There has definitely been newer scholarship, but a lot of this was known in Tolkien's time. He would have been quite familiar with Celtic and Germanic Warrior Women, which have long been a matter of historical record.

Some of the Greek Amazon myths were based on Scythian and Caucasus region Warrior Women, but there is a growing body of evidence pointing to Greece's own Warrior Women.

GB

Ya know. I don't mind if a Dude has vaguely chauvinistic or paternal attitude , as long as he recognizes it is purely based on his own ignorance and not reality. But to make categoric declarations about the lack of women authors and inventors simply highlights the speakers IGNORANCE (You know who you are ).

But it's alright to be ignorant too. It just means you lack knowledge. So in the interest of sharing knowledge I am posting a couple of (incomplete) lists, and an article and the links I retrieved them from. Please think before you post. You will save yourself a bit of embarrassment.

GB


Defying Stereotypes:

Women Invent in Tradionally Male Fields

As many of our previous women Inventors of the Week have proven, men do not have a monopoly on innovation even in disciplines in which women have been underrepresented, such as science, medicine, and high technology.
One crusader for women's recognition from the turn of the century was Harriet Russell Strong of Oakland (1844-1929). An entrepreneur and engineer, specializing in irrigation and water conservation, she won several patents for dams and water storage systems. During World War I, Strong went to Washington to promote her bold plan to counter a severe food shortage by temporarily diverting the Colorado River and using the Grand Canyon as a reservoir. When a Congressional Committee rejected her plan, Strong was convinced it was simply from chauvinism. Undaunted, she spent the rest of her life fighting for water conservation and women's rights.

Chien-Shiung Wu (b. 1912) worked on the Manhattan Project during World War II. She created at least five inventions in experimental atomic physics, including devices for radiation-detection and radioactive-decay wavelength separation. Most notably, Wu designed the landmark experiments that allowed her colleagues Dao Li and Chen Ning Yang to win the Nobel Prize (1957) for proving that the Parity Principle does not hold universally. Wu herself was hailed by Newsweek in 1963 as the "Queen of Physics."

In medicine, one outstanding inventor continuing the tradition of Hazen and Brown and Gertrude Elion is Ariel Hollinshead of George Washington University (b. 1929). In the 1970s, she developed a unique type of vaccine for all four major types of lung cancer, and invented a low-frequency sound technique for isolating antigens from cell membranes. In 1980, Hollinshead's work was called "among the most advanced and exciting in the world."

The world of computing has included many significant women inventors, the best-known being Grace Murray Hopper. Margaret K. Butler (b. 1924) was also a pioneer in computer hardware. Working at Argonne National Laboratories in the 1950s, she helped develop one of the world's first digital computers for science. Sandra Kurtzig of Atherton, California (b. 1947) has invented monitoring and information-sharing software for businesses. The company she founded with $2000 in 1972, ASK Computer, now does over $100 million in annual sales. Kurtzig herself has been called one of the "heroes of Silicon Valley."

The achievements of these women have brought us closer to a world in which restrictions based on perceived "male" and "female" fields will not exist.

See the Invention Dimension archives for Virginia Apgar, Katherine Blodgett, Martha Coston, Edith Flanigen, Stephanie Kwolek, Hedy Lamarr, and other women inventors in science and technology.
http://inventors.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&zTi=1&sdn=inventors&cdn=money&tm=217&f=10&tt=14&bt=0&bts=1&zu=http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/whm4.html

How Many Women Inventors Are There?
Today, thousands of women apply for and receive a patent every year.
Mothers of Invention - Women Inventors
Discover the many famous women inventors who have made their mark in history as "Mothers of Invention".
Railroad Inventions Created by Women Inventors
During the 1800s, several women inventors made important contributions to improving safety and reducing noise pollution from trains.
Trivia Quiz - Mothers of Invention
Test your knowledge about the Mothers of Invention by taking this fun trivia quiz.


Randi Altschul
Randice-Lisa Altschul invented the world's first disposable cell phone.
Dr. Betsy Ancker-Johnson
Dr. Betsy Ancker-Johnson was the third woman inventor elected to the National Academy oF engineering.
Mary Anderson
Mary Anderson invented the windshield wiper. Anderson was issued a patent for the wipers in 1905.
Virginia Apgar
Apgar invented a newborn scoring system or "Apgar Score" for assessing the health of newborn infants.
Barbara Askins
Developed a totally new way of processing film.
Patricia Bath
The first African American woman doctor to receive a patent for a medical invention.
Miriam E. Benjamin
Ms. Benjamin was the second black woman inventor to receive a patent. She received a patent for an invention she called a "Gong and Signal Chair for Hotels".
Patricia Billings
Patricia Billings invented a indestructible and fireproof building material called Geobond®.
Katherine Blodgett
Invented the non-reflecting glass.
Bessie Blount
Blount invented a device to help disabled people eat with less difficulty.
Sarah Boone
An improvement to the ironing board was invented by African American Sarah Boone on April 26, 1892.
Rachel Fuller Brown
Rachel Brown co-invented Nystatin, the world's first useful antifungal antibiotic.
Josephine Garis Cochran
In 1886, Josephine Cochran invented the first practical dishwasher.
Martha J. Coston
Martha Coston invented a pyrotechnic signaling system known as maritime signal flares.
Dianne Croteau
Invented Actar 911, the CPR mannequin.
Marie Curie
Marie Curie also known as Madame Curie discovered radium and furthered x-ray technology.
Marion Donovan
The convenient disposable diaper was invented by New Yorker Marion Donovan in 1950.
Gertrude Belle Elion
Elion invented the leukemia-fighting drug 6-mercaptopurine, drugs that facilitated kidney transplants and other drugs for the treatment of cancer and leukemia.
Edith Flanigen
Flanigen was the inventor of a petroleum refining method and is considered one of the most inventive chemists of all time.
Helen Free
Free was the inventor of the home diabetes test.
Sally Fox
Sally Fox invented naturally-colored cotton.
Frances Gabe
Gabe invented the "Self Cleaning House".
Lillian Gilbreth
Lillian Moller Gilbreth was an inventor, author, industrial engineer, industrial psychologist, and mother of twelve children.
Sarah E. Goode
Sarah Goode was the first African American women to receive a U.S. patent.
Bette Nesmith Graham
Graham invented liquid paper, also known as White-Out™.
Temple Grandin
Temple Grandin invented livestock-handling devices.
KK Gregory
KK Gregory is the ten-year old inventor of Wristies®.
Ruth Handler
The Barbie doll was invented in 1959 by Ruth Handler.
Elizabeth Lee Hazen
Elizabeth Hazen co-invented Nystatin, the world's first useful antifungal antibiotic.
Beulah Henry
All told, Henry made about 110 inventions and holds 49 patents.
Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin
Hodgkin used x-rays to find the structural layouts of atoms and to discover the overall molecular shape of over 100 molecules including: penicillin, vitamin B-12, vitamin D and insulin.
Krisztina Holly
Co-invented the telephony software called Visual Voice.
Erna Schneider Hoover
Hoover invented the computerized telephone switching system.
Grace Hopper
Grace Hopper was a computer inventor best known for the Mark computer series.
Mary Phelps Jacob
Mary Phelps Jacob invented the bra.
Amanda Theodosia Jones
Jones re-invented American food production by inventing vacuum packed canning.
Marjorie Stewart Joyner
Joyner invented a permanent wave machine that would allow a hairdo to stay set for days.
Anna Keichline
Architect, Anna Keichline created inventions for the home.
Mary Kies: Patenting Pioneer
Kies was the first women to receive a U.S. patent on May 15, 1809.
Gabriele Knecht
Patented the Forward Sleeve design for creating clothing.
Margaret Knight
Margaret Knight was an employee in a paper bag factory when she invented a new machine part to make square bottoms for paper bags. Knight can be considered the mother of the grocery bag, she founded the Eastern Paper Bag Company in 1870.
Stephanie Louise Kwolek
Kwolek invented a material five times stronger than steel called Kevlar.
Hedy Lamarr
Lamarr was a movie star and inventor.
Ada Lovelace
Wrote a scientific paper in 1843 that anticipated the development of computer software artificial intelligence and computer music.
Sybilla Masters - First American Woman Inventor
Masters was the first American female inventor in recorded history, but no doubt women have been inventing since the dawn of time without the deserved recognition.
Ann Moore
Invented the Snugli baby carrier.
Krysta Morlan
Krysta Morlan invented a device that relieves the irritation caused by wearing a cast - the cast cooler.
Ellen Ochoa
Ochoa invented optical analysis systems and was the world's first Hispanic female astronaut.
Alice Parker
Alice Parker invented a new and improved gas heating furnace.
Betty Rozier and Lisa Vallino
Rozier and Vallino, a mother and daughter invention team, invented the intravenous catheter shield.
Patsy Sherman
Patsy Sherman invented Scotchgard™.
Valerie Thomas
Received a patent in 1980 for inventing an illusion transmitter.
Ann Tsukamoto
The co-patenter of a process to isolate the human stem cell.
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman was considered the "Moses of the Civil War" for her work on the underground railroads.
Madame Walker
Madame Walker was a St. Louis washerwoman-turned-entrepreneur, who in 1905 invented a method to soften and smooth African American hair.
Mary Walton
Walton invented several anti-pollution devices during the Industrial Revolution.
Carol Wior
Invented the Slimsuit, a slimming swimsuit.


