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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

TERF letter - the novel

63 replies

clarabenton · 24/11/2024 17:15

Just posting this here as I know some of you enjoyed the ‘letter to the woman who called me a TERF’ I wrote a few years ago, and the follow up. I found after writing the first one that I still had a lot to say, so I’ve written a novel about women’s rights.

It’s the story of a woman called Maeve, who’s about to embark on a road trip across Europe with her dreadful husband so she can research an article about violence against women as well as try to fix her marriage - when her daughter calls to say she’s murdered her boyfriend. There are lots of real women’s stories in the book, and Mumsnet most definitely gets a mention! I doubt I’m allowed to post a link but the novel is called Spiked, by Caroline Campbell, and you can pre order on Amazon.

The novel was hard to write as I researched the seemingly endless scope of the awful things men do to women, but there’s a call to action in it too, because I have to believe that we can bring about change. And if that all sounds very dark, I hope there are also parts that will make people smile, with a couple of scenes that are very much Mumsnet inspired!

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DialSquare · 01/02/2025 08:57

Thanks clara. Will it be coming out on Audible too?

RufustheFactuaIReindeer · 01/02/2025 08:37

Very well done clara

dd is trying to write a book on feminism apparently shes ‘not good with words’ but ‘I have a lot to say’ so that doesn’t bode well

i think I will use you and your book as inspiration for her 💐

clarabenton · 01/02/2025 07:56

Tbanks so much to everyone who bought my book, which came out yesterday, and there’s now a paperback too. https://amzn.eu/d/8CxeTW1

As I say in the foreword, if you decide to read it I hope it makes you as angry as you need to be if anything is ever going to change. Though there are parts that will make you laugh too, and there’s music, and a Spotify playlist with all the music the features in the book - my main character has a fondness for 80s music! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/15F1Vc0n1YhoeodY9sADGk?si=o2mG_VlzRKKuuo9HRfHAIA&pt=fc793eb91bcf488948bef20f7fd87031&pi=t9utB48oT56_o

Thanks for all the lovely words of support on this thread. X

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ILikeDungs · 06/12/2024 17:48

Just got a copy of Twelve Murders. Thanks for the suggestion clara!

UtopiaPlanitia · 26/11/2024 14:31

clarabenton · 24/11/2024 17:46

Thanks Utopia! It’s not out till the end of January, but I hope you can enjoy reading it then.

Ah, thanks for the info - I’ve pre-ordered a copy instead 👍

clarabenton · 26/11/2024 12:41

Thank you Massive, I hope you enjoy it!

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MassiveWordSalad · 26/11/2024 10:21

I've preordered, and I'm looking forward to reading it. Best of luck, and thank you for speaking out. I do love the cover too x

LondonWeeknd · 25/11/2024 16:46

Well done! I read your first letter around 2018 I think, but your second one is even better. Depressing in lots of ways but with hope at the end.

Thanks for speaking up on behalf of all of us. I'll definitely be buying your book Flowers

SinnerBoy · 25/11/2024 16:42

clarabenton · Today 15:57

Thanks Sinner! And yes, I see now what sawdust is getting at… I’m sure it won’t be the last charge of man hating wrt my book!

Oh, just ignore the dafties, let it be water off a duck's back!

Marylou62 · 25/11/2024 16:01

Ordered! Looking forward to reading it...

clarabenton · 25/11/2024 15:57

Thanks Sinner! And yes, I see now what sawdust is getting at… I’m sure it won’t be the last charge of man hating wrt my book!

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ArabellaScott · 25/11/2024 15:00

Misandry accusation. Standard for the feminist board.

SinnerBoy · 25/11/2024 14:28

clarabenton · Yesterday 19:32

Those are very powerful letters and the first was depressingly prescient. I hope your book sells well.

sawdustformypony · 25/11/2024 14:09

Not really sure what you’re saying here sawdust, but if it’s my first accusation of bigotry then that’s earlier than expected, given the book isn’t even published yet!

You did say that you were slightly nervous about the reaction from the people you know and that you had "researched the seemingly endless scope of the awful things men do to women", so I'm guessing it's not an even-handed approach about men - and also guessing that the daughter character you mention had a good reason to kill her boyfriend.

clarabenton · 25/11/2024 13:55

sawdustformypony · 25/11/2024 13:33

they know my views but seeing them in a published novel might make them more difficult for them to ignore! We’ll see

Talking of seeing, they may merely recall the saying, "Prejudice squints when it looks and lies when it talks".

