Bonnier Books UK lands comedian Katherine Ryan’s debut memoir in 10-publisher auction
In a hard-fought 10-publisher auction, Bonnier Books UK has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights for Katherine Ryan’s debut memoir. Susannah Otter, Editorial Director of Blink, and Beth Eynon, Senior Commissioning Editor, bought UK and Commonwealth Rights excluding Canada from Richard Abate at 3 Arts Entertainment and Kitty Laing at United Agents.
Katherine Ryan: The Audacity will publish 30 September 2021 as Blink’s autumn super-lead non-fiction title, just as Katherine sets out on a nationwide comedy tour. The book will be supported by a major publicity and marketing campaign.
Detailing Ryan’s journey from a naïve ex-Hooters waitress fresh off the boat from Canada to comedy megastar, chapters will include How to Potty Train Your Baby at 10 Months, How to cut off your Racist Aunties, How to Marry your High School Boyfriend and How to Co-Parent when you’re a Single Mum.
Ryan said: ‘While I’ve been very blessed to have worked in comedy for over a decade, the book gives me the opportunity to connect with people more fully and honestly than a panel show allows. I’ve learned to be a sharpshooter on stage, but there are so many stories that I’m eager to tell in more sincere, longer form. I hope it gives people a laugh, an insight, and hopefully some encouragement on how to live their most fulfilled, authentic lives. I’m so lucky to be partnering with Bonnier, a most dedicated team of women already responsible for publishing some of my favourite titles.’
Otter said: ‘There were few reasons to be cheerful last year, but the prospect of this brilliant book and the joy of working with Katherine and her team kept everyone at Blink going throughout. Katherine’s comedy always gets straight to the heart of the matter, whether that matter is the egregious nature of “say no to this” in Hamilton or the importance of a decent surgeon. She not only makes us all laugh, she teaches us to watch for the pitfalls in life and scramble out of them as gracefully as we can manage. I can’t wait for the world to read The Audacity, which combines her unerring ear for the perfect line with the warmth, compassion and hard-won wisdom that makes up a life on and off stage.’
Publishing on 30 September 2021, The Audacity will be available in hardback, eBook and audiobook.
