J.K. Rowling does not need any introduction. All book lovers, young or old, must have certainly read the fabulous fantasy novel Harry Potter and must have heard about this famous author too. I am an avid Harry Potter fan and I am sure none of you can decline that you are not!
Now, until and unless you have searched the internet or read about her in the newspaper, you surely would not have known that she is a lady! J.K stands for Joanne Kathleen Rowling. And now, some curious minds like me would have always wondered why her name appears printed as J.K Rowling instead of her full name on all her huge books.
And the surprising reason is that the publishers of Harry Potter initially feared that the famous boy wizard and his life story would go down the drain if people came to know that the writer was actually female. Can you believe it? They thought that female writers would never appeal to the public and so published that author's name as J.K Rowling. But surely they learnt that this was not the case.
How much your book sells or how famous it becomes, depends on your talent and writing ability. And now, I am certain that the publishers have understood this as her books have topped all charts!
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March 28, 2008 at 8:54 PM
nice blog
March 28, 2008 at 9:04 PM
Hi Ali,
Thanks :P
March 28, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Gosh-- apparently they hadn't heard of Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, the Brontes, Jane Austen and a ton of other literary (and not so literary) ladies.
March 28, 2008 at 10:34 PM
I think a lot of that belief that female names on book jackets are a problem is just a legacy issue.
I work for a publisher and the head of our books department once mentioned that the idea of using initials to mask the authors gender come from female authors we publish (on their first book). He has to reassure them that using their full name will not be a problem.
As an aside, we publish technical and science books mainly and if the glass ceiling is a non-issue there it should soon be gone everywhere.
March 29, 2008 at 5:02 AM
Female writers won't appeal to the masses? Surely not.
As miss Jenn Thorson points out above, there are the Classic writers Charlotte Bronte, Emily Bronte, and Jane Austen.
From the last century, we have Virginia Woolf and Sylvia Plath whose works are considered modern classics. Then we have Doris Lessing and Toni Morrison who are both Nobel laureates.
Also, there's Isabel Allende, one of my favorites Ursula LeGuin, and obviously many more.
So female writers won't appeal to the masses? Surely not. But that bit on the unfounded fears of Rowling's publishers surely is informative.
Karlo
March 29, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Hi Jenn,
I agree, they mus have let the names of these great ladies slip out of their minds and thus thought so!
March 29, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Hi nice blog!
Its really sad, this still happens!
March 29, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Hi Techfun,
I'm glad tor read your comment and learn more from a professional publisher. Ah! Then it is the misconception of some authors themselves, eh? I believe this comes due to lack of confidence in oneself! I hope they do not repeat this again and try to stick to their names!
Thanks for the information and best wishes :D
March 29, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Hi Karlo,
There have been many establishes female writers so, I agree it was a misconception or superstition of the publishers! I'm glad you liked this post.
Thank a lot!
March 29, 2008 at 12:09 PM
H cynic,
Thanks :D I thought so too ad brought this post before you!
March 29, 2008 at 6:49 PM
Hii
She is really a great writer:-D
March 29, 2008 at 10:36 PM
Hi Sahefa,
I have to agree with this! She is awesome, I'd say :p
March 30, 2008 at 12:49 AM
yeah talent is enough but in this world it also depends on marketing and they did just that!!:)..
March 30, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Hi Pratap,
Maybe you are correct. This must have been done for the purpose of marketing but talent outshines that, don't you think?
March 31, 2008 at 6:23 PM
you always post something intresting and new.. keep up the wrk, l'll sis.
April 1, 2008 at 7:16 AM
Hi Anoop.
I'm glad you liked reading it! I'll keep writing and you keep reading :D
April 3, 2008 at 7:10 PM
Hmmm it always sparks off curiosity if the author's initials are printed on the cover but its only when you are giving it a cursory glance...I am sure both men and women authors stand on the same pedestal when it comes to reader's choices ...
Atleast it is that way with me :)
April 3, 2008 at 9:19 PM
Hi Meghana,
Yes, you are correct and so is your way. I hope it's the same with all readers as it is only then that the talent will be recognized! :D
June 21, 2008 at 10:44 PM
You cant blame the publishers. There are many skeptical readers who think twice before picking a female author. I dont know why people are prejudiced against female writers, but it is a general trend I have observed. Sad!
February 25, 2009 at 9:40 PM
SE Hinton was the same way.I have to admit had I known she was a female at first I wouldn't have read the book. I just wouldn't have thought she could write the perspective of a teenage boy as well as she did.
February 26, 2009 at 3:59 AM
Although the female writers listed in the previous comments are fine and successful writers, I don't know that they appeal to the masses. Most books with a wide readership are penned by men or under men's names.
February 26, 2009 at 5:43 AM
anonymous: Oh, that was something new about Hinton. Thanks.
February 26, 2009 at 5:46 AM
@james - I agree with you that famous books are either by men or by men's names. That itself prove that masses do not accept female writers. Thank you for dropping by and commenting.