anyone know any famous women creative writers who had serious day jobs, a la William Carlos Williams was a doctor, Wallace Stevens sold insurance...?
C. R. replied:
P.D. James was a hospital administrator and worked in the criminal division of the Home Office.
C. R. replied:
Penelope Fitzgerald worked in a bookshop and novelized about it.
C. R. replied:
Josephine Tey was a trained physical culture instructor.
C. R. replied:
Jane Smiley was a professor of English with Ph.D.
Melissa A. replied:
Ann Patchett owns a bookstore.
Mary C. replied:
J.K Rowling worked for Amnesty International
Kathleen T. replied:
Eloisa James is the pen name of Mary Bly (born 1962). She is a tenured associate professor of English Literature at Fordham University who also writes best-selling Regency romance novels under her pen name.
Ingrid W. replied:
Willa Schneberg is a psychotherapist (as are several others whose names don't spring to mind) But famous? Depends on what that means.
Ilana B. replied:
Fay Weldon was an advertising copywriter, Isabelle Allende worked at the UN,
Katherine M. replied:
Does autobiography count? Jill Ker Conway, former president of Smith College, was former president of Smith College.
C. R. replied:
Eudora Welty. "Why I work at the W.P.A."
C. R. replied:
Dorothy L. Sayers was quite successful in advertising.