Happy International Women’s Day, my girlies. In the spirit of celebrating the most beautiful gender the world has seen, we’d be talking about some female authors who impacted our lives and those still holding the torch. We boldly say they are why we’re so proud of this noble writing profession.
These past and present great female authors are why we love books and everything in words. The beautiful stories we’ve read in different genres, the educationals, the motivationals, the documentaries, the quotes, and every written piece that has made the literary world the best escape place to be.
I try not to pick a favorite, but there are female authors I clutch tightly to my chest. If you have a fav, you might just meet her here. Do well to say a high-pitched “Happy International Women’s Day” to her.
In no order of preference, let’s meet some amazing female authors.
Past and present African female authors
The beautiful thing is that almost every country has produced a great past or present female author who broke the norms with their pens. We begin our meet and greet with African female authors.
Chimamda Ngozi Adichie
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is an award-winning, globally celebrated Nigerian-born female author. She’s also a mom, wife, and feminist who has questioned many biases against women. She has led many social reforms through speaking on global platforms, social media, interviews, and books.
Coming from a background of knowledgeable people of Igbo descent and a family from Enugu State, Nigeria, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, through her pen, has shown women that they can have it their way and write their way to success.
CNA, as she’s fondly called, has been recognized globally because of her impressive short stories and Novels. Her kinsmen gave her the title Odeluwa, which loosely translates to “Worldwide Writer.”
Her literary works include:
- Half of a Yellow Sun
- Purple Hibiscus
- Americanah
- Her other literary works include:
- We Should All Be Feminists
- Dear IjeAwele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions
- The Thing Around Your Neck
- Zikora
- Notes On Grief
- Mama’s Sleeping Scarf
Her most recent work, Dream Count, Just hit the stores. We are so excited!
Doreen Baingana
The brilliant Ugandan writer Doreen Baingana has written her way to the top with her fictional storytelling prowess. In 2003, Doreen won the Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction. Her work, Tropical Fish, was published in Nigeria, the United States, and South Africa.
Interestingly, her work has been translated into Spanish, Swedish, and French. Doreen’s fiction stories have also been featured on Voice of America and BBC. She leads Creative Writing Workshops across Africa.
Florence Onyebuchi Emecheta
Known as Buchi Emecheta during her time, Florence was born to Nigerian parents of the Delta-Igbo tribe. Buchi, an award-winning and globally recognized writer, was a victim of early marriage, and at the age of 22, she already had five children.
She also proved that circumstances can not keep a woman down if she is determined. Her personal experience inspired her work, The Second Class Citizen.
Buchi Emecheta wrote more books titled:
- Joys of Motherhood
- The Slave Girl
- Destination Biafra
- The Bride Price
She made a name for herself in the literary world with her impeccable novels, and Nigerian schools still read her books. Say her name!
Also Read:Â Â Thoughtful gifts for writers on special occasions
Christiana Ama Ata Aidoo
Ghana-born Ama Ata Aido was a great playwright, author, and poet. She was a privileged young woman born into wealth, the daughter of the first school owner in her village, where she also had her early childhood education before proceeding to Wesley Girls’ High School. That was the turning point of her life, and she decided to become a writer.
Her first-of-being-things didn’t stop there. She was the first published female dramatist in Africa. Her specialty was fiction, drama, and poetry.
She wrote The Dilemma of a Ghost, Our Sister Killjoy, Changes, and Anowa during her time. Although she became the Secretary for Education in her home country, that did not take away her passion for writing.
Past and present global female authors
As we advance, let’s meet past and present global female authors who made/are making us proud.
Nora Roberts
With over 200 novels, Nora Roberts, born Eleanor Marie Robertson to parents of Irish ancestry, has authored excellent novels in different genres. She has written best-selling novels in Fantasy, Romance, and Suspense.
Her writing career took off in February 1979 during a snow blizzard. She faced rejections from publishers and later discovered that a certain Janet D. stole some of her work. That never stopped our star girl, Nora Roberts.
She devoted eight hours daily to writing, polishing her work, and conducting more research until her publishing dreams became a reality.
In 1996, Nora had written 100 novels, which doubled in 2012; five of them were USA Today bestsellers.
Nora Roberts’s novels have ranked numbers 1 and 2 and have been New York Times Bestsellers since 1999. Her works have been translated and published in 35 countries. What a woman!
J.K. Rowling
Joanne Rowling is a celebrated British writer, philanthropist, and author. She is the author of the famous fantasy novel Harry Potter, Which has been translated into 84 languages and sold over 600 million copies. The book has also been adapted into a movie and a video game. Harry Potter isn’t her first or last literary work.
Jane Austen
Born in 1775 in Steventon, Hampshire, Jane Austen began writing poems and novels at 11 and became a published author at 18. She wrote a short story, Lady Susan, then Elinor and Marianne, and Pride and Prejudice, among others.
Margaret Atwood
Margaret Eleanor Atwood, an excellent writer from Canada, was born in the 1930s in Ottawa, Ontario. She has authored 18 novels, 11 nonfiction stories, 9 short fiction stories, 8 children’s books, 18 poetry books, and 2 graphic novels.
Some of her works include:
- The Handmaid’s Tale
- The Testaments
- Cat’s Eye
- Alias Grace
Margaret Atwood has many awards for her works, some of which have been adapted into films.
To you, an up-and-coming female writer who wishes to write your name in history through your literary work, I see you and root for you.
Happy International Women’s Day to us!