American Women Inventors Go Public
In the modern era, women have had more difficulty gaining credit for their inventions, but that has not stopped them from inventing.
Prolific Female Inventors of the Industrial Era
Four "Lady Edisons" are described in this article: Mary S, Beulah Louise Henry (ice cream freezer), Helen Augusta Blanchard (zigzag stitch machine) and Margaret Knight (square-bottomed paper bags).
Defying Stereotypes
This article is about women inventing in traditionally male fields.
Women Inventors (1899)
This is an article on women inventors that was part of a 1899 patent manual written by Fred Dieterich.
"It's a Woman's Invention"
This is an article written by Ginny Grein that has advice for new inventors.
Women and the History of Computers.
Ada Lovelace - Edith Clarke - Rósa Péter - Grace Hopper - Alexandra Forsythe - Evelyn Granville - Margaret Fox - Erna Hoover - Kay Antonelli - Alice Burks - Adele Goldstine - Joan Winters.
Women's History in Transportation
American women have played important roles in improving how we travel for more than 170 years.
Women of NASA
The Women of NASA interactive project showcases outstanding women who are enjoying successful careers in math, science and technology.
Women Nobel Prize Laureates
In 1903, only two years after the Nobel Foundation was established, the first Nobel Prize was awarded to a woman. Women have been winning Nobel Prizes ever since.
Female Ingenuity
A partial list of the many ingenious inventions by women.
Free Inventors Newsletter!Sign Up

http://inventors.about.com/od/womeninventors/Women_Inventors.htm

AND HERE IS A NO DOUBT INCOMPLETE LIST OF FAMOUS WOMEN AUTHORS :

I have highlighted the ones so famous that even the non-literate have heard of them (more than a few of them Fantasy writers, for which there is no excuse for not being aware of them ). There are a number of omissions, the most glaring being Enid Blyton, probably the most famous woman author in the world next to JK Rowling.

A

Eleanor Hallowell Abbott
Louise Abeita
Abiola Abrams
Kathy Acker
Juliette Adam
Abigail Adams
Stephanie Adams (born 1970), American author.
Fleur Adcock (born 1935)
Yda Addis
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Renata Adler
Charlotte Agell
Grace Aguilar
Freda Ahenakew
Ilse Aichinger
Ama Ata Aidoo
Lucy Aikin
Bella Akhmadulina
Anna Akhmatova
Anna Åkerhjelm (1647–1693)
Anne-Marie Albiach
Jordie Albiston
Louisa May Alcott (November 29, 1832–March 6, 1888) was an American novelist.
Isabella Macdonald Alden
Claribel Alegría (born 1924), Nicaraguan-born author and poet.
Álfrún Gunnlaugsdóttir
Isabel Allende
Phyllis Shand Allfrey
Margery Allingham
Dorothy Allison
Julia Álvarez
Laurie Halse Anderson
Jessica Anderson
Maya Angelou
Jane Anger
Gloria E. Anzaldúa
Elvia Ardalani, Mexican writer, poet, and storyteller
Hannah Arendt
Karen Armstrong
Kelley Armstrong (born 1968), Canadian author. Writer of the Women Of The Otherworld Series.
Louise Armstrong
Bettina von Arnim
Elizabeth von Arnim
Joanne Arnott
Harriette Arnow
Anastasia Ashman
Pitseolak Ashoona
Francis Leslie Ashton
Margot Asquith
Mary Astell
Gertrude Atherton
Eleanor Stackhouse Atkinson
Kate Atkinson
Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (born 1984), American novelist.
Margaret Atwood (born 1939), Canadian novelist, poet, and critic. The Handmaid's Tale
Penelope Aubin (ca. 1679–ca. 1731), English novelist and translator.
Jean M. Auel (born 1936), American novelist. Earth's Children series.
Rose Ausländer
Jane Austen
Mary Austin
Auvaiyar
Margaret Avison
Marilou Awiakta

B

Natalie Babbitt (born Dayton, Ohio, July 28, 1932) is a US author and illustrator of children's books.
Ingeborg Bachmann (June 25, 1926 Klagenfurt, Austria–October 17, 1973 Rome, Italy) was an Austrian poet and author.
Delia Bacon (February 2, 1811–September 2, 1859)
Enid Bagnold (27 October 1889–31 March 1981)
Joanna Baillie (1762–1851), Scottish poet and dramatist.
Dorothy Baker (April 21, 1907–June 17, 1968) was an American novelist.
Faith Baldwin (b. October 1, 1893–March 18, 1978, Norwalk, Connecticut) was a very successful U.S. author of romance and fiction.
Toni Cade Bambara
Mary Ellen Bamford
Ban Zhao
Helen Elliott Bandini
Leslie Esdaile Banks
Helen Bannerman
Agnieszka Baranowska (1819–1890), Polish playwright and poet.
Anna Laetitia Barbauld
Nicola Barker
Mary Barnard
Djuna Barnes (June 12, 1892–June 18, 1982)
Margaret Ayer Barnes
Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr
Lynne Barrett
Allie Bates
Vicki Baum
Simone de Beauvoir (January 9, 1908–April 14, 1986) was a French author and philosopher.
Béatrix Beck
Patricia Beer (1919–1999)
Mrs. Beeton
Aphra Behn (1640–1689), British playwright, poet, and novelist. The Rover
Gioconda Belli (born 1948), Nicaraguan revolutionary, writer and is designated among the 100 most important poets during the 20th century.
Victoria Benedictsson
Juliana Berners
Bertice Berry
Betty Berzon
Annie Besant
Elizabeth Bibesco
Marthe Bibesco
Isabella Bird (October 15, 1831–October 7, 1904) was a nineteenth-century English traveler and writer.
Anne Bishop
Elizabeth Bishop (February 8, 1911–October 6, 1979), was an American poet and writer.
Malorie Blackman
Neltje Blanchan
Countess of Blessington
Francesca Lia Block (born 1962), Weetzie Bat series.
Amelia Bloomer
Judy Blume (born Judy Sussman on February 12, 1938)
Louise Bogan
Eavan Boland (born 1944)
Sarah Knowles Bolton
María Luisa Bombal
Erma Bombeck
Tanella Boni
Geraldine Bonner
Marita Bonner
Gertrude Bonnin (Zitkala-Sa)
Mary Everest Boole
Frances Boothby (fl. ca. 1669–70), British playwright.
Alice Borchardt
Phyllis Bottome
Elizabeth Bowen
Jane Bowles
Mary Bowes (1749–1800), English playwright and botanist.
Kay Boyle
Leigh Brackett
Mary Elizabeth Braddon
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Anne Bradstreet
Shannon Bramer (born 1973), Poet.
Hannah Brand (1754–1821), English actress and playwright.
Ann Brashares, author of The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants series
Lily Braun
Libba Bray
Angela Brazil
Fredrika Bremer
Martha Wadsworth Brewster
Mary Chavelita Dunne Bright
Vera Brittain
Anne Brontë
Charlotte Brontë
Emily Brontë
Frances Brooke (1723–1789), English novelist, essayist, playwright, and translator.
Anita Brookner
Geraldine Brooks (born 1955), Pulitzer Prize winning author of March.
Gwendolyn Brooks
Rhoda Broughton
Rebecca Brown (born 1956)
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Pearl S. Buck
Buffalo Bird Woman
Frances Hodgson Burnett
Frances Burney (1752–1840), English novelist, diarist, letter-writer, and playwright. Evelina
Frances Burney (1776–1828), English governess and author of closet drama.
Olivia Ward Bush
Sharon Butala
Octavia Butler
Susan Bulkeley Butler
Mary Butts
A. S. Byatt

