Samantha Weinberg

Samantha Weinberg 2023
British writer (born 1966)

Samantha Weinberg is a British novelist, journalist and podcaster. Educated at St Paul's Girls' School and Trinity College, Cambridge, she is the author of books such as A Fish Caught in Time: The Search for the Coelacanth and the James Bond-inspired trilogy The Moneypenny Diaries under the alias Kate Westbrook. Since 2019, she has been a contributor to Tortoise Media. In 2023, she wrote and narrated Trace of Doubt, an eight-part true crime podcast series for Audible.

Writing

In 1994, Weinberg wrote Last of the Pirates: in search of Bob Denard (ISBN 0224033077) about French mercenary Bob Denard. In 1995, she spent three months travelling in the United States with Daisy Waugh.[1]

In 2003, she won the CWA Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction for her book Pointing from the Grave: a True Story of Murder and DNA (ISBN 0241141362), about the murder of biotechnologist Helena Greenwood in California in 1985 and the pioneering use of DNA profiling in tracing her killer 15 years later.

The Moneypenny Diaries

When Weinberg's agent, Gillon Aitken, was appointed the literary adviser to Ian Fleming Publications, she and Aitken pitched their idea for a series of James Bond novels centred on the character of Miss Moneypenny, M's personal secretary. The series, referred to as The Moneypenny Diaries, is a trilogy with three books and two short stories currently published under the alias of Moneypenny's editor, Kate Westbrook:

  • The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel (2005)
  • "For Your Eyes Only, James" (2006 short story)
  • Secret Servant: The Moneypenny Diaries (2006)
  • "Moneypenny's First Date With Bond" (2006 short story)
  • The Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling (2008)

Weinberg is the first woman to write an official Bond novel.[2]

Politics

In 2010, Weinberg became the Green Party candidate for the new seat of Chippenham in Wiltshire, standing under her married name.[3][4]

Personal life

Weinberg is married to filmmaker Mark Fletcher.[1] She currently resides in Wiltshire, England, and has two children.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b Waugh, Daisy (28 March 2010). "She's a Green Party pin-up - nothing less". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
  2. ^ "Comics: Moneypenny Will Shine in One-Off Comic Book - Geeks Of Color". geeksofcolor.co. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  3. ^ Weinberg, Samantha (16 February 2008). "Green Wife". The Spectator. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Winning the green vote on Filicudi". The Guardian.
  5. ^ "Exclusive Interview with Samantha Weinberg author or The Moneypenny Diaries". Artistic Licence Renewed. 28 May 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2024.

External links

  • Samantha Weinberg Author Profile HarperCollins Publishers
  • Samantha Weinberg Interview CommanderBond.net
  • Centenary Exclusive: Interview With Money-penny Diaries Author Samantha Weinberg Double O Section, May 2008
  • MI6.co.uk Samantha Weinberg Interview MI6 - The Home of James Bond 007, 19 November 2005
  • v
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James Bond in literature
James Bond
James Bond
series
Ian Fleming
  • Casino Royale (1953)
  • Live and Let Die (1954)
  • Moonraker (1955)
  • Diamonds Are Forever (1956)
  • From Russia, with Love (1957)
  • Dr. No (1958)
  • Goldfinger (1959)
  • For Your Eyes Only (1960)
  • Thunderball (1961)
  • The Spy Who Loved Me (1962)
  • On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1963)
  • You Only Live Twice (1964)
  • The Man with the Golden Gun (1965)
  • Octopussy and The Living Daylights (1966)
Kingsley Amis
John Gardner
Raymond Benson
Sebastian Faulks
  • Devil May Care (2008)
Jeffery Deaver
  • Carte Blanche (2011)
William Boyd
  • Solo (2013)
Anthony Horowitz
  • Trigger Mortis (2015)
  • Forever and a Day (2018)
  • With a Mind to Kill (2022)
Charlie Higson
  • On His Majesty's Secret Service (2023)
Novelizations
Christopher Wood
John Gardner
  • Licence to Kill (1989)
  • GoldenEye (1995)
Raymond Benson
  • Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
  • The World Is Not Enough (1999)
  • Die Another Day (2002)
Spin-off
works
R. D. Mascott
John Pearson
  • James Bond: The Authorized Biography of 007 (1973)
Young Bond series
Charlie Higson
Steve Cole
  • Shoot to Kill (2014)
  • Heads You Die (2016)
  • Strike Lightning (2016)
  • Red Nemesis (2017)
The Moneypenny Diaries
Samantha Weinberg
  • Guardian Angel (2005)
  • Secret Servant (2006)
  • Final Fling (2008)
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