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In honour of International Women’s day 2015, we’ve asked all the Escape Club and MDPWeb staff who their favourite women in fictions are.

 

Bec:

Favourite female author: Alice Munro

Favourite female main character: Elizabeth Bennet – Pride and Prejudice

Favourite female side character:  Jane Lane – Daria,  and Scully — X Files (a tie)

Favourite female friendship/relationship in literature: Jane Eyre and Helen Burns from Jane Eyre

And since purple, green and white are the official International Women’s Day colours; favourite book based on one (or more) of these colour schemes: The Colour Purple – Alice Walker

 

Amy:

Favourite female author: I can’t pick just one! ALL my favourite authors are female! But our very own Marianne de Pierres is on the list of authors that regularly switch positions to be my favourite, as are Kelley Armstrong, Ilona Andrews, Seanan McGuire a.k.a. Mira Grant, Tamora Pierce, Karin Slaughter…

Favourite female main character: Of all time? Probably Daine from Tamora Pierce’s Tortall universe. She was the first one who really made me love a) female protagonists and b) fantasy fiction, so she has a special place in my heart. And she can turn into animals – what’s not to love?

Favourite female side character: Rast, from Marianne de Pierres’ Sentients of Orion quartet. She’s kick-ass, she commands respect, she keeps her head in dangerous and difficult situations, and on top of all that awesomeness, she’s romantically into girls!

Favourite female friendship/relationship in literature: Phedre and Melisande from Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel books. They’re pretty much mortal enemies most of the time, but even when Melisande is being completely despicable and conniving, she and Phedre always seem to ‘get’ each other.

And since purple, green and white are the official International Women’s Day colours; favourite book based on one (or more) of these colour schemes: Trudi Canavan has a series called The Black Magician Trilogy, but all the covers of those books are white (at least here in the UK!) so I’ll go with that. LOVE those books.

 

Jamie:

Favourite female author: Ursula K Le Guin: an incredible writer and one of the greatest literary minds of the last century.

Favourite female main character: Makedde Vanderwall – from the Tara Moss series originating from Fetish. One of the best developed characters I’ve encountered. Constantly evolving. An incredibly real character and a great example of human adaptation.

Favourite female side character: Molly Millions – Neuromancer by William Gibson. The original Razor girl, strong, independent, witty and deep. She began my love of strong female roles in my early teens.

Favourite female friendship/relationship in literature: Yelena Rossini and Channon Yarrow – Transmetropolitan. The assistants to the main character; these two develop a very strong friendship separate from the main character and storyline that provides much context that helps drive the story. Their interactions with the series’ anti-hero protagonist are also incredibly amusing and often deep.

And since purple, green and white are the official International Women’s Day colours; favourite book based on one (or more) of these colour schemes: The Earthly Delights series by Kerry Greenwood: light and risqué mystery novels from a great Melbourne author. Again with a strong and independent female lead.

 

 Bel:

Favourite female author:  With all the stellar women writing books, it is near impossible to pick one. Marianne de Pierres and Rowena Cory Daniells are the dream team when it comes to authors who have done heaps for their local writing community, so they HAVE to top the list.

Favourite female main character: Rachel Morgan from Kim Harrison’s Hollows series.

Favourite female side character: Zuzana, from the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series.

Favourite female friendship/relationship in literature: Anne Shirley and Dianna Barry from Anne of Green Gables

And since purple, green and white are the official International Women’s Day colours; favourite book based on one (or more) of these colour schemes: I fell in love with the white and foiled editions of The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, the moment I saw them. I don’t have them in the box set, but that’s fine by me. They’re just so shiny and special.

Joelene:

Favourite female author: Holly Black. She doesn’t even have competition; her plots, characters and relationship dynamics are all perfection.

Favourite female main character: There are so many possibilities…but today I think it’s Pippi Longstocking. She’s strong, quirky, and has incredible, unbelievable tales to tell.

Favourite female side character: Rue from the Hunger Games. She’s brave, resourceful and loyal. And, though she takes up only a small amount of page space in the book, she’s a fully fleshed character that you automatically want to know more about.

Favourite female friendship/relationship in literature: The Bennet sisters. Elizabeth and Jane. They have very different personalities but love, respect and trust each other.

And since purple, green and white are the official International Women’s Day colours; favourite book based on one (or more) of those colour schemes: Liar by Justine Larbalestier (the Australian cover). An unreliable narrator, twists and turns galore, and a story that ends up being nothing like it seems.

Krista:

Favourite female author: JK Rowling – So many reasons…but HARRY!

Favourite female main character: Matilda – This story from Roald Dahl has always been a favorite. Matilda is my go to inspiration at any age.

Favourite female side character: Hermione  -She is everything that I have always wanted to be, smart, brave and speaks her mind

Favourite female friendship/relationship in literature: Sisterhood of the traveling pants -The first thing that came to my mind to represent true friendship

And since purple, green and white are the official International Women’s Day colours; favourite book based on one (or more) of those colour schemes: Purple- Nightshade by Andrea Cremer (the cover is purple), Green- Anne of Green Gables, White- Any books Angel related (like Angel by L.A. Weatherly).

Phil:

Favorite female author: Anne Rice. Reason: The Vampire Chronicles were the first books I got when I started taking reading seriously. Her writing style is unmatched.

Favourite female main character: Parrish Plessis. Reason: No real reason other than she kicks serious ass!

Favorite female side character: Galadriel from Lord of The Rings. Reason: Very powerful elvish Queen but also gentle and kind to those in need. Truly a being worth respect.

Favourite female friendship/relationship in literature: This is a tricky one. I’m drawing a blank.

And since purple, green and white are the official International Women’s Day colours; favourite book based on one (or more) of these colour schemes: Blood and Gold. It’s white if my memory served correctly.

Mandy:

Mandy’s Favourite Female Authors:

This is a terribly tricky one for me, as a mostly read women writers. This isn’t a conscious decision to be honest – I just seem to read more women than men. The authors listed below are the ones who I’ll read anything they produce, no matter the age group or genre:

 

Alison Goodman

Mira Grant / Seanan McGuire

Isabelle Carmody

Charlene Harris

and of course our very own Marianne de Pierres!=

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