C

Meg Cabot
Caroline Caddy
Florence Caddy
Mona Caird
Hortense Calisher
Maria Callcott
Bebe Moore Campbell
Marion May Campbell
Dorothy Canfield
Minna Canth
Lan Cao
Jacqueline Carey
Leonora Carrington
Angela Carter
Elizabeth Cary (1585–1639), English playwright. The Tragedy of Mariam
Rosario Castellanos
Ana Castillo
Rosalía de Castro
Willa Cather
Jane Cavendish (1620/21–1669), English poet and playwright.
Margaret Cavendish (1623–1673), English poet, philosopher, essayist, playwright, and writer of fiction. The Blazing World
Susannah Centlivre (1667–1723), English playwright and poet.
Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, author
Diana Chang, author
Charlotte Charke (1713–1760), English actress, playwright, novelist, and autobiographer.
Daína Chaviano
Ying Chen
C. J. Cherryh (born 1942), American sci-fi and fantasy author.
Lydia Maria Child
Mei Chin
Paulina Chiziane
Joanna Chmielewska (born 1932) Polish writer.
Pema Chodron
Kate Chopin
Agatha Christie
Lady Mary Chudleigh
Ismat Chughtai
Caryl Churchill (born 1938)
Sandra Cisneros
Mary Higgins Clark
Beverly Cleary
Kate McPhelim Cleary (1863-1905), Feminist author.
Michelle Cliff
Lucille Clifton
Catherine Clive (1711–1785), English actress and dramatist.
Wendy Coakley-Thompson
Wanda Coleman
Mary Elizabeth Coleridge
Colette
Mary Colum
Anne Compton (born 1947), Canadian poet, critic, and anthologist.
Marvel Cooke
Elizabeth Cook-Lynn
Cornificia, 1st century BC poet
Patricia Cornwell
Anita Cornwell
Jayne Cortez
Arlette Cousture
Margaret Craven
Hélisenne de Crenne
M. T. C. Cronin
Elsa Cross (born 1946), Mexican poet and essayist.
Catherine Crowe (1800–1876), English dramatist, novelist, and author of children's books.
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz (1651–1695), Mexican poet and playwright.
Maria Susanna Cummins
Isabella Valancy Crawford
Dymphna Cusack
Mary Crow Dog

D

H.D. (Hilda Doolittle) (1886-1961), American poet, novelist and memoirist
Jordan Dane (born 1953), American thriller writer
Edwidge Danticat (born 1969), Haitian-American novelist. Breath, Eyes, Memory
Cecilia Dart-Thornton (born tktk), Australian fantasy novelist and short story writer. Bitterbynde trilogy
Amma Darko (born 1956), Ghanaian novelist.
Marie Darrieussecq (born 1969), French-Basque novelist.
Helen Darville (Helen Dale, Helen Demidenko) (born 1972), Australian journalist and novelist.
Kamala Das (born 1932), poet and short story writer.
Madame d'Aulnoy (1650/51/54-1705), French fairy tale writer.
Marcia Davenport (1903-1996), American novelist, biographer and memoirist. The Valley of Decision, My Brother's Keeper
Henriette Davidis (1801-1876), German cookbook writer.
Angela Davis (born 1944), American philosopher and political activist.
Dorothy Salisbury Davis (born 1916), American mystery novelist.
Rebecca Harding Davis (1831-1910), American journalist and novelist. Life in the Iron Mills
Mary Davys (1674–1732), Irish novelist and playwright.
Laura Day (born 1959), American writer of self-help books.
Maria Dąbrowska (1889-1965) Polish writer
Shobha De (born 1947), Indian journalist and novelist. Starry Nights
Aurora de Albornoz (1926-1990), Spanish poet.
Pamela Dean (born 1953), American novelist. Tam Lin
Kathryn Deans (born tktk), Australian children's writer.
Françoise d'Eaubonne (1920-2005), French feminist essayist and science fiction novelist. ecofeminism
E. M. Delafield (1890-1943), English novelist and memoirist.
Lucy Delaney (c. 1830-c. 1890), American memoirist.
Ella Cara Deloria (1888-1971), American ethnographer, Sioux oral historian and novelist.
Enid Derham (1882-1941), Australian poet.
Anita Desai (born 1937), Indian novelist. In Custody
Kiran Desai (botn 1971), Indian novelist. The Inheritance of Loss
Marceline Desbordes-Valmore (1786-1859), French poet.
Antoinette du Ligier de la Garde Deshoulières (1638-1694), French poet.
Mahasweta Devi (born 1926), Bengali-Indian journalist and novelist.
Ashapoorna Devi (1909-1995), Bengali novelist and poet.
Caroline Dexter (1819-1884), English-Australian feminist journalist.
Kate DiCamillo
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), American poet. Poems
Joan Didion(born 1934), American journalist, essayist and novelist.
Annie Dillard (born 1945), American nonfiction writer, poet, essayist and novelist. Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
Isak Dinesen (1885–1962), Danish novelist. Out of Africa
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (born 1956). Indian-American poet, novelist and short story writer. The Mistress of Spices
Lady Florence Dixie (1855-1905), Scottish feminist travel writer, war correspondent and novelist.
Assia Djebar (born 1936), Algerian novelist, translator and filmmaker.
Rosemary Dobson (born 1920), Australian poet.
Mary Mapes Dodge (1831-1905), American children's writer. Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates
Berlie Doherty (born 1943), English novelist, poet, playwright, screenwriter and children's writer.
Hilde Domin (1909-2006), German poet.
Emma Donoghue (born 1969), Irish-Canadian novelist. Hood
O. Douglas, pen name of Anna Buchan (1877–1948), Scottish novelist.
Maro Douka (born 1947), Greek novelist.
Sara Douglass (Sara Warneke) (born 1957), Australian fantasy novelist. The Axis Trilogy
Rita Dove (born 1952), American poet. Thomas and Beulah
Unity Dow (born 1959), Botswana human rights activist and novelist.
Margaret Drabble (born 1939), English novelist and biographer. The Millstone
Judith Drake (late 17th century), English feminist essayist.
Annette von Droste-Hülshoff (1797-1848), German poet.
Marilyn Dumont (born 1955), First Nations Canadian poet.
Sarah Dunant (born 1950), English genre novelist. The Birth of Venus
Alice Dunbar-Nelson (1875-1935), American poet, journalist and political activist.
Lois Duncan (born 1934), American young adult thriller writer. I Know What You Did Last Summer
Elaine Dundy (1931-2008), American journalist, novelist and biographer.
Dương Thu Hương (born 1947), Vietnamese dissident and novelist. Paradise of the Blind
Mary Durack (1913-1994), Australian historical novelist and children's writer.
Claire de Duras (1777-1828), French novelist. Ourika
Marguerite Duras (Marguerite Donnadieu) (1914-1996), French novelist, playwright and screenwriter. L'Amant, Hiroshima mon amour
Guerguina Dvoretzka (born tktk), Bulgarian poet and journalist.

E

Edith Maude Eaton, a.k.a. Sui Sin Far (1865-1914), Chinese-English-Canadian novelist.
Winnifred Eaton, a.k.a. Watanna Onoto (1875-1954), Chinese-English-Canadian-American novelist and short story writer.
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916), Austrian novelist.
Leigh Eddings (1939-2007), American fantasy novelist.
Maria Edgeworth (1767-1849), English-Irish novelist. Castle Rackrent
Barbara Ehrenreich (born 1941), American feminist, socialist and political activist.
Marianne Ehrenström (1773-1867)
George Eliot (Marian Evans) (1819-1880), English novelist and poet. The Mill on the Floss, Silas Marner, Middlemarch
Elizabeth Elstob (1683 - 1756), English feminist scholar and translator.
Diamela Eltit (born 1949), Chilean novelist.
Buchi Emecheta (born 1944), Nigerian novelist. The Bride Price
Carol Emshwiller (born 1921), American novelist and short story writer.
Enchi Fumiko (Fumi Ueda) (1905-1986), Japanese playwright, novelist and short story writer.
Marian Engel (1933-1985), Canadian novelist.
Nora Ephron (born 1941), American film director, producer, screenwriter, novelist, and blogger.
Louise Erdrich (born 1954), American novelist, poet and children's writer.
Anastasia Eristavi-Khoshtaria (1868-1951), Georgian novelist.
Laura Esquivel (born 1950), Mexican novelist. Como agua para chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate)
Clarissa Pinkola Estés (born 1945), American poet.
Eleanor Estes (1906-1988), American children's writer. The Moffats, Ginger Pye
Janet Evanovich (born 1943), American novelist. Stephanie Plum series
Augusta Jane Evans (1835-1909), American novelist.
Mari Evans (born 1923), American poet, playwright and children's writer.
Matilda Jane Evans (Maud Jean Franc) (1827-1886), Australian novelist.