Not really sure what you’re saying here sawdust, but if it’s my first accusation of bigotry then that’s earlier than expected, given the book isn’t even published yet!

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sawdustformypony · 25/11/2024 13:33

they know my views but seeing them in a published novel might make them more difficult for them to ignore! We’ll see

Talking of seeing, they may merely recall the saying, "Prejudice squints when it looks and lies when it talks".

clarabenton · 25/11/2024 09:44

There are definitely a lot of non fiction ‘terf’ books but not much fiction. There’s this, a thriller which is very good https://www.amazon.co.uk/Twenty-Murders-Drew-Augustine/dp/B0D55QQ5LP/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=36YIAIYFVQ9FU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SRKPxBiWPDb01n-B44atbQ.dnbnxzVm5puz67n9ONgAWrgG_lKF1UYVJs3rSnwslGA&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+twenty+murders+drew+augustine&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1732527645&sprefix=drew+augustine%2Caps%2C79&sr=8-1

And Christina Dalcher, who is very ‘out’’ now about her views and whose career has sadly suffered as a result - I don’t think any of her books are GC as such but they’re all brilliant feminist reads.

I am slightly nervous about the book coming out wrr to some people in my life reading it - they know my views but seeing them in a published novel might make them more difficult for them to ignore! We’ll see.

The Twenty Murders: Amazon.co.uk: Augustine, Drew: 9798325172373: Books

Buy The Twenty Murders by Augustine, Drew (ISBN: 9798325172373) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Twenty-Murders-Drew-Augustine/dp/B0D55QQ5LP/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=36YIAIYFVQ9FU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SRKPxBiWPDb01n-B44atbQ.dnbnxzVm5puz67n9ONgAWrgG_lKF1UYVJs3rSnwslGA&dib_tag=se&keywords=the%20twenty%20murders%20drew%20augustine&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1732527645&sprefix=drew%20augustine%2Caps%2C79&sr=8-1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-womens-rights-5216932-terf-letter-the-novel

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fromorbit · 25/11/2024 09:08

Sounds great. I think there would be a lot of interest in more terfy novels. I mean the subject matter covers everything from crime, horror, conspiracy thriller to domestic drama.

clarabenton · 25/11/2024 06:25

It’s by a Dutch artist called Jovan Srijemac. I’m very pleased with the cover - he’s a very talented artist!

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Villagetoraiseachild · 24/11/2024 22:36

I love the portrait on the cover!
Who painted it?

clarabenton · 24/11/2024 20:59

Thanks Marie. I think her name really suits her, although she definitely doesn’t get any of the things Queen Maeve wanted from her husband. She gets them from the women in her life, though, as is so often the way.

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MarieDeGournay · 24/11/2024 20:44

Well done on that great achievement, clarabenton, and well done for giving your main character the name of the great Queen MaeveSmile

The three 'wedding gifts' Maeve demanded of her husband[s] were:
-the absence of meanness
-the absence of jealousy
-the absence of fear.

Looks like your Maeve needed the same, and from what you say, definitely didn't get them from her husband either!

Good luck with the book, hope it does really well.

clarabenton · 24/11/2024 20:28

Thanks INeedAPensieve! I’ve wanted to write a novel about women, and the awfulness of what men do to us, and what we could do about it, for years. Decades, even! I just didn’t have the right story to wrap around the core theme, until it all came to me in a rush lying in bed early one morning and after that I wrote it quite quickly, bringing together all the stories I’d gathered over the years.i hope you enjoy the book. It’s angry, but it’s also hopeful in a world that can feel pretty hopeless.

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INeedAPensieve · 24/11/2024 20:10

Sounds good! Well done on writing a novel I've always wanted to, I think it's so inspiring to do that! What a great subject as well. I've felt that sort of rage since what happened to Gisele pelicot. That did it for me. I think I'll need to buy this book, read it then sit in a calm, dark room afterwards so I don't direct any anger at my DH. Or sons! Or dad! I'm surrounded by men irl. All v nice men btw, it's just hard they don't get it really. DH especially.

clarabenton · 24/11/2024 19:59

Thank you - it’s an image called ‘Angry Woman’. My main character is a VERY angry woman by the end of the novel, so it seemed appropriate!

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