HarperCollins acquires rights to Carly Findlay memoir

HarperCollins Australia has acquired world rights to Say Hello: How I Became the Hero of My Story by Australian writer, speaker and appearance activist Carly Findlay.

Findlay, who has the rare severe skin condition Ichthyosis, will explore ‘disability, love, power, difference, appearance and authenticity’ in her memoir.

Publisher Catherine Milne said in a statement: ‘Say Hello is a rousingly brave and totally gutsy memoir from a woman who has to live with highly visible difference due to a rare skin condition. What Carly has to live with, and what she confronts on a day to day basis, will have you cheering for her and her resilience and courage.’

Findlay said she started writing ‘to change the way people with facial differences and disability were represented in the media’. ‘There are very few stories where the character that looks different is the hero of the story, and when they are, they’ve had to change their appearance,’ said Findlay. ‘There was no-one in media or books who looked like me, or to tell me it’s ok to not want to change my appearance, and I didn’t know whether I’d find love—love with another or love for myself. It’s time to write that book.’

HarperCollins acquired rights to Say Hello from Jacinta di Mase Management. The memoir will be published in late 2018.

Category: Local news Rights and acquisitions