F

Diane Fahey (born 1945), Australian poet.
Ursula Fanthorpe (born 1929), British poet.
Nancy Farmer (born 1941), American young adult and children's novelist. The Ear, the Eye and the Arm
Margaretta Faugères (1771-1801) American Poet
Jesse Redmon Fauset (1882-1961), American poet, essayist and novelist. Plum Bun
Else Feldmann (1884-1942), Austrian playwright, poet and novelist.
Edna Ferber (1885-1968), American novelist and playwright. Show Boat
Charlene "Charlie" Fern (born 1968), American speechwriter to Laura Bush.
Fanny Fern (1811-1872), American columnist, humorist, novelist, and children's writer. Ruth Hall
Roberta Fernández
Renée Ferrer de Arréllaga (born 1944), Paraguayan poet and novelist.
Rachel Field (1894-1942), American novelist, poet, and children's writer. Hitty, Her First Hundred Years
Helen Fielding (born 1958), English novelist. Bridget Jones's Diary
Sarah Fielding (1710–1768), English novelist.
Sia Figiel (born 1967), Samoan poet and novelist.
Adelaide Filleul (1761-1836), French novelist.
Anne Finch (1661–1720), English poet.
M.F.K. Fisher (1908–1992), American food writer.
Penelope Fitzgerald (1916-2000), English novelist, poet, essayist and biographer.
Louise Fitzhugh (1928-1974), American author and illustrator of children's books. Harriet the Spy
Fannie Flagg (born 1944), American screenwriter and novelist. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
Mary Hallock Foote (1847-1938), American novelist.
Jolán Földes (1902-1963), Hungarian novelist.
Esther Forbes (1891-1967), American novelist and children's writer. Johnny Tremain
Margaret Forster (born 1938), English novelist and biographer.
Hannah Webster Foster (1758-1840), American novelist.
Karen Joy Fowler (born 1950), American novelist and short story writer.
Janet Frame (August 28, 1924 - January 29, 2004), New Zealand novelist also known for her autobiography.
Suzanne Francis (born 1959), English fantasy author.
Anne Frank (1929-1945), German diarist. The Diary of a Young Girl
Miles Franklin (1879-1954), Australian feminist writer. My Brilliant Career
Antonia Fraser (born 1932), English genre novelist and biographer. Mary, Queen of Scots, Quiet as a Nun
Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman (1852-1930), American novelist and short story writer.
Gayleen Froese (born 1972), Canadian mystery novelist and songwriter.
Eva Margareta Frölich (1650-1692)
Margaret Fuller (1810-1850), American feminist journalist.
Cornelia Funke (born 1958), German children's writer. The Thief Lord, Inkworld trilogy
Bilkisu Funtuwa, Nigerian novelist
Mary Eliza Fullerton (1868-1946), Australian feminist poet, short story writer, journalist and novelist.

G

Ekaterine Gabashvili (1851-1938), Georgian feminist novelist.
Mary Gaitskill (born 1954), American essayist, novelist and short story writer.
Zona Gale (1874-1938), American novelist and playwright.
Mavis Gallant (born 1922), Canadian-French short story-writer.
Tess Gallagher (born 1943), American poet, essayist, novelist, and playwright.
Helen Garner (born 1942), Australian novelist and journalist. The Children's Bach
Elizabeth Gaskell (1810-1865), English novelist and biographer. The Life of Charlotte Bronte, North and South
Whitney Gaskell (born 1972), American novelist.
Nathalie Gassel (born 1964), Belgian feminist writer.
Pauline Gedge (born 1945), Canadian genre novelist.
Elizabeth George (born 1949), American mystery novelist. The Inspector Lynley Mysteries
Margaret George (born 1943), American historical novelist.
Kaye Gibbons (born 1960), American novelist. Ellen Foster
Stella Gibbons (1902-1989), English novelist, journalist and short story writer. Cold Comfort Farm
Ellen Gilchrist (born February 20, 1935), American novelist, short story writer, and poet.
ElizaBeth Gilligan (born tktk), American fantasy novelist.
Charlotte Perkins Gilman (July 3, 1860 – August 17, 1935), American feminist novelist, writer of short stories, poetry, and non fiction. Herland
Nikki Giovanni(born June 7, 1943), Grammy-nominated American poet.
Diane Glancy (born 1941), American poet, novelist and playwright.
Ellen Glasgow (1873-1945), American novelist.
Susan Glaspell (1876-1948), American novelist and playwright.
Louise Glück (born 1943), American poet.
Emma Goldman (1869-1940), Lithuanian-American anarchist writer.
Allegra Goodman, American novelist.
Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda (1814-1873), Cuban novelist, playwright and poet. Sab
Allegra Goodman, American novelist.
Nadine Gordimer (born 20 November 1923), South African writer, political activist and Nobel Prize in literature laureate.
Catherine Gore (1799–1861), British novelist and dramatist.
Hiromi Goto (born 1966), Canadian novelist.
Olympe de Gouges (1748-1793), French journalist during the Revolution.
Posie Graeme-Evans (born 1952), English-Australian historical novelist and screenwriter.
Agnieszka Graff (born 1970), Polish feminist academic writer and essayist.
Françoise de Graffigny (1695-1758), French novelist and playwright.
Sue Grafton (born 1940), American mystery novelist. Kinsey Millhone series ("A" Is for Alibi etc.)
Jorie Graham (born 1950), American poet.
Anna Katharine Green (1846-1935), American mystery novelist. Marked "Personal"
Gael Greene (born tktk), American food critic.
Lady Gregory (1852-1932), Irish folklore revivalist and playwright.
Elizabeth Griffith (c. 1727 – 1793), Irish dramatist, fiction writer, essayist, and actress.
Martha Grimes (born 1931), American mystery novelist. Richard Jury series
Charlotte Forten Grimké (1837-1914), American anti-slavery activist and poet.
Angelina Weld Grimke (1880-1958), American journalist and poet.
Claudine Guérin de Tencin (1682-1749), French literary patron and novelist.
Guðrún Helgadóttir (born 1935), Icelandic children's writer.
Judith Guest (born 1936), American novelist and screenwriter. Ordinary People
Eileen Gunn (born 1945), American short story writer and editor.
Elizabeth Gunn (born tktk), American mystery novelist.

H

Jessica Hagedorn (born 1949), Filipino American poet, playwright and novelist.
Radclyffe Hall (1880–1943), English novelist.
Gisèle Halimi (born 1927), French-Tunisian feminist essayist.
Anne, Lady Halkett (1623–1699), English memoirist and religious essayist.
Marion Rose Halpenny English Equestrian Writer and author of the pioneering book British Racing and Racecourses.
Virginia Hamilton (1936–2002), American children's novelist. M. C. Higgins, the Great
Lorraine Hansberry (1930–1965), American playwright. A Raisin in the Sun
Thea von Harbou (1888–1954), Prussian-German novelist and screenwriter.
Joy Harjo (born 1951), American poet.
Frances Harper (1825–1911), American poet and novelist. Iola Leroy
Gwen Harwood (1920–1995), Australian poet and librettist.
Marlen Haushofer (1920–1970), Austrian novelist and children's author.
Eliza Haywood (1693–1756), English novelist, playwright, essayist, poet, and translator.
Shirley Hazzard (born 1931), American novelist, non-fiction and short-story writer.
Bessie Head (1937–1986), Botswanan novelist, journalist and short story writer.
Anne Hébert (1916–2000), Canadian poet and novelist. Kamouraska
Allison Hedge Coke (born 1958), American Poet and writer.
Ursula Hegi (born 1946), German American novelist.
Lillian Hellman (1905–1984), American playwright.
Felicia Hemans (1793–1835), English-Welsh poet.
Beth Henley (born 1952), American playwright and screenwriter.
Mary Sidney Herbert (1561–1621), English poet, translator, and patron.
Karen Hesse (born 1952), American children's novelist. Out of the Dust
Patricia Highsmith (1921–1995), American crime novelist and short story writer. Strangers on a Train
Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179), German mystic, playwright and poet. Scivias
S. E. Hinton (born 1948), American children's novelist. The Outsiders
Laura Z. Hobson (1900–1986), American novelist.
Nina Kiriki Hoffman (born 1955), American novelist and short story writer.
Linda Hogan (born 1947), American poet, novelist and short story writer.
Winifred Holtby (1898–1935), English novelist and journalist.
Bell Hooks (born 1952), American feminist academic.
Pauline Hopkins (1859–1930), American novelist, journalist and playwright.
Marya Hornbacher (born 1974), American author and freelance journalist.
Janette Turner Hospital (born 1942), Australian novelist and short story writer.
Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, author of Farewell to Manzanar
Ada Verdun Howell (1902–1981), Australian American poet.
Fannie Hurst (1885–1968), American novelist.
Zora Neale Hurston (1891–1960), American novelist.
Nancy Huston (born 1953), Canadian-French novelist and essayist.
Lucy Hutchinson (1620–1681), English biographer.
Elspeth Huxley (1907–1997), English-Kenyan memoirist and journalist.

I

Nilima Ibrahim (1921–2002), Bangladeshi writer (details missing).
Elizabeth Inchbald (1753–1821), English novelist, actress, and dramatist.
Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867–1957), American novelist. Little House on the Prairie
Ingibjörg Haraldsdóttir (born 1942), Icelandic poet.
Sylvia Iparraguirre (born 1947), Argentine novelist.
Molly Ivins (born 1944), American columnist.

