It’s a busy time of year as we celebrate both World Book day (March 4) and International Women’s day (March 8) happening soon. Here at Platform we thought we would tie the two together and celebrate some of our favourite and inspirational female authors.
Jane Austen
I know that this one is taking quite a giant leap backwards into history, but just take a moment to think about where romantic fiction would be without the timeless classics of Jane Austen. Her novels provided criticism and an accurate commentary into the lives of 18th and 19th century women and the lives they were forced to lead which created some of the most headstrong and defiant female characters of all time. Elizabeth Bennet of Pride and Prejudice, for example, challenged the stereotypes surrounding leading ladies that still exist today, and pushed literary characters to the very edges of acceptance. Austen provided a benchmark for all authors to follow in her footsteps when it comes to strong and independent women.
Jacqueline Wilson
Find any twenty-something year-old or older teenage girl and I can guarantee their childhood was sprinkled with a plethora of Jacqueline Wilson books. Wilson’s books defined a generation as we grew up with iconic characters like Tracy Beaker, Hetty Feather and My Sister Jodie, all of whom still haunt me to this day. Jacqueline Wilson was the first author I read and understood properly, someone who properly understood what it was like to be a young girl going through puberty, feeling like the world was against you. You would be hard-pressed to find someone whose writing resonates stronger with a pre-teen audience than hers.
Malorie Blackman
Another author who was first introduced to me from a young age was Malorie Blackman, the author of the Noughts & Crosses series that was a turning point for racial equality in children’s literature. Since this ground-breaking series, Blackman has ventured into a variety of genres for her young adult and new adult audience, trying her hand at sci-fi fiction with Chasing the Stars which quickly became one of my favourite books. As well as being the children’s laureate from 2013 to 2015, Blackman has continued to write a plethora of novels that cover a wide range of issues that continue to inspire readers.
Bernardine Evaristo
To a lot of people Bernadine was probably unknown to them before her eighth book Girl, Woman, Other was awarded the Booker prize in 2019. This success made her the first Black woman and the first Black British person to win the award. Bernadine has previously said that the main idea behind her landmark novel was to put “presence into absence” (The Guardian, 2019) by giving the limelight to characters who are often under-represented, and if that wasn’t reason enough to earn a place on our list, Bernadine has founded several organisations like Theatre of Black Women to help other under-valued members of society.
Taylor Jenkins Reid
Probably another fairly unrecognisable name, but Taylor Jenkins Reid is someone who is becoming more and more important in the world of female-driven literature. Reid has quite the selection of novels, her two most successful being Daisy Jones and the Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, both of which are currently being adapted for screen. As well as constructing a strong collection of strong female characters in stories that run the fine line between fiction and biographical, Taylor’s route into writing is nothing short of inspiring. She never knew she wanted to be a writer, before accidentally stumbling into the profession after writing about her experience meeting Jennifer Anniston for her friends. She claims she stays motivated by constantly “moving the carrot” and “chasing something else”, encouraging everyone to be ready to hustle and fight for what they want in the field they want to work in.
Dr. Maya Angelou
Angelou’s journey to becoming a world-famous writer is one of challenges which makes her all the more inspiring. Before writing some of her more well-known pieces, Angelou worked as a waitress, a sex worker and a dancer to make a living. Her first autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings detailed her previous traumatic experiences during childhood that taught her to stay quiet for a period of time. She admitted: “I decided that my voice was so powerful that it could kill people” as she remained mute for five years. Angelou was Hollywood’s first female Black director, before she eventually found her calling in writing, with six biographies and masses of poetry that would detail the strength of Black women and social justice.
“Just like the moons and like suns, with the certainty of tides, just like hopes springing high, still I’ll rise.” – Dr Maya Angelou
From us here at Platform, happy World Book Day and to next week, Happy International Women’s day!
By Faith Pring
Feature image: AbeBooks