Bloomsbury lands 'generation-defining' exploration of sex from Anderson

Bloomsbury has acquired the rights to a “generation-defining” exploration of sex, edited by the actress Gillian Anderson. 

Alexis Kirschbaum, head of Bloomsbury trade, bought world rights to the as yet untitled project from Claire Paterson at Conrad Janklow & Nesbit. 

Anderson—known for playing sex therapist Jean Milburn in the Netflix series Sex Education—is inviting women from around the world to write letters revealing their sexual fantasies. Inspired by the 1973 bestseller My Secret Garden (Quartet Books), compiled by Nancy Friday, the letters will be included anonymously in what Bloomsbury is calling an “inclusive, intersectional new classic for the 21st century”.

Anderson said: “As women, we know that sex is about more than just sex. But so many of us don’t talk about it. Our deepest, most intimate fears and fantasies remain locked away inside of us until someone comes along with the key.  Here is the key. I want to hear from you. This will be an anonymous, revelatory book compiling your letters to me to explore how women think about sex. Because when we talk about sex, we talk about womanhood and motherhood, infidelity and exploitation, consent and respect, fairness and egalitarianism, love and hate, pleasure and pain.  

“Is there a fantasy you’ve never told anyone about? Something you’d share with only the most trusted of confidants, if anyone at all? Wherever you come from, whomever you do or don’t sleep with, whether you’re 18 or 80, I want to hear from you. Write to me, starting your letter Dear Gillian.” 

Kirschbaum said: “I have always been interested in the private lives and private fantasies of women and in my publishing I have sought to bring these narratives to cultural prominence. I have also been aware in publishing these books of the importance of how these fantasies are told, protected, characterised and curated; that is, how women can be free in their expression of sexual desire. To publish a book in which women’s desires are protected and taken seriously I realised that partnering with a public figure who embodied these values would be crucial. Gillian Anderson’s editorship will help us draw in a wide range of letters from all corners of the world.”

Submissions for the project are open from 1st February to 28th February at www.deargillian.com.