of writers. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-16 01:51:30 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #all-female shortlist


2019 Writer’s Digest Annual Conference Pitch Slam Agents

Literary agents are gatekeepers of the publishing industry, and more than 50 literary agents and editors will be listening to pitches at the 2019 Writer's Digest Annual Conference as part of its popular Pitch Slam program. Here are a few Pitch Slam agents who have been featured on Publishing... Continue reading at Writer's Digest

[ Writer's Digest | 2019-08-14 13:31:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing industry #literary agents


McDermid unveils her pick of the top 10 LGBTQI+ writers in UK

Val McDermid has revealed her choice for the 10 most compelling LGBTQI+ writers working in the UK today, with a list including Fiona Mozley and Kirsty Logan. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-10 10:59:42 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk today #val mcdermid #kirsty logan


International Literature Showcase: LGBTQI+ writers

The International Literature Showcase is a partnership between the National Centre for Writing and British Council. It aims to showcase amazing writers based in the UK to programmers, publishers and teachers of literature in English around the world. To do so, we have invited six leading writers... Continue reading at British Council global

[ British Council global | 2019-08-10 10:05:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #women writers #val mcdermid #ten lesbian #andrew mcmillan #fiona mozley #juno dawson #kirsty logan #jackie kay #ten writers #london book fair


The female spies who helped liberate World War II France

Sarah Rose recounts the bravery and sacrifices of 39 British women in the lead-up to D-Day. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-08-09 15:34:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


A writer tries to make sense of Larry Nassar’s decades of abuse

In “The Girls,” Abigail Pesta interviews some of the promising gymnasts the Olympic doctor abused. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-08-07 20:23:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #make sense


He Said, He Said: One Writer’s Account of His Second Act

“The Long Accomplishment: A Memoir of Hope and Struggle in Matrimony” is Rick Moody’s attempt to come to terms with his troubled domestic life. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2019-08-06 09:00:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #rick moody #memoir


Kissick wins W&A Working-Class Writers’ Prize

Lucy Kissick’s debut novel Plutoshine has won the inaugural Writers & Artists Working-Class Writers’ Prize. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-04 19:06:55 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #debut novel


On Learning to Use My Inner Cheerleader to Find Writerly Confidence

I was having coffee with a young writer who was starting out in the TV business and wanted advice. I could tell she was new by her hopefulness, good skin, and full head of hair. She asked me about my writing process. I told her I don’t have a “process.” I more. . .spend most […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-07-30 08:47:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #writing process #young writer


NaNoWriMo Empowers Young Writers

This fall, as novice writers and published authors alike sit down to write, kids and teens will be joining them in the creative challenge through the Young Writers Program. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-07-30 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


CUP signs 'groundbreaking' history of 'female husbands'

Cambridge University Press has bought a "groundbreaking" book charting the rise and fall of "female husbands" in the 18th and 19th centuries. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-29 11:57:16 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book charting #cambridge university press


Irish writers dominate Sunday Times Audible Short Story Award shortlist

The 2019 Sunday Times Audible Short Story Award shortlist is dominated by Irish authors with former winner and Booker Prize longlistee Kevin Barry and relative newcomers Danielle McLaughlin and Louise Kennedy in the running for the £30,000 prize. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-29 11:15:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #irish authors #louise kennedy


Hodder and Serial Box to publish thriller by Hannah's female crime-writing team

Hodder & Stoughton has joined forces with digital platform Serial Box to publish an original psychological thriller by a team of women crime writers helmed and hand-picked by Sophie Hannah. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-29 06:07:59 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hodder stoughton #sophie hannah #serial box #joined forces #hodder