The Women Writers’ Handbook @aurorametro @LoveBooksGroup #VWoolfStatue #LoveBooksTours #BookReview

To celebrate Aurora Metro’s 30th anniversary as an independent publisher with 20% of profits to go to the Virginia Woolf statue campaign. Includes essays, fiction, poems and interviews with top female writers. This is a special edition of the indie publisher’s inaugural publication which won the Pandora Award from Women-in-Publishing. Inspirational in its original format, this new edition features literary works and exclusive interviews with over 30 women writers, both emerging authors and luminaries of contemporary literature. In her foreword to the book, publisher and managing editor Cheryl Robson, describes the development of Aurora Metro Books to becoming a leading indie press and saw the company named a finalist in the 2019 IPG Diversity in Publishing Awards. Includes the original writing workshops plus quirky black and white illustrations.

It’s another day, another amazing blog tour! I was coaxed into this one by my lovely friend Meggy, and I am so glad that she did! Thanks Meggy for the nudge, Kelly and the Love Books Group team for the invite, as well as the fabulous Aurora Metro publishers for providing me with a glorious copy of The Women Writers’ Handbook. This fantastic collection of short stories, essays, poems and interviews etc. is available to purchase now from here!

“But there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind.”
– Virginia Woolf

The Women Writers’ Handbook is a superb, powerful collection of writings from 30 women that are considered to be the emerging authors and luminaries of contemporary fiction, from Carol Ann Duffy to Kit De Waal the mixture of literatures that are inclusive of all types of women which makes it even more fierce. The contributions from these fabulous women writers speak of independence, how a women’s worth isn’t based upon whether they are a woman or their journey to become who they are in the world, why their writing is so important and what they wish to give the reader through their literary works.

With it’s short ‘chapters’, background to who the author is and with 20% of all profits going towards the campaign for a full-sized statue of Virginia Woolf, the first in the UK, it is absolutely a book to buy, read and help to highlight the creativities of women, as well as inspiring other women to believe that they can also do it too. Feminism and the united voices of women to create an outstanding book that all will enjoy, bite-sized essays etc that can be fitted in at anytime whether you’re a man, woman or even just interested!

Not only is every piece of work that is included different, well written and informative at times but the way that the whole book is laid out with inspiring quotes but also beautiful illustrations from women.  I loved the activities that can be found at the end of the book, writing workshop activities that could be used within a group in order to breakdown boundaries, to help overcome the fears and misgivings of individuals who would like to become writers, as well as activities to help create depth in characters. I think this inclusion of interactivity, as well as giving a feminist spin on fairy tales is a cleverly unique concept.

So, there you have it, my thoughts on The Women Writers’ Handbook, it’s absolutely one to pick up and for a worthy cause too. Make sure to follow the tour on both Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #VWoolfStatue.

Until next time,
Happy reading!