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Manilla Press acquires powerful memoir Cult Following

Manilla Press acquires powerful memoir Cult Following

Set to be major TV series produced by and starring, Dakota Johnson and
Riley Keough

Manilla Press, Bonnier Books UK’s new literary imprint, is thrilled to announce that Cult Following, a powerful memoir from debut author Bexy Cameron, will be published next July 2021 in hardback, trade paperback, eBook and audio. UK and Commonwealth Rights were acquired by Editorial Director Susannah Otter from Marilia Savvides at 42mp.

“This book has that rare and perfect combination: an utterly gripping (true) story and completely propulsive writing. We were all hooked from the first line, and I can’t wait to share Bexy’s story with the world….”    

Susannah Otter, Editorial Director Bonnier Books UK

In Cult Following, Bexy Cameron explores her childhood in the notorious cult Children of God, where the concept of family means something very different to what we are all used to. At the same time, she details her adult attempt to make a documentary about other cults, where she spent a year travelling across America with her best friend in search of answers to the questions about cults that fascinate us all. On this road trip Bexy is forced to confront her past: her adolescence spent in total silence (as punishment for being ‘difficult’), the abuse she suffered from various members of the church and, most powerfully of all, her relationship with her parents, who are still members of the Children of God today.

Susannah Otter, Editorial Director said: “This book has that rare and perfect combination: an utterly gripping (true) story and completely propulsive writing. We were all hooked from the first line, and I can’t wait to share Bexy’s story with the world.”

Bexy Cameron said: “I still can’t wrap my head around putting this journey into a book, and to do it with 42 and Bonnier Books UK has just been the most incredible experience. They’ve pushed me, held me, encouraged me, and I am so excited for the release.”

Platform One Media (a Boat Rocker company) has optioned Cult Following for a limited series adaptation, with Dakota Johnson (Suspiria, The Peanut Butter Falcon) and Riley Keough (Logan Lucky) attached to star.

Dakota Johnson and Ro Donnelly will executive produce through TeaTime Pictures alongside Riley Keough and Gina Gammell through Felix Culpa and Bexy Cameron.

“It has been a dream of ours since we launched TeaTime to collaborate with Riley and Gina at Felix Culpa,” said Johnson and Donnelly. “We are beyond thrilled to join forces and friendship to bring Bexy’s remarkable story to the screen. Alongside PlatformOne, we look forward to adding the final top-notch collaborators to the team.”

“We are so thrilled to bring Bexy’s incredible story to television alongside our dear, beautiful friends at TeaTime, Dakota and Ro,” said Keough and Gammell.

About Bexy Cameron

Bexy Cameron is a writer, director, academic and activist. Her global filmmaking spans the realm of art, fashion and music and she has worked with a number of leading brands including Nike, Adidas, Converse, YouTube, Google, and Channel 4.

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