ffs, amanda craig novellist dropped from mslexia

[Helmetbymidnight]

according to nick cohen on twitter, amanda craig novellist has been dropped as a judge from mslexia because she signed the jkr letter - a womens writing magazine! - absolutely shocking. and frightening.

The people who engage with this, refusing to sit on a panel with another writer whose opinions they disagree with, how do they manage normal life ? Do they not realise that this is a very bad precedent to set , losing another woman work because you disagree with her ? That next time it might be you whose opinions are out of favour .
It always seems to be people with no skin in the game. Men, or the women whose lives are largely unaffected by males in female spaces. A staggering lack of empathy, (here from someone who makes a living from their imagination.)

I've contacted Mslexia and am about to purchase my first Amanda Craig book. I like a good detective series. Any suggestions where to start?

She writes detective novels? I love a good murder mystery.

Any recommendations?

The Golden Rule had very good reviews when it was published this summer. The Vicious Circle caused quite a stir when it was published (as it was partly set among London's literati, and some people thought it was based on real people).

I think she also writes children's books, so that's another possibility for the parents here.

I've just ordered Lie of the Land about a discontented London couple who move to Devon. Much rancour and lovely descriptions of the countryside is what I'm expecting.

I've just purchased The Vicious Circle and having last night finished Troubled Blood - which was the best of all the Strike novels - a real tour de force. I'm going to start Vicious Circle later today.

There was a wonderful quote that made me laugh in Troubled Blood and I've been leaving it on other threads. It seems very appropriate for this thread as well:

"He pointed a finger up at the sky.
"What?" said Robin
"If you look carefully," said Strike, "you might just see an asteroid passing through the house of bollocks"

I do agree with this. I'm disappointed that another woman author has acted in such an unpleasant and thoughtless manner to another woman and supported tacitly the obscene misogyny leveled at JK Rowling but it won't help to pile on, it will just confirm her thoughts.

I wouldn't support a pile-on. I do think, however, that KMH should understand that what she has done is contemptible, and not supported by ordinary, decent people. She should feel ashamed, because she has treated another human being with spite and unkindness.

Great. Now ordered two lovely crime novels by women.

Or ‘research’ as my sister calls murder novels/tv shows... we think she’s joking but I haven’t actually seen BIL since last summer...‘He’s just gone up to check to barn... he’s taking the recycling to the centre, he’s out for a ride, he’s out feeding the veggie patch...’ 🤔 😳😆

Another subscriber here - I've contacted them (through the contacts page before it was disappeared) to tell them what I think and will be cancelling. I've had my doubts about them for a while because of the "identify as a woman" thing but I hoped they were just trying to cover their arses in a cowardly way and would not actually prioritise or platform males or trans ideology. Not that that's really OK either but I was waiting to see. To find out they are actually rabidly pro-TRA is just horrifying. How can they be so daft as to not see that that renders their whole existence pointless? You cannot be or do anything for "women who write" when that includes any man who chooses to barge his way in.

It's especially tragic/baffling/mindboggling that Mslexia of all organisations does not want stand up loud and proud to defend JKR against bullying and misogynistic abuse and threats. They would not even have to nail any colours to the mast to say that a woman writer should not be subjected to that as a general principle, whatever your views.

JKR is what Mslexia supposedly stands for. A woman writing, persevering, succeeding, shaking up in the publishing industry, and supporting other women all the way up and from the top to this day.

However I agree KMH does not deserve to be cancelled, bullied or piled on. Nor in fact does anyone involved. Explaining why I am angry and why I disagree is important, but my view is that everyone needs a way out and a community they can turn to when they see through the shite - which more and more people are doing.

@RoyalCorgi

I do agree with this. I'm disappointed that another woman author has acted in such an unpleasant and thoughtless manner to another woman and supported tacitly the obscene misogyny leveled at JK Rowling but it won't help to pile on, it will just confirm her thoughts.

