For Women Only?
I recently served on a panel to discuss the topic, “For Women Only,” at the Killer Nashville writers’ conference. It gave me a chance to think about how things have and haven’t changed for women writers in general, and women mystery writers, specifically.
We’ve come a long way from the day when Mary Ann Evans wrote as George Eliot, and Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, and Emily Dickinson wrote about female characters and social issues. In the mystery genre, P.D. James, Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers broke ground, paving the way for Sara Paretsky and the female detective. From there, the floodgates opened wide, and there are as many female mystery writers as men, maybe more.
Women outnumbered men at the mystery writers’ conference, and, surprisingly, the panel entitled, “For Women Only,” drew an audience that was fifty percent male. Could it be that women’s literature, specifically in the mystery genre, has transcended the “chick lit” stage and moved toward being taken seriously? Readers don’t seem to bat an eye anymore when women create male protagonists and develop plot lines away from the domestic and social aspects of life.
Still, rumor has it that J.K. Rowling was discouraged from using her first name (Joanne) for the Harry Potter series, because editors felt boys might not connect with a woman author. Her subsequent books are penned by Robert Galbraith. On the other hand, we have Karin Slaughter (what a perfect last name for a mystery writer!), who writes gritty books that contain violence against women.
The authors on the panel felt that modern mystery readers are gender-neutral when it comes to engaging with characters and plots. What matters most is whether the character arcs and plotting are well-developed and authentically-rendered. Similarly, the mystery writers of today aren’t necessarily targeting readers by gender. We want readers who are open-minded and willing to engage with the book’s journey.
Perhaps we have reached a time in mystery genre history where “for women only” panels are becoming obsolete. Or maybe we’re fooling ourselves.
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Award-winning mystery and children’s book author, Saralyn Richard, is a writer, who teaches on the side. Murder in the One Percent, winner of the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Readers’ Choice award, finalist in the Killer Nashville police procedural award, and in the Chanticleer CLUE award, pulls back the curtain on the privileged and powerful rich. Set on a gentleman’s farm in Pennsylvania and in the tony areas of New York, the book shows what happens when someone comes to a party with murder in his heart and poison in his pocket. Look for the sequel, A Palette for Love and Murder, in January, 2020.
Saralyn’s children’s picture book, Naughty Nana, has reached thousands of children worldwide. Saralyn has published stories, articles, and poems in a variety of collections and magazines, and she edited the anthology, Burn Survivors’ Journey. A member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America, Saralyn teaches creative writing and a literature class. Her website is www.saralynrichard.com.
Someone comes to the party with murder in his heart and poison in his pocket…A powerful and rich playboy, a rare but naturally occurring poison, a newly divorced woman with an axe to grind, and pressure from the former President of the US—these are just a few of the challenges that African-American Detective Oliver Parrott faces when he answers a routine call for back-up and discovers someone died at a country estate the morning after an elaborate birthday party. When Parrott learns the deceased is the wealthy former US Secretary of the Treasury and just about everyone at the party had a motive to kill him, he realizes this will be the investigation to make—or break—his career.
Buy links:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com
Black Opal print book:
https://black-opal-books.myshopify.com/products/murder-in-the-one-percent
Autographed print book:
http://www.saralynrichard.com/bookstore/
Category: Contemporary Women Writers, On Writing
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A good subject to write about. Interesting rumor(?) about J. K. Rowlng.
Saralyn,
What a wonderful analysis. As a fellow mystery author, I agree with you. I think mystery readers have always been more interested in the characters, which drive the plot. As long as it’s an intriguing story, I don’t think that they care whether the author is a woman.
Thank you Saralyn for writing this! It is fascinating to think of author gender and readership. I hope one day we move to a place where women no longer have to hide their gender.
Thank you for having me on Women Writers, Women’s Books. I read almost every guest post on this fascinating blog, and I’m interested to hear others’ opinions on this topic. What are your perceptions, perspectives, experiences?
I agree, Saralyn. Women internationally are recognized for writing in all forms of mystery from cozy to thrillers and gritty crime. They have a voice that resonates with both men and women.