GINA CHICK FIRST ACQUISITION FOR PALFREYMAN AT SUMMIT BOOKS
Simon & Schuster Australia is proud and thrilled to have acquired ANZ rights to We Are the Stars, the extraordinary memoir of Gina Chick, inaugural winner of Alone Australia, via Jeanne Ryckmans at Key People Literary Management. It is Jane Palfreyman’s first acquisition as publishing director of Summit Books, a distinguished literary imprint recently revived by Simon & Schuster.
Gina survived alone in the Tasmanian wilderness for 67 days, as 5.4 million people watched on in awe as her connection with the natural world and her realness and honesty set the screen alight. In We Are the Stars, Gina tells her remarkable story with that same authenticity, humour and emotional intelligence, sharing the formative moments of her life and the lessons that shaped her. Her literary heritage shines through her writing: Gina is the granddaughter of legendary writer Charmian Clift and shares her cheekbones as well as her way with words.
Says publisher Jane Palfreyman: ‘Gina’s grandmother’s brilliance is palpable in this extraordinary book. We Are the Stars is a work of remarkable literary talent as well as immense heart, creativity and wisdom. I’ve never read anything like it, and I feel so grateful to have been one of the first lucky readers of what I know will be legions to come in October. I cannot wait for the world to further discover and embrace Gina and her gifts. This is truly the book we need right now.’
Gina Chick responds: ‘I am thrilled to join Simon & Schuster, and in particular to be the first book in their revived Summit imprint, which has published James Baldwin, Marilyn French and Oliver Sacks. What a privilege! I’m also super chuffed to be working with the wonderful Jane Palfreyman, who published my mother’s book thirty years ago. This feels like a homecoming indeed, and I can't wait to share We Are the Stars with you.’
We Are the Stars will be released in print, ebook and audio on 2 October, 2024 and will supported by a major media and promotional campaign and a ten-week Australia-wide author tour.