Open Letter from Autors and Entertainers in Support of JKR

[Igneococcus]

In the Times:

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/d714149e-003d-11eb-a6ce-737681864bdd?shareToken=522b280f5312e063be007bba64a0e96d

Here is the letter (a few down the list):
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/2e240198-fe6a-11ea-a6ce-737681864bdd?shareToken=8bcca8afb981c27e32894e05e7776f41

And the signatories:

We wish JK Rowling well and stand in solidarity with her.
Ian McEwan, author; Lionel Shriver, author; Griff Rhys Jones, actor; Graham Linehan, writer; Maureen Chadwick, writer; Andrew Davies, writer; Frances Barber, actress; Craig Brown, writer; Alexander Armstrong, actor; Amanda Craig, writer; Philip Hensher, writer; Susan Hill, writer; Jane Thynne, writer; Ben Miller, actor; Simon Fanshawe, writer; James Dreyfus, actor; Frances Welch, writer; Francis Wheen, writer; Arthur Matthews, writer; Aminatta Forna, writer; Joan Smith, writer; Nick Cohen, journalist; Kath Gotts, composer & lyricist; Ann McManus, writer; Eileen Gallagher, writer & producer; Jimmy Mulville, producer; Lizzie Roper, actress; Stella O’Malley, author; Nina Paley, animator; Julie Bindel, journalist; Abigail Shrier, journalist; Rachel Rooney, author; Jane Harris, writer; Tatsuya Ishida, cartoonist; Lisa Marchiano, author; Zuby, musician and author; Debbie Hayton, journalist; Gillian Philip, Author, Jonny Best, musician; Manick Govinda, arts consultant; Russell Celyn Jones, writer; Magi Gibson, writer; Victoria Whitworth, writer; Dr Mez Packer, writer; Grace Carley, producer; Sam Leith, journalist; Malcolm Clark, television producer-director; Shirley Wishart, musician; Charlotte Delaney, writer; Nehanda Ferguson, musician; Justin Hill, writer; Trezza Azzopardi, writer; Birdy Rose, artist; Jess de Wahls, textile artist; Mo Lovatt, writer; Simon Edge, novelist; Tom Stoppard, playwright; and Amanda Smyth, writer

Very good to see

@highame

smalllpug they don't want this out with everyone. There's an awful lot of collusion (sorry for the conspiracyitus)

Because it it were out with everyone, more people would be against it? I’m sure there’s some truth in that. I just worry that people will go along with it because they don’t want to seem like bigots and they won’t really understand. If supposedly intelligent authors and publishing professionals have been completely sucked in, what hope do we have that the rest of the popular won’t be! The only thing that gives me hope is the immensely sane and wise women on these FWR boards (and Im pretty new to MN!).

I actually take heart from the fact that there are a huge number of authors, agents and editors who aren't on the KMH letter.

I hear you. However, the organisers made it a short time only thing. They said loads of people wanted to add their name but they closed it. I’m guessing it went via contacts - eg, Kiran MH’s agent and editor are both on there. It’s almost a point of pride to them that they got that many in a short space of time, in a relatively small industry. There are a lot of quite surprising names on there. People I thought had far more sense.

Ok, maybe not so positive, Small pug. I know some of the people on that list and they seem lovely, thoughtful people. I just can't understand why they can't engage with some critical thinking.

No Shirley Hughes! She's far too old and sensible to fall for this nonsense.