Skip to main content

F is for Female Authors

I'm not going to get feminist on you. That's for somebody else to do. But did you realize that three of the best selling books --series -- of the last twenty years or so are written by women? The films didn't do that bad either. In fact, they were some of the highest grossing movies ever.

1. Harry Potter, written by JK Rowling.
Okay, no explanation needed here. Everyone knows who she is. She is a very talented writer. No wonder her books did beyond great. I love the stories, I love the friendships and familial ties that are promoted. Rowling is a true story teller, to me.

2.Twilight Series, written by Stephanie Meyer
Again, you'd have to be a castaway on an island not to know who she is. Her books sold in the millions, and though the subject matter isn't a new one, teens to forty-something moms loved them. I think (and this is just me) some of her books were way too long. As in, she could've told the same story and cut 25,000 words out of each book. Whatever. Still good stories. I'm team Jacob, by the way.

3.Hunger Games Trilogy, written by Suzanne Collins
I'll be honest. I haven't read any of her books. I know. I'm probably the only one out there. I'm not fond of dystopian fiction. Why? Because I feel like we're living in a dystopian book right now, or will be in one, very soon. And when I say I haven't read any of her books, that's partly a lie: I have read one chapter of the first book. Her writing is fantastic. She draws you in immediately and you care for the protagonist from page one. I understand why it's bestselling.

I've heard once, by another writer, that she thought female writers were discriminated against. Are you kidding me? That couldn't be further from the truth. A well-written story is a well-written story, regardless of their sex. Apparently, female writers have a hand on the pulse of children and young adults -- they get how kids feel and how they think! But then, these women are mothers, or could be. This empathy and sympathy --their understanding -- is practically innate.

There are plenty of male authors who are fantastic too. I'm just pointing out the recent blockbuster best-sellers, and how three of the top are female.

Anyway, go read them -- all of these books are great.
Labels:

Comments

  1. Sara HillApril 6, 2012 at 11:22 AM

    Good point. Great writers, male or female, have to be good at walking in the shoes of another as well as getting inside their heads!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Christine RainsApril 6, 2012 at 11:56 AM

    Great post. There are fabulous women writers out there.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Claire HennessyApril 6, 2012 at 1:19 PM

    Yay! Girls on top! I never thought about the fact that the 3 most famous series were written by women. Excellent.

    ReplyDelete
  4. FeFiFoApril 6, 2012 at 7:24 PM

    I noticed this, too--great blog topic! I have only read the first chapter of the Hunger Games, as well. I want to read more, though, because she is an excellent writer, so far. I agree with you that we are slowly slipping into dystopian, but I have to read them. They are cautionary tales, after all, and they may just teach us something. Loving the A-Z challenge--I am meeting some wonderful people! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  5. ChristineApril 6, 2012 at 8:09 PM

    I'd never thought of this before today! Those are all action-packed books, too, not just sappy romantic. Which, I think, helps break an old sterotype.

    ReplyDelete
  6. ChristineApril 6, 2012 at 8:09 PM

    And, thanks for stopping by my blog! Good luck with the challenge.

    ReplyDelete
  7. notes4neta@gmail.comApril 6, 2012 at 9:46 PM

    Interesting post! I enjoyed reading Hunger Games and am looking forward to seeing the movie.

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownApril 6, 2012 at 10:04 PM

    For my day job, I'm an engineer, so I know there are some fields where women are still very much a minority. But writing is NOT one of them. There are way more best selling female authors than best selling male authors. I don't think publishers discrimiate based on gender at all, but I do know a few male authors that intentionally write under their initials so it won't be as obvious that they are male. Because they are affraid readers discriminate (in favor of women writers).

    ReplyDelete
  9. Krista McLaughlinApril 6, 2012 at 10:38 PM

    Those are some great points - maybe we will get to add our names to the last of great women writers someday. :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. AndiApril 9, 2012 at 5:28 AM

    I don't like dystopian fiction, either. And I had a hard time with Hunger Games, until I got past the first chapter or so. I think I started it about 5 times. Then I couldn't put it down. Never tried Twilight, though.

    Visiting from A to Z http://andisyoungadult.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Characters That Work

I’ve heard countless times that agents, when looking for the next great manuscript and readers, looking for the next great read, want compelling characters. But, what does this mean? Compelling? And why have I never thought of characters as compelling when I can’t put the book down? Sure, these characters are amazing, and sometimes I want to be in the middle of the stories as if they were my own experiences. But why? Compelling characters make me --force me-- to be in love with them as they find their way through trials or charge fearlessly down hidden hallways and dark forests. This makes for wonderful literature, and for fascinated readers. But how do we do this? How do authors create compelling characters -- ones that not only we want to read but others too -- and convince our readers that they should care about them? Here’s a tiny list by which I try to strive: Make them human: This is a given. And most writers would tell you this is. Give your character flaws that lots o
32 comments
Read more

Increasing Your Vocabulary │ Overused Words

My husband and I have this running joke that if we played a drinking game for the first -- and only the first-- five minutes of any news segment, anywhere in America, we'd be under the table in two. Why? Because this drinking game is based on the repeated use of the word "impact." It's okay if you can hate me now. Because after this post, you will notice this word EVERYWHERE and how overused it is. I get it. The word is impactful. It makes a point. Pulls a punch. But ... it's beyond this, my friends. It's overwhelmingly beyond this now. I also understand that each decade has it's colloquial and trendy words. Totally understand that. I can dig that, yo. But, there's an all-out assault on this word. And most of the time, it's used incorrectly. Do you know what the word impact means? Per Merriam-Webster, it means 1.   a.: to fix firmly by or as if my packing or wedging   b.: to press together 2.   a.: to have a direct effect or i
1 comment
Read more

Make a List │ Getting Things Done

Like many of you, I am a list-maker. I find them to be one of the most rewarding things I can do in my little life. Well, that and drinking coffee and wearing vintage. But, I digress. List-making really only consists of three things: paper, a pen, and your brain. While there are myriad articles and books on tidying up and minimal living (both of which I fully embrace), living a simple and minimal life can also start just by making a list. So, why should you write a list? Three reasons: it's simple, it's in front of you, and anyone can be master of their world with one. Yes, dare I say master of your universe. Pretty amazing, right? That little list holds your sanity, order and clarity. And those are all we really need. Check out this list I wrote the other day: I listed the errands I had to run (go to post office, then to Salvation Army and Goodwill to find my vintage to sell). I listed the work I had to do (list two items items for sale on my vintage Etsy site,
1 comment
Read more