J

Helen Hunt Jackson (1830–1885), American novelist. Ramona
Shelley Jackson (born 1963), Filipino American novelist, short story writer and essayist. Patchwork Girl (hypertext)
Shirley Jackson (1916–1965), American novelist and short story writer. "The Lottery"
Harriet Jacobs (1813–1897), American memoir writer. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
Rona Jaffe (1932–2005), American novelist. The Best of Everything
Alice James (1848–1892), American diarist.
P. D. James (born 1920), English mystery novelist. Cover Her Face
Elizabeth Janeway (1913–2005), American novelist.
Éva Janikovszky, Hungarian author of children's books.
Tama Janowitz (born 1957), American novelist, short story writer and screenwriter. Slaves of New York
Gish Jen, (born 1956 in Long Island, New York) is a contemporary American writer.
Sarah Orne Jewett (1849–1909), American novelist and short story writer.
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (born 1927), German-English-Indian-American novelist and screenwriter. Heat and Dust, A Room with a View, Howards End
Rita Joe (born 1932), Canadian poet.
Georgia Douglas Johnson (1877–1966), American poet.
Helene Johnson (1906–1995), American poet.
Pauline Johnson (1861–1913), Canadian poet.
Mary Johnston (1870–1936), American novelist.
Diana Wynne Jones (born 1934), British novelist, primarily of fantasy.
Marcie Jones (born 1973), American journalist and parenting writer.
Sandy Jones birthdate missing. American parenting writer.
Erica Jong (born 1942), American novelist. Fear of Flying
Ingrid Jonker (1933–1965), South African poet.
June Jordan (1936–2002), American poet, essayist, journalist, novelist, librettist and autobiography writer.
Heidi Julavits birthdate missing. American journalist and novelist.
Julian of Norwich (1342–1416), English mystic.
Miranda July (born 1974), American writer and performance artist.

K

Helen Keller (1880–1968), American lecturer, essayist, and autobiography writer. Light in my Darkness
Margery Kempe (c. 1373 – 1438), English autobiography writer.
Irmgard Keun (1905–1982), German novelist.
Sue Monk Kidd (born 1948), American writer. The Secret Life of Bees
Anne Killigrew (1660–1685), English poet.
Ronyoung Kim (March 28, 1926 – February 1987)
Jamaica Kincaid (born 1949), Antiguan American novelist. Annie John
Grace King (1852–1932), American short story writer and historian.
Tabitha King (born 1949), American novelist.
Barbara Kingsolver (born 1955), American novelist, poet, short story writer and essayist.
Maxine Hong Kingston (born 1940), Chinese American novelist and academic.
Carolyn Kizer (born 1925), American poet.
Maria Konopnicka (1842-1910)Polish novelist, poet, translator and essayst
Lina Kostenko (born 1930), Ukrainian poet.
Elizabeth Kostova (born 1964), American novelist. The Historian
Hanna Krall (born 1937) Polish writer, novelist, journalist
Julia Kristeva (born 1941), Bulgarian-French critic, philosopher and novelist.
Uma Krishnaswami (born 1956) Children's writer.
Kristín Marja Baldursdóttir (born 1949), Icelandic novelist.
Agota Kristof (born 1935), Hungarian-Swiss novelist.
Maxine Kumin (born 1925), American poet and children's novelist.

L

Mercedes Lackey (born 1950), American fantasy novelist.
Madame de La Fayette (1634–1693), French novelist. La Princesse de Clèves
Selma Lagerlöf (1858–1940), Swedish novelist and children's novelist, and 1909 Nobel Prize in Literature-winner.
Sinikka Laine (born 1945), Finnish writer of young adult literature.
Jhumpa Lahiri (born 1967), Bengali American short story writer and novelist. The Namesake
Laila Lalami (born 1968), Moroccan American journalist, essayist and novelist. Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits
Lalleshvari (1320–1392), Kashmiri poet.
Alice Elinor Lambert (1886–1981), American romance novelist.
Anne Lamott (born 10 April 1954, in San Francisco) a political activist, progressive and author of several novels and works of non-fiction.
Leena Lander (born 1955), Finnish novelist
Margaret Landon (1903–1993), American novelist. Anna and the King of Siam
Jane Lane historical novelist and biographer.
Eve Langley (1908–1974), Australian novelist.
Aemilia Lanyer (1569–1645), English poet.
Alda Lara (1930–1962), Angolan poet.
Claudia Lars (1899–1974), Salvadoran (?) poet.
Nella Larsen (1891–1964), American novelist and short story writer.
Margaret Laurence (1926–1987), Canadian novelist and short story writer. The Stone Angel
Mary Lavin (1912–1996), Irish novelist and short story writer.
Emma Lazarus (1849–1887), Portuguese American poet. "The New Colossus"
Jane Leade (1624–1704), English mystic.
Louisa Leaman (born 1976), Education writer.
Violette Leduc (1907–1972), French novelist.
Ursula K. Le Guin (born 1929), American science fiction novelist, children's novelist, poet and essayist. Earthsea, Ekumen
Harper Lee (born 1926), American novelist. To Kill a Mockingbird
Harriet Lee (1757–1851), English novelist and playwright.
Muna Lee (1895–1965), American poet and translator.
Sophia Lee (1750–1824), English playwright and novelist.
Tanith Lee (born 1947), British novelist, poet, and screenwriter.
Joy Leftow birthdate missing. American poet.
Tuija Lehtinen (born 1954), Finnish children's writer and novelist.
Leena Lehtolainen (born 1964), Finnish crime writer.
Madeleine L'Engle (born 1918), American novelist and children's novelist. A Wrinkle in Time
Sue Lenier (born 1957), English poet and playwright.
Charlotte Lennox (1720–1804), English novelist, poet, and dramatist.
Donna Leon (born 1942), American-Italian mystery novelist.
Ellen Lenneck (1851–1880), Pseudonym for Helene Weichardt. German author of novels and novellas.
Doris Lessing (born 1919), English-Zimbabwean novelist. Canopus in Argos
Meridel Le Sueur (1900–1996), American journalist and novelist.
Denise Levertov (1923–1997), English American poet and essayist.
Janet Lewis (1899–1998), American novelist.
Li Qingzhao (1084–1151), Chinese poet.
Rosa Liksom (born 1958), Finnish short story writer, novelist and children's writer.
Suzanne Lilar (1901–1992), Belgian playwright, essayist and novelist.
Astrid Lindgren (1907–2002), Swedish children's novelist. Pippi Longstocking
Elizabeth Linington (1921–1988), American mystery novelist.
Kelly Link (born 1969), American short story writer and editor.
Clarice Lispector (1920–1977), Brazilian novelist. A Paixão segundo G.H.
Dorothy Livesay (1909–1996), Canadian poet.
Anita Loos (1888–1981), American screenwriter, playwright and novelist. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (book)
Josefina Lopez (born 1969), Chicana playwright,screenwriter and novelist Real Women Have Curves
Audre Lorde (1934–1992), American poet
Emilie Loring (1864–1951), American romance novelist.
Isabel Losada
Amy Lowell (1874–1925), American poet.
Lois Lowry (born 1937), American children's novelist. Number the Stars, The Giver
Mina Loy (1882–1966), English poet and artist.
Dulce María Loynaz (1902–1997), Cuban poet and novelist.
Clare Booth Luce (1903–1987), American editor, playwright and journalist.
Jane Lumley (1537–1578), English translator.
Ulla-Lena Lundberg (born 1947)
Alison Lurie (born 1926), American novelist and academic. Foreign Affairs

