I've been missing your input on JiP this week, but I see you've been busy! The TwiX threats are scary, even though most of them are just talkers. There are enough people in the TRA crowd who *will* act that it's legit to be scared if you become a target.
I think Seen in Publishing is going to get together a number of the responses and do an essay on it. A lot of this is about frightening women. It is notable that they don't attack men in the same way. Doug Murray has commented on this before.
I had worse when I stood up to talk at the SoA AGM. They made all sorts of threats and the SoA had to tell people to back off.
It all rather proves the point that the training in this area has been abysmal. It is all the cute authoritarianism. V misogynistic to my mind.
Great roundup, Michelle. I enjoyed the Palestine Action stories. "How can we be terrorists when we're just acting exactly like terrorists??" If your members can't download and sign up for an app, I don’t think they're going to manage leaving their phones at home and practicing operational secrecy. The radicalization of these actual terrorists and the trans defenders sending you threats is very concerning.
Can we get a review of Clarckson's lager? I love a good lager. One of the saddest stats shows that fewer Americans every year are drinking lager. 😢 If you or anyone reading are ever in Northeast Ohio, make sure to try Great Lakes brewery's Dortmonder Gold. It was my favorite beer until Great Lakes relased Rally Drum, which is a lemon shady that tastes like baseball. Freaking delicious! Have great weekend!
I understand Hawkstone is decent. I don't drink beer as a result of trying to do 9 pints before 8 pm after eating chocolate cake on my 21st. The arrogance of youth.
And Bookbunch covered it. Sometimes you have to laugh. "The report also includes supportive comments from authors Sonia Sodha, Anne Fine, Richard Dawkins and Lionel Shriver.
Reacting to the release of the report, literary agent Alice Sutherland Hawes said: "For a group constantly whinging about being silenced they are incredibly loud. I haven’t read the full report because I have a life, and trans creators to support, but if they are so concerned about advance levels, maybe they could focus on the disparity between advances for creators of colour and their white counterparts, rather than 'oh no a trans woman got a higher advance than me.'"
Another literary agent, who preferred to remain anonymous, said: "Like JKR’s original essay, this report takes a research-based approach to a harmful world view and makes it sound reasonable — and this is dangerous.
"The report is also very disrespectful to junior members of the publishing community. We can only move forward as an industry if we step away from the old adage of 'this is how it has always been done.'"
Other publishers and organisations in the sector were approached for comment, but were unavailable for comment, or did not want it reported that they were unavailable for comment. "
For a bit of context Alice Sutherland-Hawes once doctored a press release to remove GC children's book author Onjali Rauf from a shortlist for prize and then bragged about it. (Hint the report said nothing about advance levels -- more about book sales -- Helen Joyce will have earned out and then some; the trans author with the 6 figure advance will not have done)
Publishing is as equally censorious in the US (if not more so) which is surprising given the wide range of material published.
I can imagine you learned a harsh lesson on that birthday!
I cannot get over committing terrorist offenses and then pleading that you are not terrorists WHILE actively inciting and organizing as terrorists do. 😂 I know this is not a word they would like describing them, but you do have to find the chutzpah amusing!
Publishing is shooting themselves in the face. I don't know if you saw, the NYTimes did a story, "Where have all the novel reading men gone?" I have pretty much given up on new novels. There are select authors I will read, but so much in the last 15 years has been fanfiction levels of crap. It isn't just men who are opting out of new novels. And to react so childishly to the blackballing of GC authors really cements it. It doesn't seem like an alternative publishing house has sprung up for cases like this. Maybe because self publishing has such a low entry bar?
There are some good publishing houses Swift Press who publishes David McCloskey (The Rest is Classified) is one. They also published Hannah Barnes Time to Think.
Self pub does have a low bar (I may be doing some of that soon).
A lot of them are high on their own virtue.
YOu have to laugh with PA or you'd cry.
I learned a very harsh lesson.
Did you see that US SC has started giving its decisions. They have effectively sent the birthright citizenship back to the lower courts, but have curtailed judges' power. It is a massive decision with far reaching implications. 6 -3.
I did just see that SC ruling! I don't know how much you follow over here, but the lower courts intervention on a national level has gotten totally absurd. To the point people have been joking that a district court judge has ruled Trump has rebuild the Iranian nuclear program. 🤣
"A lot of them are high on their own virtue." Could be the quote describing at least the last 10-15 years. 🥂
Back in 2022, when I had the first death threats etc, it was scary. This time, I mute and move on. But it is more important to keep receipts and to show a pattern of behaviour. But it tends to be the women they attack, far more than men.
It is Glastonbury this weekend, I am ignoring most of it except for Rod Stewart in the Sunday afternoon slot. I understand that it is a love in for the omnicause crowd. The Irish band Kneecap are playing and they have a pop up museum about Palestine oppression. <huge eyeroll>
Sigh but they are cutting their nose off to spite their face. The queues at King Cross to pose are incredible and you can't stick a pin in the HP shop.
I've been missing your input on JiP this week, but I see you've been busy! The TwiX threats are scary, even though most of them are just talkers. There are enough people in the TRA crowd who *will* act that it's legit to be scared if you become a target.
Yes sorry crazy busy.
I think Seen in Publishing is going to get together a number of the responses and do an essay on it. A lot of this is about frightening women. It is notable that they don't attack men in the same way. Doug Murray has commented on this before.
I had worse when I stood up to talk at the SoA AGM. They made all sorts of threats and the SoA had to tell people to back off.
It all rather proves the point that the training in this area has been abysmal. It is all the cute authoritarianism. V misogynistic to my mind.
