Bloomsbury secures rights to debut memoir by Hannah Lilly about how nature aided author's recovery
Bloomsbury is set to publish Bird Feeder by Hannah Lilly, a "deeply moving" memoir about how Lilly’s connection to the natural world became the catalyst for her recovery from an eating disorder.
Head of Bloomsbury Wildlife, Jim Martin, secured world rights directly from the author following a series of exchanges on social media, where she had been documenting her recovery.
After more than a decade in the grip of anorexia and with her health fading fast, Lilly was left with a bleak choice – hospitalisation, or “exile” to a cottage in the Somerset countryside to be cared for by her family. Choosing the latter led to a year of recovery and of rural life, with the rhythms of nature helping to bring balance, first to her body and then to her mind.
Lilly is a travel copywriter and freelance nature writer from Kent, known to her small but intimate Instagram following as @han.birding.
Lilly said: “It’s an incredible feeling to be publishing my first book with Bloomsbury. Bird Feeder explores how reconnecting with nature became the catalyst for my recovery, reminding me of the person I was before anorexia took over my life. By rekindling my interest in birds and the natural world after years of struggling, I began to navigate the path between the girl who fell ill and the woman I was becoming.”
Martin added: “Hannah’s proposal and sample chapters were irresistible – stark, deeply moving, yet peppered with hope. This remarkable book will provide comfort to some, and bring light to others. We’re honoured to have the opportunity to work with Hannah, a strong new voice in the nature-writing world.”
Bird Feeder will be published as a lead title in spring 2027.