M

Gwendolyn MacEwen (1941–1987), Canadian novelist and poet.
Patricia MacLachlan birthdate missing. American children's novelist. Sarah, Plain and Tall
Mary MacLane (1881-1929), controversial Canadian-American writer.
Charlotte MacLeod (1922–2005), Canadian/American novelist and mystery writer.
Rosie Malek-Yonan birthdate missing. Assyrian novelist, actor and filmmaker.
Gitta Mallasz, Hungarian author of esoteric dialogues.
Françoise Mallet-Joris (born 1930), Belgian-French novelist and essayist.
Nathalie Mallet Canadian science fiction, fantasy writer.
Delarivier Manley (c. 1670 – 1724), British novelist, playwright, and political pamphleteer.
Eeva-Liisa Manner (1921 – 1995), Finnish poet, playwright and translator.
Katherine Mansfield (1888–1923), New Zealand-English short story writer.
Lee Maracle (born 1950), Canadian poet, novelist and storyteller.
Marguerite de Navarre (1492–1549), French poet, playwright and short story writer. Heptameron
Marie de France (12th century), French-English poet. The Lais of Marie de France
Ngaio Marsh (1895–1982), New Zealand mystery writer. Roderick Alleyn
Paule Marshall (born 1929), American novelist.
Bobbie Ann Mason (born 1940), English novelist, short story writer, essayist, and critic.
Daphne du Maurier (1907–1989), English novelist and short story writer. Rebecca
DeBarra Mayo (born 1953), American bodybuilder and fitness writer.
Eleanor Mayo (1920–1981), American novelist.
Bunny McBride (born 1950), American writer, journalist, and anthropologist
Anne McCaffrey (born 1926), American science fiction novelist. Dragonriders of Pern
Mary McCarthy (author) (1912–1989), American novelist, critic and memoir writer.
Sharyn McCrumb (born 1948), American novelist and short story writer.
Carson McCullers (1917–1967), American novelist. The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter
Patricia A. McKillip (born 1948), American sci-fi and fantasy writer.
Emma McLaughlin American novelist.
Terry McMillan (born 1951), American novelist. Waiting to Exhale
Kat Meads
Fatema Mernissi (born 1940), Moroccan feminist academic.
Grace Metalious (1924–1964), American novelist. Peyton Place
Stephenie Meyer (born 1973), American Novelist of The Host and Twilight Saga
Alice Meynell (1847–1922), English feminist essayist, critic and poet.
Charlotte Mew (1869–1928), English poet. The Farmer's Bride
Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892–1950), American poet.
Caroline Miller (1903–1992), American novelist.
Grażyna Miller (born 1957), Polish poet, writer, translator.
Anchee Min (born 1957), Chinese American novelist and memoir writer. Red Azalea
Mirabai (1498–1547), Rajasthani mystical poet.
Gabriela Mistral (1889–1957), Chilean poet and 1945 Nobel Prize in Literature-winner. Sonetos de la Muerte
Gladys Mitchell (1901–1983), English mystery novelist.
Margaret Mitchell (1900–1949), American journalist and novelist. Gone with the Wind
Naomi Mitchison (1897–1999), Scottish novelist and poet.
Mary Russell Mitford (1787–1855), English novelist and dramatist.
Nancy Mitford (1904–1973), English novelist, biographer and letterwriter.
Minae Mizumura, Japanese novelist, critic, essayist. Educated in the US.
Szilvia Molnar (born 1984), Swedish poet and writer of short prose
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762), English poet, essayist, diarist, and letter-writer.
Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874–1942), Canadian novelist, short story writer and poet. Anne of Green Gables
Susanna Moodie (1803–1885), Canadian diarist, novelist, children's novelist and poet.
Anne Moody (born 1940), American autobiographer. Coming of Age in Mississippi
Lorrie Moore (born 1957), American short story writer.
Marianne Moore (1887–1972), American poet.
Ruth Moore (1903–1989), American novelist, poet and short story writer.
Ann Moray (1909-1981), Irish-American novelist and singer.
Hannah More (1745–1833), English moralist, poet, and playwright.
Jan Morris (born 1926), Welsh historian and travel writer.
Toni Morrison (born 1931), American novelist, children's novelist and 1993 Nobel Prize in Literature-winner. Beloved
Penelope Mortimer (1918–1999), Welsh-English novelist.
Thylias Moss (born 1954), American poet, children's novelist and playwright.
Julia Moulden (born 1956), Canadian non-fiction writer and speechwriter.
Bharati Mukherjee (born 1940), Indian American novelist and short story writer. Jasmine
Alice Munro (born 1931), Canadian short story writer. Dance of the Happy Shades
Murasaki Shikibu (c. 973 – 1014 or 1025), Japanese novelist and poet. The Tale of Genji
Iris Murdoch (1919–1999), Irish-English novelist and philosopher. The Sea, the Sea
Mary Noailles Murfree (1850–1922), American novelist and short story writer.
Rosario Murillo (born 1951), Nicaraguan poet.
C. E. Murphy
Margaret Murphy British crime novelist, author of The Dispossessed and Now You See Me.
Inga Muscio Cunt
Małgorzata Musierowicz (born 1945), Polish writer, author of many stories and novels for children and teenagers.
Beverle Graves Myers (born 1951), American mystery novelist and short story writer.

N

Bahiyyih Nakhjavani birthdate missing. Persian novelist.
Taslima Nasrin (born 1962), Bengali doctor, novelist and poet and essayist. Lajja
Gloria Naylor (born 1950), American novelist. The Women of Brewster Place
Irène Némirovsky (1903–1942), Ukrainian-French novelist.
E. Nesbit (1858–1924), English children's novelist and short story writer. Five Children and It
Aimee Nezhukumatathil (born 1974), Asian American poet and essayist.
Audrey Niffenegger (born 1963), American novelist and artist.
Florence Nightingale (1820–1910), English (?) nurse, statistician and feminist.
Anaïs Nin (1903–1977), French eroticist, critic and diarist. Henry and June
Anne de Noailles (1876–1933), Romanian-French novelist and poet.
Kathleen Norris (1880–1966), American novelist.
Amélie Nothomb (born 1967), Belgian novelist.
Mary Novik (born 1945), Canadian novelist.

O

Ann Oakley (born 1944), English (?) feminist academic and novelist.
Joyce Carol Oates (born 1938), American novelist, short story writer, poet, playwright and critic. We Were the Mulvaneys
Edna O'Brien (born 1930), Irish novelist and short story writer.
Kate O'Brien (1897–1974), Irish novelist and playwright.
Silvina Ocampo (1903–1994), Argentine poet and short story writer.
Flannery O'Connor (1925–1964), American novelist and short story writer.
Grace Ogot (born 1930), Kenyan novelist and short story writer.
Sofi Oksanen (born 1977), Finnish novelist and playwright.
Sharon Olds (born 1942), American poet.
Tillie Olsen (1913–2007), American feminist novelist and short story writer.
Ono no Komachi (825–900), Japanese poet.
Baroness Orczy (1865–1947), Hungarian-English translator, illustrator and novelist. The Scarlet Pimpernel
Eliza Orzeszkowa (1841-1910) Polish writer
Ōtagaki Rengetsu (1791–1875), Japanese poet and calligrapher.
Cynthia Ozick (born 1928), American critic and novelist.

P

Karen A. Page birthdate missing. American (?) food writer.
Camille Paglia (born 1947), American feminist essayist. Sexual Personae
Charlotte Painter (born 1926), American novelist and writer based in California
Grace Paley (1922–2007), American short story writer, poet and activist.
Kirsti Paltto (born 1947), Sámi playwright, short story and children's literature writer.
Emmeline Pankhurst (1858–1928), English feminist activist, speaker and autobiography writer.
Emilia Pardo Bazán (1851–1921), Spanish essayist and novelist.
Sara Paretsky (born 1947), American mystery novelist.
Dorothy Parker (1893–1967), American poet, critic and short story writer.
Suzan-Lori Parks (born 1964), American playwright and screenwriter.
Catherine Parr (born 1512), Queen of England from 1543-1547, spouse of King Henry VIII.
Anne Parrish (1888–1957), American children's novelist.
Sarah Willis Parton (1811–1872), American novelist, columnist and children's short story writer.
Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska (1891-1945) Polish poet
Marlys Pearson (born 1963), American gay romance writer and Lambda Award nominee. Also known as M.J. Pearson.
Elizabeth Peters (born 1927), American mystery novelist. Amelia Peabody
Ellis Peters (1913–1995), Welsh-English mystery novelist, novelist, short story writer and translator. Brother Cadfael
Julia Peterkin (1880–1961), American short story writer and novelist.
Ann Petry (1908–1997), American journalist, short story writer and novelist.
Katherine Philips (1631–1664), British poet.
Karoline Pichler (1769–1843), Austrian novelist. Agathocles
Meredith Ann Pierce (born 1958), American fantasy writer.
Tamora Pierce (born 1954), American children's novelist. Alanna of Trebond
Ruth Pitter (1897–1992), English (?) poet.
Mary Pix (1666–1709), English novelist and playwright.
Christine de Pizan (1364–1430), Venetian feminist poet and rhetorician. The Book of the City of Ladies
Sylvia Plath (1932–1963), Emrican poet, novelist, short story writer and essayist.
Ann Plato (born c. 1820, date of death unknown), American essayist.
Karen Platt birthdate missing. English gardening writer.
Anne Plumptre (1760–1818), English translator and fiction, travel, and political writer.
Elizabeth Polack (fl. 1830–1838), Anglo-Jewish playwright.
Elizabeth Polwheele (1651 – c. 1691), British playwright.
Elena Poniatowska (born 1932), Polish-Mexican journalist, novelist and short story writer.
Halina Poświatowska (1935-1967), Polish poet.
Marie Ponsot (born 1921), American poet and essayist.
Eleanor H. Porter (1868–1920), American children's writer. Pollyanna
Jane Porter (1776–1850), English historical novelist.
Katherine Anne Porter (1890–1980), American journalist, essayist, short story writer and novelist.
Beatrix Potter (1866–1943), English children's writer and illustrator. The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Emily Post (1873–1960), American journalist and novelist. Etiquette
Dawn Powell (1896–1965), American novelist, playwright and short story writer.
Mary Previte, (1932-) author of Hungry Ghosts, served in the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 6th legislative district from 1998 to 2006.
Katharine Susannah Prichard (1883–1969), Australian novelist, playwright and short story writer.
E. Annie Proulx (born 1935), American novelist, short story writer and journalist. The Shipping News
Barbara Pym (1913–1980), English novelist. Quartet in Autumn

