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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFemale Spanish thriller writer Carmen Mola revealed to be three men
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/oct/16/female-spanish-thriller-writer-carmen-mola-revealed-to-be-three-menA million euro literary prize has lured three Spanish men out of anonymity, to reveal that they are behind ultra-violent Spanish crime thrillers marketed as the work of Spains Elena Ferrante
The men, all in their 40s and 50s, denied choosing a female pseudonym to help sell the books. We didnt hide behind a woman, we hid behind a name, Antonio Mercero told Spanish newspaper El País. I dont know if a female pseudonym would sell more than a male one, I dont have the faintest idea, but I doubt it.
Beatriz Gimeno, a feminist, writer, activist and former head of one of Spains national equality bodies, the Womens Institute attacked the men for creating a female persona in their publicity for Carmen Mola books, over several years.
Last year, a regional branch of the Womens Institute recommended one of Molas works as part of a selection of books by female authors including Margaret Atwood that could help us understand the reality and the experiences of women in different periods of history and contribute to raising awareness about rights and freedoms.
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There is something refreshingly hilarious about all this. It is gender politics put in a blender and the button hit all so softly.
malaise
(268,713 posts)visibility
PJMcK
(21,998 posts)This reminds of the climax of "Tootsie" and when Clifford Irving tried to pedal a Howard Hughes "autobiography" back in the early 1970s all mixed in with Mike McGrady et al. (aka, Penelope Ashe: "Naked Came The Stranger" with a dash of Rachel Dolezal!
Of course, there are all kinds of societal elements but that's what makes it fun!
localroger
(3,622 posts)DavidDvorkin
(19,468 posts)Dick Francis did do the actual writing.
FakeNoose
(32,595 posts)I grew up with Nancy Drew mystery novels, and it wasn't until I was well into my 30's that I learned that there never was an author named "Carolyn Keene." It was a series of writers (mostly men) who all stuck to the same Nancy Drew mystery formula. They were paid for their work, but they remained anonymous because the Carolyn Keene pen name had become a successful franchise.
Recently some authors are "partnering" with a famous person - for example Bill Clinton - and both get the authoring credit. What really happens is one person does the heavy writing while the other looks over his shoulder and makes a few suggestions. The author Anne Rice became so successful and synonymous with vampire and horror stories, that she adopted a different pen name in order to publish women's erotica stories that weren't about vampires. However the fans of Anne Rice books (the books marketed as vampire novels) became confused when she later published religious stories and biblical tales under her real name, Anne Rice. The vampire fans were turned off.
In the case of the Spanish authors, they're OK with partnering under the pen name of "Carmen Mola" because it's very difficult for young unknown writers to get published. When you hit on a formula that succeeds, you keep it going as long as possible. When the fans learn about the deception, I guess they feel confused and let down.
ananda
(28,836 posts)Whodathunkit.