‘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'


Confessions of a Gay Erotica Writer in the Era of Indie Publishing

Self-published gay erotica writer M.P. Rey reveals his joy at moving from the dusty shelves of hidden rainbow-flag bookstores to better status on Amazon. The post Confessions of a Gay Erotica Writer in the Era of Indie Publishing appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post confessions #indie publishing #dusty shelves


St. Patrick's Day: New York City residents can get a free book by an Irish writer

The Irish Arts Center in New York City will be handing out thousands of books by Irish writers to NYC residents on the holiday. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #free book #irish writer #irish writers


Pascoe tackles the female body for Faber

Faber has acquired a book by comedian Sara Pascoe, a feminist exploration of the female body. Editor Sarah Savitt signed world rights at auction to Animal: How a Woman is Made, from Dawn Sedgwick at Dawn Sedgwick Management. The book will be published in Spring 2016. Savitt said: "I have... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #female body #feminist exploration #perfect fit


Dr Seuss' forgotten adult book of female nudes

As the world eagerly awaits the release of his unexpected posthumous book in July, renewed interest in the work of Dr Seuss has sent the internet into the research archives... and it turns out there's a forgotten book of female nudes hidden there in Theodor Geisl's bibliography.  Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2015-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #dr seuss #renewed interest


Bangladeshis protest after atheist writer Avijit Roy hacked to death

Hundreds rally against fundamentalism in Dhaka as Islamists claim responsibility for murder of prominent US-Bangladeshi bloggerHundreds of people have taken to the streets of Dhaka in protest at the murder of a prominent secular American blogger of Bangladeshi origin who was hacked to death with... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book fair


Headline signs title from comedy writer Shaw

Headline has acquired a humour title by comedy writer Dale Shaw. Editor Richard Roper pre-empted world rights to F**k This Journal (Betterness Through Bitterness) by Dale Shaw from Jamie Coleman at Greene & Heaton. Headline is describing the book as a “hilarious and subversive take on the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #humour title #jamie coleman #greene heaton #absolutely thrilled #wickedly funny


Why all writers are vain

I’ve met, interviewed and shared stages with many authors over the years, and seen all too many signs of pride and oversensitivity to criticism. There is an inherent egotism in believing your voice matters – but that’s no reason not to put pen to paperMany years ago, when I had just started... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #put pen #recently appeared


Why Writers Need to Know the Publishing Business

Publisher Deborah Emin argues that as publishing professionals, we should want writers to understand each stage of the process: how they are acquired, marketed and sold. The post Why Writers Need to Know the Publishing Business appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing business #publishing professionals


Susan Golomb Joining Writers House

Veteran literary agent Susan Golomb, whose clients include Jonathan Franzen and William T. Vollmann, will be starting at Writers House on March 1. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #writers house


Women writers dominate Waterstones kids' shortlist

Female authors account for the vast majority of this year’s Waterstones Children’s Book Prize this year, with 15 of the 18 titles written by women (see full shortlists below). The prize is divided into three categories – best illustrated book, best fiction for 5-12s and best book for teens –... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book prize #illustrated book #vast majority #waterstones children #books shortlisted #steve antony #rob biddulph


Male writers feature on RNA shortlists

Three male authors are among the many writers shortlisted for the Romantic Novel Awards 2015 (full lists below), which are traditionally overwhelmingly dominated by women. Stephen Burke is shortlisted in the Historical Romantic Novel category for his novel The Good Italian by (Hodder &... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #romantic comedy #male authors #hodder stoughton


Finally: DC, Marvel announce new line-up with more female characters

Last summer, two-time National Book Award finalist Gene Luen Yang ("American Born Chinese") gave a rousing speech at the Library of Congress, letting his fellow writers know at the National Book Festival kickoff that the comic-book industry needs to do more, and give itself more liberty, to... Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2015-02-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #female characters #fellow writers


B&N Names 2014 Discover Great New Writers Finalists

The program, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, recognizes great fiction and nonfiction debuts from authors at the start of their careers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #25th anniversary


On Writers and Writing review – Margaret Atwood on her profession

Drawing on her panoramic reading and her experiences of the authorly life cycle, Atwood surveys her trade with a mix of seriousness and gentle fun“You may find the subject a little peculiar,” warns Margaret Atwood, before she discusses the writer’s relationship with mortality. “It is a little... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #life cycle #publishing industry #works hard


New Fantasy Writers and Internet-Haters Dominate Our Favorite Books This Month

While January can suffer from a post-holiday publication lull, it's a great time room for cooler, less conventional reads. The post New Fantasy Writers and Internet-Haters Dominate Our Favorite Books This Month appeared first on WIRED. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2015-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #month appeared #fantasy writers


Diana Gabaldon, Poisoned Pen Launch Writers' Program

The bestselling author has partnered with her local bookstore on a writer-in-residence program in Scottsdale, Ariz. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #diana gabaldon #bestselling author #local bookstore


Virago Press gives women writers a voice: from the archive, 26 January 1981

Carmen Callil’s publishing company has set about proving that there are many excellent but neglected women writers well worth publishing and reprintingMore women than men buy books; more women read books and more women write books, especially novels, and they always have. Yet women writers are... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-01-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ursula owen


RLF podcast to highlight writers’ cultural capital

A new blog and podcast launched this week by the Royal Literary Fund (RLF) aims to help the public acknowledge the contribution writers make to the cultural landscape, assist aspiring writers and provide professional authors with an extra income. The charity, which helps commercially published... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #cultural capital #cultural landscape


'The Terrible Two' writers Mac Barnett and Jory John embark on a whirlwind book tour

The writers reportedly visited 22 schools over the course of one week for their children's book. 'Two' centers on prankster rivals living in the town of Yawnee Valley. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


W&N buys debut about female astronaut

Weidenfeld & Nicolson has bought a debut novel about a female astronaut and an aging scientist. Publishing director Kirsty Dunseath bought UK and Commonwealth rights to Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton from Esmond Harmsworth at Zachary Shuster Harmsworth. The book charts the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #weidenfeld nicolson #good morning #book charts #outer space