R

Ann Radcliffe (1764–1823), English gothic novelist. The Mysteries of Udolpho
Rajashree, Indian chick lit novelist, Trust Me (novel)
Ayn Rand (1905–1982), Russian American novelist and philosopher. The Fountainhead; Atlas Shrugged
Mary Randolph (1762-1828), American housekeeping book and cookbook author. The Virginia House-Wife.
Jennifer Rankin (1941–1979), Australian poet and playwright.
Ellen Raskin (1928–1984), American children's writer and illustrator. The Westing Game
Elsa Rautee, Finnish poet.
Pauline Réage (1907–1998), French erotic novelist. Story of O
Jaclyn Reding (born 1966), American historical romance novelist.
Ruth Reichl (born 1948), American food and memoir writer.
Mirkka Rekola (born 1931), Finnish poet.
Mary Renault (1905–1983), English historical novelist. Fire From Heaven, The Last of the Wine
Ruth Rendell (born 1930), English mystery novelist. A Fatal Inversion
Jean Rhys (1890–1979), Dominican novelist. Wide Sargasso Sea
Marie Jeanne Riccoboni (1714–1792), French novelist.
Anne Rice (born 1941), American novelist. Vampire Chronicles
Adrienne Rich (born 1929), American feminist poet.
Dorothy Richardson (1873–1957), English stream-of-consciousness novelist, poet, essayist and short story writer.
Henry Handel Richardson (1870–1946), Australian novelist. The Fortunes of Richard Mahony
Alifa Rifaat (1930–1996), Egyptian short story writer.
Nora Roberts (born 1959), American novelist - romance, fantasy. Writes the In Death series under the pen name of J.D. Robb.
Mary Roberts Rinehart (1876–1958), American mystery novelist, playwright, short story writer and poet. "The butler did it"
Marilynne Robinson (born 1943), American novelist. Gilead
Mary Robinson (1757–1800), English poet, novelist, and actress.
Lucia St. Clair Robson birthdate missing. American novelist.
Esther Rochon (born 1948), Canadian science fiction novelist.
Ginny Rorby. American young adult novelist.
Christina Rossetti (1830–1894), English poet. Goblin Market and Other Poems
Judith Rossner (1935–2005), American novelist. Looking for Mr. Goodbar
Mary Rowlandson (1635–1711), American memoir writer.
J.K. Rowling (born 1965), English novelist. Harry Potter series.
Arundhati Roy (born 1961), Indian novelist. The God of Small Things
Gabrielle Roy (1909–1983), Canadian novelist and journalist. The Tin Flute
Bernice Rubens (1928–2004), Welsh novelist.
Anneli Rufus, American journalist.
Muriel Rukeyser (1913–1980), American feminist poet.
Joanna Russ (born 1937), American novelist, essayist, and short story writer.
Gig Ryan (born 1956), Australian poet.
Marah Ellis Ryan (1860-1934), American novelist specializing in western frontier and European-American Indian relationships.

S

Sarojini Sahoo (born 1956), Indian feminist writer, novelist and short story writer.
Nawal el-Saadawi (born 1931), Egyptian feminist writer, novelist, and short story writer.
Françoise Sagan (1935–2004), French playwright, novelist, and screenwriter.
Pirkko Saisio (born 1949)
Lydie Salvayre
Jessica Amanda Salmonson (born 1950), American novelist, essayist, editor, and short story writer.
George Sand (1804–1876), French novelist and playwright.
Sonia Sanchez (born 1934), American poet, playwright, and children's writer.
Mari Sandoz (1896–1966), American novelist, biographer, and short story writer.
Sappho (c. 630 – 570 BC), Greek poet.
Dipti Saravanamuttu (born 1960), Sri Lankan-Australian poet and journalist.
Nathalie Sarraute (1900–1999), Russian-French novelist and essayist.
May Sarton (1912–1995), Belgian American poet, novelist, and memoirist.
Marjane Satrapi (born 1969), Iranian graphic novelist.
Dorothy L. Sayers (1893–1957), English mystery novelist, translator, essayist, and short story writer. Whose Body?
Jane Johnston Schoolcraft (1800-1842), Early American Indian writer of poetry and fiction
Olive Schreiner (1855–1920), South African novelist, allegorist, and political writer.
Cathy Scott (born 1949), True crime author and biographer.
Jane Scott (c. 1779 – 1839), English theatre manager, performer, and playwright.
Madeleine de Scudéry (1607–1701), French novelist.
Molly Elliot Seawell (1860–1916), American essayist, novelist, and short story writer.
Alice Sebold (born 1963), American novelist. The Lovely Bones
Catharine Sedgwick (1789–1867), American novelist.
Lisa See (born 1955), Chinese-American novelist. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Comtesse de Ségur (1799–1874), Russian-French novelist.
Diane Setterfield English author. The Thirteenth Tale
Frances Sheridan (1724–1766), Irish novelist and playwright.
Sharon Shinn (born 1957), American novelist.
Sei Shōnagon (965–1010), Japanese writer. The Pillow Book
Danzy Senna (born 1970), American novelist.
Anne Sexton (1928–1974), American poet.
Ntozake Shange (born 1948), American playwright and novelist.
Alice Sheldon (1915-1987), American novelist and short story writer.
Mary Shelley (1797–1851), English novelist. Frankenstein
Carol Shields (1935–2003), American-Canadian novelist. The Stone Diaries
Murasaki Shikibu (973-1025), Japanese novelist and poet. Considered the writer of the first true novel. The Tale of Genji
Shikishi Naishinnō (died 1201), Japanese poet.
Aki Shimazaki
Bapsi Sidhwa (born 1938), Pakistani novelist.
Mary Sidney (1561–1621), English translator, playwright, and poet.
Leslie Marmon Silko (born 1948), American novelist, poet, and short story writer.
Ruth Simpson Lesbian author, founder of first Lesbian community center
Jo Sinclair (1913-1995), pen name of Ruth Seid, Jewish-American writer.
May Sinclair (1862–1946), English novelist, poet, and short story writer.
Johanna Sinisalo (born 1958), Finnish science fiction and fantasy writer
Edith Sitwell (1887–1964), English poet.
Maj Sjöwall (born 1935), Swedish mystery novelist.
Vendela Skytte (1608-1627), Swedish writer
Jane Smiley (born 1949), American novelist.
Ali Smith (born 1962), Scottish novelist.
Amanda Smith (1837–1915), American evangelist and autobiographer.
Betty Smith (1896–1972), American novelist. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Charlotte Turner Smith (1749–1806), English poet and novelist.
Dodie Smith (1896–1990), English novelist and playwright. I Capture the Castle
Stevie Smith (1902–1971), English poet and novelist.
Zadie Smith (born 1975), English novelist.
Edith Södergran (1892–1923), Finland-Swedish poet
Cathy Song (born 1955)
Susan Sontag (1933–2004), American essayist and novelist.
Muriel Spark (1918–2006), Scottish novelist. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
Terry Spear, American urban fantasy romance and medieval romance novelist.
Anne Spencer (1882–1975), American poet.
Harriet Elizabeth Prescott Spofford (1835–1921), American mystery novelist , poet, and short story writer.
Johanna Spyri (1827–1901), Swiss children's writer. Heidi
Madame de Staël (1766–1817), Swiss-French novelist.
Jean Stafford (1915–1979), American novelist and short story writer.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815–1902), American feminist journalist and essayist.
Freya Stark (1893–1993), British travel writer.
Christina Stead (1902–1983), Australian novelist and short story writer.
Danielle Steel (born 1947), American romance novelist.
Gertrude Stein (1874–1946), American novelist, playwright, poet, librettist, and short story writer.
Joanne Stepaniak Author of several vegan cookbooks and books on veganism
Maria W. Stewart (1803–1897), American feminist lecturer.
Mary Stewart (born 1916), English mystery/romance novelist.
Ruth Stone (born 1915), American poet.
Alfonsina Storni (1892–1938), Argentinian poet.
Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–1836), American novelist. Uncle Tom's Cabin
Jan Struther (1901–1953), English hymn writer and novelist. Mrs. Miniver
Lady Louisa Stuart (1757-1851), English writer of memoirs and letters
Svava Jakobsdóttir (1930–2004), Icelandic playwright and short story writer.
Anni Swan (1875–1958), Finnish author of children's books, journalist and translator.
May Swenson (1913–1989), American poet and playwright.
Magda Szabó (born 1917), Hungarian novelist, poet, playwright. The Door
Mária Szepes, Hungarian author of esoteric and science fiction novels.
Wisława Szymborska, Polish poet

T

Amy Tan (born 1952), American novelist. The Joy Luck Club
Sooni Taraporevala (born 1957), Indian screenwriter and photographer.
Cheryl Kaye Tardif (born 1963), Canadian suspense novelist. Whale Song (novel)
Judith Tarr
Donna Tartt (born 1963), American novelist.
Susie Taylor (1848–1912), American teacher and memoir-writer.
Olena Teliha (1906–1942), Ukrainian poet.
Teresa of Ávila (1515–1582), Spanish nun, monastic reformer, and mystic.
Josephine Tey (1896–1952), Scottish mystery novelist.
thalia (born 1952), Greek-Australian poet.
Elizabeth Thomas (1770/71–1855), English Gothic novelist and religious poet.
Olga Tokarczuk (born 1962), Polish writer.
Tatyana Tolstaya (born 1951), Russian TV presenter, novelist, and essayist.
Fatma Aliye Topuz (1862-1936), First Turkish and Muslim novelist.
Torfhildur Þorsteinsdóttir (1845–1918), Icelandic novelist and short story writer.
Joanna Trollope (born 1943), English novelist.
Catherine Trotter (1679–1749), Scots-English novelist, playwright, philosopher, and letterwriter.
Sojourner Truth (1797–1883), American feminist.
Marina Tsvetaeva (1892–1941), Russian poet.
Megan Whalen Turner (born 1965), American fantasy writer.
Anne Tyler (born 1941), American novelist.

