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.

@TheSingingKettle49

Them earn 1% of what JK Rowling earns! You are being far too generous. They couldn't even dream of earning that amount

That's the best laugh I've had all day.
Should we keep Fox and Owl or JKR ?

Bet it took all of a nanosecond to decide who to keep incase there aren't enough already.
Makes me feel like buying the books all over again, even though they are already on the bookcase.

This is from Barnes and Noble for Drew Davies' book Dear Lily - Sales Rank 735,858

This is JKR's sales rank for the first Harry Potter 559. I.e a book published in 1997 is still at 559 on Barnes and Noble's best seller list.

The paperback box set of Harry Potter, despite costing a whopping $64.99, is at 383.

The co-author of the Trans Teen Survival Guide suggested the literary agency should conduct staff training with the group All About Trans but “these requests weren’t met positively by the management”.

groan.... I can just imagine the "staff training" they'd be put through. The condescension is beyond a joke.

I feel like the world needs a sort of professional Darwin award, for people whose greatest contribution to literature, science, peace etc is to remove themselves from the payroll.
Organizer: "Congratulations, you all get to share the Darwin prize in Literature."
Them: "Ooh, is there prize money?"
Organizer: "Yes. You can pay your agent for your breach of contract."

I know there's a hell of a long way to go, but we're seeing more and more green shoots of hope, aren't we?

How many people are trans?

There is a concerted effort amongst some trans groups to really bash JKR - who merely says that there are some biological things that women do than other people don't.... also is concerned that some people can start using women's safe spaces when they still have men bits....

The trans lobby are really vocal aren't they - where is all that aggression coming from - hormones?

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

I’m quoting it again because it is that good!

The tide is turning.

Fox and owl

Too twit too whoooo?

is this an opportunity to send in a manuscript?

I've spent 2 days arguing in a writer-based FB group about the right for discussion over anything trans. Not arguing either way on issues - just for people to be allowed to discuss without being told to STFU.

Just arguing for free speech without name calling. Reasoned dialogue about all things - and it's somehow only women getting told to shut up, never men.

I've just been called a hetero-normal white supremacist. Yesterday it was heavily implied that I was a nazi (despite being in a fun anti-EDL group who attempt to take the wind out of the neo-nazi's sails by spreading positivity).

Good for the agents and authors making a stand - that's what one aspect of freedom looks like.

Fuck me I have a headache. Pass me the wine... not too much. I have a novel to pitch

combined they probably bring in like 1% of what she does

Try 0.000000000001%

That's the trailer for a film which mysteriously apparently earned quite a few awards. I say mysteriously because I've seen better films made my sixth formers.

@donquixotedelamancha

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.

I think I love her.

Fox is not amused at the wording 😂😂

@Xanthangum

medium.com/**@writers4transrights**/statement-89004e8aba88

They have issued a statement, which includes this gem:

"After J. K. Rowling’s — who is also signed to the agency — public comments on transgender issues, we reached out to the agency with an invitation to reaffirm their stance to transgender rights and equality. After our talks with them, we felt that they were unable to commit to any action that we thought was appropriate and meaningful."

Reach out....I'll be there!

This is what happens when you mistake twitter for real life. You start acting as if everybody needs to meet your approval.

Do they have plans to earn a living at any point or will they just resort to begging crowdfunding?

@MingeofDeath Too true!

The thing is, if she’s said something true LG awful and unacceptable then people would stop buying her books and films, but all that’s happened is she’s getting loads of free publicity. I for one have bought four of her books and a DVD that I wouldn’t otherwise have looked twice at and her books are still selling.

@yestheyhavethesamedad

Fox is not amused at the wording 😂😂

Yes. ‘Tantrum’ is a far better word.

So they may flounce, but still be legally tied into the agent for a set period of time, or be financially beholden to the agent.

Parted company (amicably) with my agent last year. He still gets 15% of anything I make on the deals he negotiated. So the agent will continue to get a percentage of any royalties on the books already published... and it is indeed very tough to get a top flight agent.

Hadley - Ace as always:

mobile.twitter.com/HadleyFreeman/status/1275084849863364608

Self-publicity is why they resigned.

They write third-rate trans propaganda and most people have never heard of them.
I bet the agency is glad to see the back of them!

Good luck with your novel elfycat. You’ve absolutely nothing to lose, by approaching them.

Has anyone else read the Grubian twitter? There are so many posters that have completely misunderstood what has happened and are crowing about JKR deserving everything she got and hell slap it up her. It’s hilarious and definitely explains how some of these woke wallys are taken in by the TRA.

trying to martyr yourself because people won't submit to re-education, is such an own goal.

I'm not so sure. I think quite a number of these people are very calculating (Owen Jones for example).

Obviously someone who wants to sell books on the basis of actually producing interesting content would value a good agent enormously but these people have very little to say. Their desired route to success seems to be about getting as much attention as possible.

They may feel it's worth picking fights with everyone to generate controversy and attention, like a woke Katie Hopkins.

@LillianBland

I was half kidding, but with the ABV flowing through my veins - who knows I may send something off.

It's just so hard, arguing for reasonableness with people who've decided anyone wanting debate are the unreasonable ones. They want people to change their minds while being close minded.

I just need a safe space for a few minutes before I go argue for the tight to debate; so I came here. Soz, not soz!

Devastating news. Still, the literary worlds’ loss is the...um...well I’m sure it must be someone, somewhere’s gain

“Freedom of speech can only be upheld if the structural inequalities that hinder equal opportunities for underrepresented groups are challenged and changed”

What does this bit mean though? I can’t parse the meaning at all. There should be less freedom of speech because some people get listened to more than others, and they should shut up? JKR should only get to say stuff if we also promise to listen to Fox and Owl too? Eh?

*right - fingers are tired from typing.