Lynn Shepherd wrote this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/lynn-shepherd/jk-rowling-should-stop-writing_b_4829648.html
Yes, she really said that J K Rowling had had her turn and should now retire to leave the way clear for other writers. When I first read about it on the BBC's news website, I thought it couldn't be true. I assumed they had misrepresented her. I shouldn't have doubted the BBC. But feel free to make up your own mind.
Before I go on, let me state this as clearly as I can. I don't think that J K Rowling should stop writing, or having her books published, whether under her own name or under any pseudonym that takes her fancy.
(And if she wanted to write under the name 'Peter Tarnofsky', I wouldn't stop her as long as she didn't make it clear which ones were hers and which ones were mine. Yes, I'd shamelessly take a leg-up, ride on coat-tails, etc.)
She has brought joy and wonder to millions. I liked some of her books. I've enjoyed the films. Yes, I'd like a little success too - but wouldn't expect someone else to back down so I could have it.
She enjoys writing and people enjoy reading what she's written. Long may it continue.
Surely that's not all this article is going to say?
Funnily enough, no.
I think the fault, if there is any fault, lies with the media.
"Successful, much loved author writes successful, much loved book" is not really news.
"Author you've never heard of writes great book that deserves wide audience" is definitely news.
Maybe we could have more of the latter and a bit less of the former. It's not that J K Rowling is removing the oxygen from the room - it's the media that's bagging up all the oxygen and delivering it to her house unbidden.
So I'm taking potshots at the media instead? Is that any better?
A little better but not much. Newspapers need readers and they get more website hits (hence advertising revenue) by writing about authors that people want to read about. In other words, there's a financial advantage in their writing about J K Rowling rather than someone less well-known (like Peter Tarnofsky, for example).
Why should they act to their own detriment? They don't owe me anything. They're trying to run a business here.
This doesn't entirely excuse the printed media, which does not depend upon advertising click-rates but, if they constantly ignore the interests of their readers, they simply sell fewer copies.
But if there's any blame, it's with the media for over-reporting the latest thoughts and releases of well-established writers - at the expense of giving a few more column inches to upcoming authors who could really do with a little more exposure.
But, as far as I'm concerned, J K Rowling is entirely blameless in this matter.
Obligatory plug
If this makes you want to read some of my work, it would be silly of me not to make it as easy as possible:
Short stories for adults:
http://everythingturnsoutjustfine.wordpress.com/buy-the-book/
http://theyalldieattheend.wordpress.com/buy-the-book/
Novels for children:
http://petertarnofskybooks.wordpress.com/buy-the-books/