Great roundup, Michelle. I enjoyed the Palestine Action stories. "How can we be terrorists when we're just acting exactly like terrorists??" If your members can't download and sign up for an app, I don’t think they're going to manage leaving their phones at home and practicing operational secrecy. The radicalization of these actual terrorists and the trans defenders sending you threats is very concerning.
Can we get a review of Clarckson's lager? I love a good lager. One of the saddest stats shows that fewer Americans every year are drinking lager. 😢 If you or anyone reading are ever in Northeast Ohio, make sure to try Great Lakes brewery's Dortmonder Gold. It was my favorite beer until Great Lakes relased Rally Drum, which is a lemon shady that tastes like baseball. Freaking delicious! Have great weekend!
And four PA members have been arrested. 3 have been charged with terrorism offences. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/06/27/police-arrest-palestine-action-breakin-raf-brize-norton/ or https://archive.ph/aEu4U
I understand Hawkstone is decent. I don't drink beer as a result of trying to do 9 pints before 8 pm after eating chocolate cake on my 21st. The arrogance of youth.
Helen Joyce appeared on GB News to talk about the report. https://x.com/SexMattersOrg/status/1938531232331014150
And Bookbunch covered it. Sometimes you have to laugh. "The report also includes supportive comments from authors Sonia Sodha, Anne Fine, Richard Dawkins and Lionel Shriver.
Reacting to the release of the report, literary agent Alice Sutherland Hawes said: "For a group constantly whinging about being silenced they are incredibly loud. I haven’t read the full report because I have a life, and trans creators to support, but if they are so concerned about advance levels, maybe they could focus on the disparity between advances for creators of colour and their white counterparts, rather than 'oh no a trans woman got a higher advance than me.'"
Another literary agent, who preferred to remain anonymous, said: "Like JKR’s original essay, this report takes a research-based approach to a harmful world view and makes it sound reasonable — and this is dangerous.
"The report is also very disrespectful to junior members of the publishing community. We can only move forward as an industry if we step away from the old adage of 'this is how it has always been done.'"
Other publishers and organisations in the sector were approached for comment, but were unavailable for comment, or did not want it reported that they were unavailable for comment. "
For a bit of context Alice Sutherland-Hawes once doctored a press release to remove GC children's book author Onjali Rauf from a shortlist for prize and then bragged about it. (Hint the report said nothing about advance levels -- more about book sales -- Helen Joyce will have earned out and then some; the trans author with the 6 figure advance will not have done)
Publishing is as equally censorious in the US (if not more so) which is surprising given the wide range of material published.
How dare anyone take a research-based approach!
I know! The arrogance and temerity to do such a thing! We don't want no research here. Just all the feels.
A shocking number or "In this house" people scream this. (I'm being somewhat sarcastic)
If a trans woman gets paid more than a woman, isn’t that just a continuation of men getting paid more?
Yes
I can imagine you learned a harsh lesson on that birthday!
I cannot get over committing terrorist offenses and then pleading that you are not terrorists WHILE actively inciting and organizing as terrorists do. 😂 I know this is not a word they would like describing them, but you do have to find the chutzpah amusing!
Publishing is shooting themselves in the face. I don't know if you saw, the NYTimes did a story, "Where have all the novel reading men gone?" I have pretty much given up on new novels. There are select authors I will read, but so much in the last 15 years has been fanfiction levels of crap. It isn't just men who are opting out of new novels. And to react so childishly to the blackballing of GC authors really cements it. It doesn't seem like an alternative publishing house has sprung up for cases like this. Maybe because self publishing has such a low entry bar?
There are some good publishing houses Swift Press who publishes David McCloskey (The Rest is Classified) is one. They also published Hannah Barnes Time to Think.
Self pub does have a low bar (I may be doing some of that soon).
A lot of them are high on their own virtue.
YOu have to laugh with PA or you'd cry.
I learned a very harsh lesson.
Did you see that US SC has started giving its decisions. They have effectively sent the birthright citizenship back to the lower courts, but have curtailed judges' power. It is a massive decision with far reaching implications. 6 -3.
I did just see that SC ruling! I don't know how much you follow over here, but the lower courts intervention on a national level has gotten totally absurd. To the point people have been joking that a district court judge has ruled Trump has rebuild the Iranian nuclear program. 🤣
"A lot of them are high on their own virtue." Could be the quote describing at least the last 10-15 years. 🥂
Hello Northumberland! Good to see You again this Friday.
I'm glad to hear the IOC is finally coming around. Took them long enough. Too bad they aren't revisiting the medals.
I'm glad to see Palestinian Action is going to be proscribed.
I'm very sorry to hear You were trolled. Unspeakable. As is the children's publishing biz.
I'm sorry to hear about the looters.
Glad to hear You got to catch up with Your sister.
Paddy was so cute back then. And glad to hear the bees are doing so well. I'm also glad to hear You're enjoying Your writing.
TY, as always, Michelle.
So pleased to see you as well JT.
Back in 2022, when I had the first death threats etc, it was scary. This time, I mute and move on. But it is more important to keep receipts and to show a pattern of behaviour. But it tends to be the women they attack, far more than men.
It is Glastonbury this weekend, I am ignoring most of it except for Rod Stewart in the Sunday afternoon slot. I understand that it is a love in for the omnicause crowd. The Irish band Kneecap are playing and they have a pop up museum about Palestine oppression. <huge eyeroll>
Did you see where some regressive bookstore in SF CA is banning JK Rowling books?
Julie Bindel has written a blistering op ed about this referencing the SiP report: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/comment/2025/06/27/jk-rowling-has-exposed-how-desperate-the-gender-extremists/ or https://archive.ph/mtPml
Sigh but they are cutting their nose off to spite their face. The queues at King Cross to pose are incredible and you can't stick a pin in the HP shop.