U

Jenny Uglow, British biographer.
Lesya Ukrainka (1871–1913), Ukrainian poet.
Sigrid Undset (1882–1949), Norwegian novelist and 1928 Nobel Prize in Literature-winner.
Jane Urquhart (born 1949), Canadian novelist and poet.
Kaari Utrio (born 1942), Finnish novelist.

V

Celestine Vaite (born 1966), Tahitian novelist.
Katri Vala (1901–1944), Finnish poet
Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez (born 1969), American novelist, journalist and screenwriter.
Luisa Valenzuela (born 1938), Argentinian novelist and short story writer.
Jennifer Vanasco (born 1971), American columnist and journalist
Lin Van Hek (1944), Australian novelist
Yvonne Vera (1964–2005), Zimbabwean novelist.
Monica Vikström-Jokela (born 1960)
Maruxa Vilalta (born 1932), Mexican playwright.
Marie-Catherine de Villedieu (1640–1683), French playwright, novelist, and short story writer.
Louise Leveque de Vilmorin (1902–1969), French novelist, poet, and journalist.
Élisabeth Vonarburg (born 1947), French science fiction novelist.
Jurgen Vsych (born 1966), American director and screenwriter.

W

Elizabeth Wagele (born 1939), American author and cartoonist
Diane Wakoski (born 1937), American poet.
Alice Walker (born 1944), American novelist, short story writer, and poet. The Color Purple.
Margaret Walker (1915–1998), American poet and novelist.
Ania Walwicz (born 1951), Australian poet.
Gertrude Chandler Warner (1890–1979), American children's writer.
Susan Warner (1819–1885), American children's writer and songwriter.
Wendy Wasserstein (1950–2006), American playwright.
Sarah Waters (born 1966), English novelist.
Catherine Webb (born 1986), British novelist.
Simone Weil (1909–1943), French mystic and philosopher.
Hannah Weiner (1928–1997), American poet.
Martha Wells (born 1964), American novelist.
Eudora Welty (1909–2001), American novelist, short story writer, and photographer.
Dorothy West (1907–1998), American novelist and short story writer.
Jane West (1758–1852), English novelist, poet, playwright, and tract-writer.
Rebecca West (1892–1983), British novelist, essayist, and journalist.
Edith Wharton (1862–1937), American novelist and short story writer. The Age of Innocence
Leslie What (born 1955), American novelist and short story writer.
Phillis Wheatley (1753–1784), American poet.
Evelyn Whitaker (1857–1903), British novelist.
Antonia White (1899–1980), English novelist and short story writer.
Ellen White (1827–1915), American evangelist and mystic.
Isabella Whitney (born c. 1540), English poet.
Phyllis A. Whitney (born 1903), American mystery novelist.
Anna Wickham (1884–1947), British Poet.
Charlotte Wilder (1898–1980), American poet.
Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867–1957), American children's writer. Little House on the Prairie
Helen Maria Williams (1762–1827), English novelist and poet.
Amrit Kaur Willis (born 1953), American ??
Connie Willis (born 1945), Indian Creative writer- poetry, short story writer.
Kate Wilhelm (born 1928), American novelist and short story writer.
Jacqueline Wilson (born 1945), English author, whom writes fiction for mostly children.
Harriet E. Wilson (1825–1900), American novelist.
Jane Wiseman (c. 1682 – 1717), English poet and playwright.
Sarah Winnemucca (1841–1891), American lecturer and autobiographer.
Jeanette Winterson (born 1959), English novelist.
Monique Wittig (born 1935), French feminist.
Mary Wollstonecraft (1759–1797), English novelist and feminist. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
Jade Snow Wong
Nellie Wong (born 1934), Chinese American feminist poet. Dreams in Harrison Railroad Park, and The Death of Long Steam Lady
Virginia Woolf (1882–1941), English novelist and essayist. Mrs. Dalloway, To the Lighthouse
Constance Fenimore Woolson (1840–1894), American novelist and short story writer.
Dorothy Wordsworth (1771–1855), English poet and diarist.
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762), English letter-writer.
Judith Wright (born 1915), Australian poet.
Mary Tappan Wright (1851-1917), American novelist and short story writer.
Mary Wroth (1587–1652), English poet.
Elinor Wylie (1885–1928), American poet and novelist.

X

Xiao Hong (1911–1942), Chinese novelist and short story writer.

Y

Hisaye Yamamoto (born 1921), Japanese American short-story writer.
Wakako Yamauchi (1924- ) author
Ann Yearsley (1753–1806), English poet, novelist, and playwright.
Anzia Yezierska (1883–1970), Polish American novelist and short-story writer.
Banana Yoshimoto (born 1964), Japanese novelist.
Marguerite Yourcenar (1903–1987), French novelist.
Yosano Akiko (1878–1942), Japanese poet.

Z

María de Zayas y Sotomayor (born 1590, date of death unknown), Spanish novelist.
Zitkala-Sa (1876–1938), American writer.
Unica Zürn (1916–1970), German poet and painter.
Fay Zwicky (born 1933), Australian poet and academic.
Gabriela Zapolska(1860-1921), Polish novelist, playwright, naturalist writer.
Narcyza Żmichowska (1818-1876), Polish novelist and poet.


See also

Feminist literary criticism
Feminist science fiction
Feminist theory
Gender in science fiction
List of biographical dictionaries of female writers
List of early-modern women playwrights (UK)
List of early-modern women poets (UK)
List of female detective/mystery writers
List of female poets
List of feminist literature
List of women in Bloomsbury Guide to Women's Literature
List of female rhetoricians
List of writers in Who's Who in Contemporary Women's Writing
Norton Anthology of Literature by Women
Women in science fiction
Women science fiction authors
Women Writers Project
Women's writing in English
Sophie (digital lib)
[edit]External links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_women_writers

By the way, I expect a response . No slinking off in shame .

GB

PS: I found an excellent post at another forum regarding this issue:

If I may be as bold as to stick my nose in...

GB, I have two visions now!

One is of you in shiny armor on a white robotic horse (possibly of your own invention) riding into a darkly dank castle to save a fair maiden from a Paternalistic Blackguard planning to deflower her.

The other vision I have is of a Strong Willed Woman (possibly with hairy armpits and unshaved legs - and there's nothing wrong with that!) riding a white robotic horse (possibly of her own invention) into a cruelly indifferent modern city to save you from a Paternalistic Blackguard planning to deflower you.

My question to you is:

Have I discovered Dualism?

Make her a stunningly beautiful Warrior Elf Maiden (with shaved armpits and legs....wait, Elves AREN'T hairy, so no hairy parts or stubble), who is the picture of innocence, yet with the Wisdom of an Immortal, and the Power of a Goddess, and it would most likely be Vision Number 2 .

(Hey, I may be a Chivalrous Modern Progressive (there's a duality for you ), but I still have Old Fashioned ideals of Beauty (is that dual-dualism ?)).

GB

Tea Club Feminism or Fair Dinkum Feminism, GB? For me it's hairy arm pits or shaved. We Australians like things straight, awright! Easy to unnerstan, awright!

Now, there's three kinda women down ear: (1) Gorgeous chickee babes in dresses, skirts and mini-skirts, with nice girly personalities, (2) Ugly chickee babes without pesonalities (to speak of), and (3) Feminist Lesbian Leftee Trousered Tattoed chickee babes.... Nah! That's two kinds iddennit...?

Goodness, I didn't know you had such a limited range Down Under . Here in California, one can find more than a few ladies matching my description. I'm just not worthy enough to attract their attention .

(Maybe I should get out more ...Nah...too much effort ).

GB

It's amazing how many women like wealthy men. Apparently wealthy men have a natural gorgeousness. I suggest two means by which you may gain poisitive female attention.

(1) Become extremely wealthy and drive a Ferrari, or similar eye-attracting vehicle. Make sure you've got your apartment in New York organized. Wear gold chains and other expensive jewellery.

(2) If like me you have less means at hand: save up and seek a house with a red light out the front. This is obviously a temporary solution, but one that nonetheless offers some certainty and, depending on how much you've saved, the chance of enjoying some high quality entertainment, however brief. (If this is the route you take, please PM me ASAP, for I have an Academic Interest in this kind of thing).

NB I trust that this being a Feminist Thread, and somewhat highbrow, only Adults visit here!