So Many Female eBook Authors!

daqddyo1 · 01-07-2011, 11:52 AM

Hi All,
Something I've noticed at many of the eBook sources (online stores and libraries) that the great majority of books available seem to be written by women.
Possible reasons why this may be:
1) There are many more female authors than male authors.
2) Female authors get better publishing deals for eBook publishing than the men.
3) Male authors are reluctant to sell non-paper content.
4) With the increasing popularity of eReading, more male authors will come on board due to decreasing hard cover sales.

Does anyone know the real reason why there seems to be more female than male eBook authors?

Thanks in advance for any responses.

daqddyo1

jehane · 01-07-2011, 12:28 PM

Based on no evidence other than my own gut feeling, I suspect that is because the romance publishers and authors have jumped on board with a vengeance. And romance is very very heavily dominated by female authors. This includes the currently very popular crossover genres of paranormal romance/urban fantasy.

daqddyo1 · 01-07-2011, 01:18 PM

I hadn't thought of that Jehane. You would certainly be right in the romance author's area. My "research" only delved into the mystery and suspense genres of fiction where it seems that the female authors are very prevalent.

daqddyo1

wayrad · 01-07-2011, 01:22 PM

You forgot the possibility of male authors adopting female pen names.

Catlady · 01-07-2011, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayrad

You forgot the possibility of male authors adopting female pen names.

Actually, this is often true--especially in the romance market.

DMSmillie · 01-07-2011, 01:30 PM

It's also possible that more women than men found it difficult to get a "conventional" publishing contract or were lacking in the confidence (and/or the time) to pursue that route, but now the opening up of so many self-publishing routes means that these women can now go ahead and publish their work independently.

Joykins · 01-07-2011, 01:57 PM

I know, offhand, of 2 husband-wife teams who write romances, who take a woman's name as a pseudonym. (Toni Carrington and Leda Swann).

abookreader · 01-07-2011, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joykins

I know, offhand, of 2 husband-wife teams who write romances, who take a woman's name as a pseudonym. (Toni Carrington and Leda Swann).

Add Ilona Andrews

screwballl · 01-07-2011, 02:42 PM

This is not meant with ANY disrespect in any way, I am just describing the timeframe and difference in society at that time...

Some of these female authors also come from a confusing time where their parents taught them about the woman staying home but can do anything she wants... I found this tends to be the cause for a large number of female authors (that are 40+), they are staying home (with or without a spouse and/or kids), but also making money writing.
I think as this younger generation gets older, we will see more writing from fewer female authors and about the same number of male authors.

Fbone · 01-07-2011, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by screwballl

This is not meant with ANY disrespect in any way, I am just describing the timeframe and difference in society at that time...

For the stay-at-home mom writing novels while the children are at school or during nap time is a excellent way for them to help with the family budget while maintaining her writing skills perhaps learned at college.

With the rising cost of daycare it is only natural that more mothers remain home and find enterprising ways to earn extra income.

Joykins · 01-07-2011, 04:34 PM

Sometimes writers take advantage of being part of a 2-income household to work from home, presence of children or not. I do know several of these.

But I would like to maybe steer the conversation away from the "stay at home mom" bit--writing certainly a vocation compatible with motherhood and home-making but it is its own craft, not just a hobby any bored housewife can take up and get published. It takes skill and hard work, and mothers/homemakers doing this job are essentially working 2 jobs.

James_Wilde · 01-07-2011, 05:37 PM

Can it be that there is a much bigger market for books which handle the subjects women are interested in than the man-dominated industry has been prepared to serve, even though women have begun to make their presence known there, and that the relative ease of self-publishing has opened the possibility of the market being approached by women, who still aren't getting a fair deal in the industry?

And women are responding positively, making these self-publishers into winners.

L.J. Sellers · 01-07-2011, 05:46 PM

Is it possible that female writers are simply adopting faster to the new technology/media of e-books, e-readers, and self-publishing?
L.J.
[Promotional link deleted - MODERATOR]

patrickt · 01-07-2011, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayrad

You forgot the possibility of male authors adopting female pen names.

I can't consider that a serious issue.

Barcey · 01-07-2011, 05:52 PM

Women are just smarter then men. At least that's what they keep telling me.

