Gill Paul- Scandalous Women (Podcast)

Gill Paul discusses Scandalous Women, the 1960s publishing world, and the iconic female authors who redefined storytelling in this backlist feature.

Let’s get some literary hinges to our reading lives in this backlist feature. This week’s Book Gang conversation brings us together with international bestselling author Gill Paul to talk about Scandalous Women. Paul transports readers into the electric, high-stakes world of 1960s publishing, where two women didn’t just write bestselling books—they changed what women were allowed to write about at all.

If you’ve ever wondered what really happens behind the scenes of the books we love (the deals, the risks, the moments that quietly reshape an entire industry), this conversation is such a treat with a true insider.

In this fascinating conversation, we discuss:

From editor to international bestselling author: Gill reflects on her journey from working inside publishing to becoming a globally recognized novelist, sharing what she understands now about the industry that many writers and readers often misunderstand.
The “two Jackies” who changed publishing forever: We dive into the lives of Jacqueline Susann and Jackie Collins—their controversial novels, massive commercial success, and the backlash they faced for writing openly about female ambition and desire.
Recreating the 1960s publishing world from the inside out: Through research and the lens of a fictional editorial assistant, Gill brings to life the high-stakes, male-dominated publishing landscape where readers get an inside look at how the publishing industry worked in the 1960s.

Fascinating Books About Authors and Publishing from MomAdvice.com

Don’t miss this week’s companion list featuring 43 Fascinating Books About Authors and Publishing to celebrate Scandalous Women. I am including my all-time favorites and a few new releases I can’t wait to read. Patrons will receive weekly printable checklists for their next library visit!

Scandalous Women Book Summary

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY BESTSELLING AUTHOR FREIDA MCFADDEN: “[A] must-read… equal parts heartwarming and empowering.”

Mad Men meets the world of publishing in international bestselling author Gill Paul’s new novel about Jackie Collins and Jacqueline Susann, two dynamic, groundbreaking writers renowned for their scandalous and controversial novels, and the beleaguered young editorial assistant who introduces them.

1966, NYC: Jacqueline Susann’s Valley of the Dolls hits the bookstores and she is desperate for a bestseller. It’s steamy, it’s a page-turner, but will it make the big money she needs? In London, Jackie Collins’s racy The World Is Full of Married Men launches her career. But neither author is prepared for the price they will pay for being women who dare to write about sex.

Jacqueline and Jackie are lambasted by the literary establishment, deluged with hate mail, and even condemned by feminists. In public, both women shoulder the outcry with dignity; in private, they are crumbling—particularly since they have secrets they don’t want splashed across the front pages.

1965, NYC: College graduate Nancy White is excited to take up her dream job at a Manhattan publishing house, but she could never be prepared for the rampant sexism she will encounter. While working on Valley of the Dolls, she becomes friends with Jacqueline Susann, and, after reaching out to Jackie Collins about a US deal, she is responsible for the two authors meeting.

Will the two Jackies clash as they race to top the charts? Will Nancy achieve her ambition of becoming an editor, despite all the men determined to hold her back? Three women struggle to succeed in a man’s world, while desperately trying to protect those they love the most.

“A juicy and fun novel about the women who pioneered the sexy page-turner with Valley of the Dolls and Hollywood Wives.” — LIBRARY JOURNAL

Meet Gill Paul

Gill Paul is the author of thirteen historical novels, which have sold over a million copies, hit the top five in the USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Toronto Globe & Mail bestseller lists, and have been translated into twenty-four languages. Her novel SCANDALOUS WOMEN is about Jackie Collins, Jacqueline Susann, and the misogyny of the 1960s publishing industry. Gill lives in London where she swims year-round in a wild pond, and speaks at libraries and festivals on topics ranging from Tutankhamun to the Romanovs.