The Bookseller.com

4th July 2009

« Headlines

Jo Brand’s memoirs to Headline

21.11.08 Catherine Neilan

Headline’s publisher-at-large Martin Fletcher has struck a two-book deal for Jo Brand’s memoirs via the comedian’s agent Vivienne Clore. The team, which already publishes Brand’s fiction, is bringing the first of her as-yet-untitled autobiographies out in October 2009. The second book, also untitled, is due out the following year. They will cover her life working as a psychiatric nurse, before hitting the road as a burgeoning stand- up, as well as her marriage and children. However, Fletcher said discussions as to "how they would complement each other" were ongoing.

He described Brand as "a national treasure as well as a wonderful person", commending her for breaking through "the glass ceiling of female comedy" to become one of Britain’s best recognised comic talents. "The memoirs are going to be unputdownable," Fletcher said. "She’s hilarious about a whole range of life’s absurdities but there is also a seriousness about her work, which will make her memoirs much more satisfying and entertaining to read," he added. "Her documentary on Vera Brittain this Remembrance Sunday was an extraordinarily uplifting and moving piece of TV."

Brand’s agent Clore said she was "very pleased" Headline, which had approached Brand with the concept, would publish the two titles. She said: "They are such an engaging, creative, hard-working bunch of people who have been loyal to Jo over the years in the same way Jo has been loyal to Headline."

Brand’s next novel The More You Ignore Me, published under the Headline Review imprint, is due out in May 2009 as hardback and will retail for £12.99.

Later in the year, the paperbacks of her two previously published novels will be given a make-over and reissued. Fletcher said: "Next year will be the year of Jo Brand—we have a big programme for her, which is just what we want."

Rights deal headline Martin Fletcher Home Catherine Neilan Jo Brand