01-07-2011, 11:52 AM	#1
daqddyo1 Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony eReader	So Many Female eBook Authors! Hi All, Something I've noticed at many of the eBook sources (online stores and libraries) that the great majority of books available seem to be written by women. Possible reasons why this may be: 1) There are many more female authors than male authors. 2) Female authors get better publishing deals for eBook publishing than the men. 3) Male authors are reluctant to sell non-paper content. 4) With the increasing popularity of eReading, more male authors will come on board due to decreasing hard cover sales. Does anyone know the real reason why there seems to be more female than male eBook authors? Thanks in advance for any responses. daqddyo1

01-07-2011, 04:34 PM	#11
Joykins Wizard Posts: 1,609 Karma: 9211856 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: kindle Oasis 2018, kindle 4 NT, kindle PW2, iPhone, iPad mini	Sometimes writers take advantage of being part of a 2-income household to work from home, presence of children or not. I do know several of these. But I would like to maybe steer the conversation away from the "stay at home mom" bit--writing certainly a vocation compatible with motherhood and home-making but it is its own craft, not just a hobby any bored housewife can take up and get published. It takes skill and hard work, and mothers/homemakers doing this job are essentially working 2 jobs. Last edited by Joykins; 01-07-2011 at 04:37 PM.

01-07-2011, 05:46 PM	#13
L.J. Sellers Novelist Posts: 287 Karma: 387979 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eugene, Oregon Device: Kindle	Is it possible that female writers are simply adopting faster to the new technology/media of e-books, e-readers, and self-publishing? L.J. [Promotional link deleted - MODERATOR] Last edited by Dr. Drib; 02-26-2012 at 06:58 AM.

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01-07-2011, 12:28 PM	#2
jehane Book addict Posts: 441 Karma: 2650464 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Antarctica/Australia/Ohio Device: Sony PRS-300/T1/Asus TF101	Based on no evidence other than my own gut feeling, I suspect that is because the romance publishers and authors have jumped on board with a vengeance. And romance is very very heavily dominated by female authors. This includes the currently very popular crossover genres of paranormal romance/urban fantasy.

01-07-2011, 01:18 PM	#3
daqddyo1 Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony eReader	I hadn't thought of that Jehane. You would certainly be right in the romance author's area. My "research" only delved into the mystery and suspense genres of fiction where it seems that the female authors are very prevalent. daqddyo1

01-07-2011, 01:22 PM	#4
wayrad Fanatic Posts: 551 Karma: 1121392 Join Date: May 2008 Location: USA Device: HTC One M8	You forgot the possibility of male authors adopting female pen names.

01-07-2011, 01:30 PM	#6
DMSmillie Enquiring Mind Posts: 562 Karma: 42350 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: London, UK Device: Kindle 3 (WiFi)	It's also possible that more women than men found it difficult to get a "conventional" publishing contract or were lacking in the confidence (and/or the time) to pursue that route, but now the opening up of so many self-publishing routes means that these women can now go ahead and publish their work independently.

01-07-2011, 01:57 PM	#7
Joykins Wizard Posts: 1,609 Karma: 9211856 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: kindle Oasis 2018, kindle 4 NT, kindle PW2, iPhone, iPad mini	I know, offhand, of 2 husband-wife teams who write romances, who take a woman's name as a pseudonym. (Toni Carrington and Leda Swann).

01-07-2011, 02:42 PM	#9
screwballl NewKindler Posts: 504 Karma: 1865773 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: NWFL Device: Kindle3 Wifi	This is not meant with ANY disrespect in any way, I am just describing the timeframe and difference in society at that time... Some of these female authors also come from a confusing time where their parents taught them about the woman staying home but can do anything she wants... I found this tends to be the cause for a large number of female authors (that are 40+), they are staying home (with or without a spouse and/or kids), but also making money writing. I think as this younger generation gets older, we will see more writing from fewer female authors and about the same number of male authors.

01-07-2011, 05:37 PM	#12
James_Wilde Guru Posts: 802 Karma: 4727110 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sweden Device: Iriver Story	Can it be that there is a much bigger market for books which handle the subjects women are interested in than the man-dominated industry has been prepared to serve, even though women have begun to make their presence known there, and that the relative ease of self-publishing has opened the possibility of the market being approached by women, who still aren't getting a fair deal in the industry? And women are responding positively, making these self-publishers into winners.

01-07-2011, 05:52 PM	#15
Barcey Wizard Posts: 1,531 Karma: 8059866 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canada Device: Kobo H2O / Aura HD / Glo / iPad3	Women are just smarter then men. At least that's what they keep telling me.

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