Authors quit JK Rowling's literary agency

[donquixotedelamancha]

www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jun/22/authors-quit-jk-rowling-agency-over-transgender-rights

The ever entertaining TRA power couple Fox and Owl were apparently represented by the same agents as the wonderful Ms Rowling.

They, along with some bloke called Drew Davies, have severed ties because the agents refused to issue a public statement slagging off their biggest client.

Being bastions of professionalism they left by telling the guardian.

Professional flouncing!

Fox and Owl? Those well known world famous literary giants?
Drew who?
Mmhmm. Bye then.

Who?

A spokeswoman [for the agents] said it would always champion diverse voices and believe in freedom of speech for all but it was not willing to have staff “re-educated” to meet the demands of a small group of clients.

My first thought was, who are these people? Never heard of them.

Poor diddums got told by the mean grown ups that they couldn't bully the adults even if they shouted really loudly.

OMG couldn't do a better job of cutting nose off to spite face.

S l o w handclap.

How does one quit a publishing company?

Do you have to buy back your contract? ££££

Also I'm looking forward to an update in a few months that, to their shock and horror, they can't find another agent to take them on and champion their work because who would, when they've bitten the hand that feeds them?

Re-educated. That word is so sinister it actually gives me the shivers 😳

donquixote I loved that quote, kudos to the agency.

I'm sure they'll be missed!

(If I worked for that company I'd be breathing a sigh of relief tbh.)

Who?

Oh, do Google them, they are such fun. Not exactly Jane Fae grade barmy but still good value.

The co-author of the Trans Teen Survival Guide suggested the literary agency should conduct staff training with the group All About Trans

The response

"We believe in freedom of speech for all; these clients have decided to leave because we did not meet their demands to be re-educated to their point of view"

Imagine what size of ego you’d need to think that your “work” in an extremely niche area could compete with the biggest cultural phenomenon in the last 30 years.

The time it took for the agent’s leadership to “pick” between JKR and these clowns must have been embarrassingly short.

@Margotshypotheticaldog

Re-educated. That word is so sinister it actually gives me the shivers 😳

Indeed. It's so dystopian.

"One other author is understood to have also quit the agency but wishes to remain anonymous."

I can't decide if this fourth person is very brave or very cowardly, very stupid or very bright.

I mean, resign quietly because you respectfully disagree, or flounce loudly because you want attention. But flouncing quietly...?

@PurpleHoodie it's the agent, not the publisher. But I would guess it's still a legal and logistical nightmare for the author due to contracts.

Ha I just had to google Fox Fisher.... yeah, who?

Quelle surprise

How exactly do you 'quit' a publishing agency anyway?

"We believe in freedom of speech for all; these clients have decided to leave because we did not meet their demands to be re-educated to their point of view"

LOL LOL LOL

“Re educated....”

The beatings will continue until morale improves

And the assistants breathe a sigh of relief.

Given that the Blair Partnership was initially set up by JKR's agent, who left Christopher Little to focus on JKR and the Potter Empire, I don't think it would be a massive head scratcher for them.

But also, WTF, have these idiots read 1984?

Writers had asked company ‘to reaffirm their commitment to transgender rights and equality’

And Owl Fisher - one of the the BBC’s 100 Women for 2019. Sorry, I meant ‘Women’
😡😡