Two book deal for million-copy bestseller Heather Morris
Bonnier Books UK is thrilled to announce a new book from Heather Morris, author of the internationally bestselling novels The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka’s Journey.
Publisher Margaret Stead sealed a two book-deal including World Rights, with the first work of non-fiction by Heather Morris, Stories of Hope: Finding Inspiration in Everyday Lives, to be published this autumn on 17th September under the new imprint Manilla Press.
In Stories of Hope, Heather Morris will explore the art of listening — a skill she employed when she met Lale Sokolov, the Tattooist of Auschwitz. It was her ability to listen that led him to entrust her with his story. From a young age Heather discovered that people would tell her their stories if she stopped and listened. Growing up in rural New Zealand, on her way back across the paddocks from school, Heather would visit her great-grandfather and listen to his experiences of war — stories he told only Heather.
‘We are hugely excited by this new chapter in the Heather Morris story. Her genius for listening and her extraordinary capacity for writing and sharing untold stories of courage have resonated with millions of readers all over the world. At a time when we need to listen to each other as never before, we are proud to be publishing Stories of Hope.’
Kate Parkin, M.D. of Adult Trade, Bonnier Books UK
Stories of Hope will examine Heather’s extraordinary journey, in the form of a series of beautifully rendered tales of the people she has met, the remarkable stories they have shared with her, and the lessons they hold for us all.
Heather Morris, said: ‘I am honoured to be asked to put into print my experiences over, dare I say it, many decades, listening to family, old friends, new friends. I am humbled by the many people, the youngest just nine years old, who have written to me, and to have had the opportunity to share with readers their stories of hope. Thankfully I discovered a long time ago that listening was the secret to discovering great stories. I am delighted to be once again working with Margaret Stead, Kate Parkin and the team at Bonnier Books in crafting not only a book but reaching out further with our exciting website.’
Margaret Stead, publisher of Manilla Press said: ‘The team at Bonnier Books UK are delighted to be publishing Heather Morris’s first work of non-fiction, Stories of Hope. Heather will reflect upon her extraordinary journey, which began on the day she met Lale Sokolov, who was the Tattooist at Auschwitz. At the heart of Heather’s huge talents is her ability to listen, and it is this skill that she will explore and explain in this charming and accessible work.’
Kate Parkin, Managing Director of Adult Trade Publishing at Bonnier Books UK said: ‘We are hugely excited by this new chapter in the Heather Morris story. Her genius for listening and her extraordinary capacity for writing and sharing untold stories of courage have resonated with millions of readers all over the world. At a time when we need to listen to each other as never before, we are proud to be publishing Stories of Hope.’
Today Bonnier Books UK also launches a new website called Stories of Hope(www.yourstoriesofhope.com), to complement and support this major new book from Heather Morris.
Margaret Stead added: ‘Alongside Heather’s book we have launched the Stories of Hope website, a site to be curated by Heather, on which she will encourage others to record their own extraordinary stories.
Since publishing The Tattooist of Auschwitz and its sequel, Cilka’s Journey, Heather has been inundated with letters and messages from all over the world, from people moved by Heather’s writing to share their own stories. The Stories of Hope website will be a space for Heather to share some of these stories with her huge international community of readers.’