I wouldn't support a pile-on. I do think, however, that KMH should understand that what she has done is contemptible, and not supported by ordinary, decent people. She should feel ashamed, because she has treated another human being with spite and unkindness.

I certainly agree with that.

Mslexia have released a statement: Mslexia have released a statement: twitter.com/Mslexia/status/1311252031764606976

"...if a Mslexia judge expresses views that threaten to undermine Mslexia's climate of welcome and inclusivity, we will always ask her to step down from that role."

Quite nasty.

@ScribblingMilly

I've just ordered Lie of the Land about a discontented London couple who move to Devon. Much rancour and lovely descriptions of the countryside is what I'm expecting.

I very much enjoyed The Lie of the Land (a nice play on words in that title!) and I've read one other book of hers but I can't remember which one atm. The Lie of the Land is superb!

Amanda has spoken out asking her supporters not to bully the other writer in any way. Just shows up her integrity and strength of character.
They go low, we go high... let's do this.

That statement is utter nonsense. So supporting women against misogynistic online bullying undermines Mslexia's climate of welcome and inclusivity?

That statement is just sheer headfuckery!

Welcoming, inclusive to all, freedom of speech, all must be respected and heard - unless you oppose rape threats of course.

But OK if you support rape threats.

@notyourhandmaid

Mslexia have released a statement: Mslexia have released a statement: twitter.com/Mslexia/status/1311252031764606976

"...if a Mslexia judge expresses views that threaten to undermine Mslexia's climate of welcome and inclusivity, we will always ask her to step down from that role."

Quite nasty.

Ouch! Well, with that statement they deserve all that they'll get. I thought that maybe they'd be having regrets by now but...

Doubling down - quelle surprise. Utter spineless cowards

I’d love to hear the explanation of how not supporting bullying is against inclusivity

@notyourhandmaid

Mslexia have released a statement: Mslexia have released a statement: twitter.com/Mslexia/status/1311252031764606976

"...if a Mslexia judge expresses views that threaten to undermine Mslexia's climate of welcome and inclusivity, we will always ask her to step down from that role."

Quite nasty.

That's indefensible. How is supporting a woman's right to express her opinion without being subjected to misogynistic death threats undermining Mslexia's climate of welcome and inclusivity?

I've crossed paths with Debbie Taylor in a work capacity on a few occasions. As such, I'm not remotely surprised by this.

@notyourhandmaid

Mslexia have released a statement: Mslexia have released a statement: twitter.com/Mslexia/status/1311252031764606976

"...if a Mslexia judge expresses views that threaten to undermine Mslexia's climate of welcome and inclusivity, we will always ask her to step down from that role."

Quite nasty.

Well that’s the nasty women told then. Let’s see how their accountants feel at the end of the next 1/4 shall we?

Agree RoyalCorgi

I think this is a good example of what happens when subservience to the TRA position is held to account and asked to defend itself. There is no statement that can make sense to explain why declaring that women shouldn't be subject to misogynistic bullying is a sackable offence.

Weasels.

@notyourhandmaid

Mslexia have released a statement: Mslexia have released a statement: twitter.com/Mslexia/status/1311252031764606976

"...if a Mslexia judge expresses views that threaten to undermine Mslexia's climate of welcome and inclusivity, we will always ask her to step down from that role."

Quite nasty.

Blimey. The Stasi are alive and well I see. Nothing at all sinister there...

I’m genuinely aghast that any organisation supposedly for women would say it’s wrong to speak out against misogynistic bullying

Can they not hear themselves??

@notyourhandmaid

Mslexia have released a statement: Mslexia have released a statement: twitter.com/Mslexia/status/1311252031764606976

"...if a Mslexia judge expresses views that threaten to undermine Mslexia's climate of welcome and inclusivity, we will always ask her to step down from that role."

Quite nasty.

In that case Amanda Craig should not have been the judge they let go!

I am pleased that you copied their post into the thread as I could not read what they have put on Twitter someone should give them a course on making communications inclusive for disabled people (or is that the wrong kind of inclusion).