Samantha Weinberg
Encyclopedia
Samantha Fletcher is a British Green politician, and under her maiden name of Samantha Weinberg, a novelist, journalist
and travel writer. 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.
. In 1995, she spent three months travelling in the United States
with Daisy Waugh
.
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.
, she and Aitken pitched their idea about a series of Bond novels focusing 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.
candidate for the new seat of Chippenham
in Wiltshire, standing under her married name.
, England.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and travel writer. Educated at St Paul's Girls' School
St Paul's Girls' School
St Paul's Girls' School is a senior independent school, located in Brook Green, Hammersmith, in West London, England.-History:In 1904 a new day school for girls was established by the trustees of the Dean Colet Foundation , which had run St Paul's School for boys since the sixteenth century...
and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, she is the author of books such as A Fish Caught in Time: The Search for the Coelacanth and the James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
inspired trilogy The Moneypenny Diaries
The Moneypenny Diaries
The Moneypenny Diaries is a series of novels and short stories chronicling the life of Miss Moneypenny, M's personal secretary in Ian Fleming's James Bond series; it is considered an official spin-off of the Bond books...
under the alias Kate Westbrook.
Writing
In 1994 Weinberg wrote Last of the Pirates: in search of Bob Denard (ISBN 0224033077) about French mercenary Bob DenardBob Denard
Colonel Bob Denard , born Gilbert Bourgeaud, was a French soldier and mercenary. He was known for having done various jobs in support of Françafrique for Jacques Foccart, in charge of French president Charles de Gaulle's policy in Africa...
. In 1995, she spent three months travelling in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with Daisy Waugh
Daisy Waugh
Daisy Louisa Dominica Waugh , known as Daisy Waugh, is an English journalist, travel writer, novelist and television presenter.She has also worked as a restaurant critic and as an agony aunt for The Independent...
.
In 2003 she won the CWA Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction
CWA Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction
The CWA Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction is a British literary award established in 1978 by the Crime Writers' Association, who have awarded the Gold Dagger fiction award since 1955....
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 PublicationsIan Fleming Publications
Ian Fleming Publications is the production company formerly known as both Glidrose Productions Limited and Glidrose Publications Limited, named after its founders John Gliddon and Norman Rose...
, she and Aitken pitched their idea about a series of Bond novels focusing on the character of Miss Moneypenny
Miss Moneypenny
Jane Moneypenny, better known as Miss Moneypenny, is a fictional character in the James Bond novels and films. She is secretary to M, who is Bond's boss and head of the British Secret Service...
, M
M (James Bond)
M is a fictional character in Ian Fleming's James Bond series, as well as the films in the Bond franchise. The head of MI6 and Bond's superior, M has been portrayed by three actors in the official Bond film series: Bernard Lee, Robert Brown and since 1995 by Judi Dench. Background =Ian Fleming...
's personal secretary. The series, referred to as The Moneypenny Diaries
The Moneypenny Diaries
The Moneypenny Diaries is a series of novels and short stories chronicling the life of Miss Moneypenny, M's personal secretary in Ian Fleming's James Bond series; it is considered an official spin-off of the Bond books...
, 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 AngelThe Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian AngelThe Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel is the first in a planned trilogy of novels chronicling the life of Miss Moneypenny, M's personal secretary in Ian Fleming's James Bond series. The diaries were authored by Samantha Weinberg under the pseudonym Kate Westbrook, who is depicted as the book's...
(2005) - "For Your Eyes Only, JamesThe Moneypenny DiariesThe Moneypenny Diaries is a series of novels and short stories chronicling the life of Miss Moneypenny, M's personal secretary in Ian Fleming's James Bond series; it is considered an official spin-off of the Bond books...
" (2006 short story) - Secret Servant: The Moneypenny DiariesSecret Servant: The Moneypenny DiariesSecret Servant: The Moneypenny Diaries is the second in a trilogy of novels chronicling the life of Miss Moneypenny, M's personal secretary in Ian Fleming's James Bond series...
(2006) - "Moneypenny's First Date With BondThe Moneypenny DiariesThe Moneypenny Diaries is a series of novels and short stories chronicling the life of Miss Moneypenny, M's personal secretary in Ian Fleming's James Bond series; it is considered an official spin-off of the Bond books...
" (2006 short story) - The Moneypenny Diaries: Final FlingThe Moneypenny Diaries: Final FlingThe Moneypenny Diaries: Final Fling is the third in a trilogy of novels chronicling the life of Miss Moneypenny, M's personal secretary in Ian Fleming's James Bond series. The diaries are penned by Samantha Weinberg under the pseudonym Kate Westbrook, who is depicted as the book's "editor"...
(2008)
Politics
In 2010 Weinberg became the Green PartyGreen Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
candidate for the new seat of Chippenham
Chippenham (UK Parliament constituency)
Chippenham is a parliamentary constituency, abolished in 1983 but recreated in 2010, and represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
in Wiltshire, standing under her married name.
Personal life
Weinberg is married to film maker Mark Fletcher. She currently resides in WiltshireWiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, England.
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