Thank you for this. I really appreciate it. I'd like to give a leg-up to younger writers when possible, because it's passing on the kindness and generosity shown to me by people like Tanith Lee, Patricia Morrison, Esther Friesner, Susan Shwartz, Gwyneth Jones - established writers who, when I was starting out, went out of their way to be supportive (who still do). Liz and Deirdre, aforementioned, Liz Holliday - I could name swathes of women, including my contemporaries like Tricia Sullivan and Karen Traviss - who had internalised the message that we are all in it together and we need to support one another.

In fact, supportive women of whatever age, are the majority. I've got a handle on who the vocal minority are, and I'll either confront or avoid, depending on context. It's a shame, but I saw their ilk in mid 80s feminism and they ended up burning out on their own toxicity. The culture is not an excuse: if they read their history, as a lot of us did, they'd be able to take that on board but I think there are a number of them that enjoy their own unpleasantness too much.

But if we can help you and the other up and coming writers, we will.