BOSH! cookbook to HQ in 'major' six-figure deal

HQ is to publish BOSH! The Cookbook by Sheffield school friends Henry Firth and Ian Theasby in a "major" six-figure deal following a "hotly-contested" eight-publisher auction.

Senior commissioning editor Rachel Kenny acquired World all language rights from Rachel Mills at Furniss Lawton. The book is due for simultaneous US and UK release in 2018, with William Morrow publishing in the States.

Firth and Theasby started the plant-based Facebook food channel BOSH! to inspire people to a healthier, more ethical and sustainable lifestyle after seeing the popularity of food videos on Facebook. In 10 months, the pair have amassed over 1m fans and 300m video views. Their active fan-base regularly post videos of home-cooked dishes with the hashtag #bosh.

"Comprising over 100 fun, tasty and simple allplants recipes – from showstoppers to every day one-pot wonders and crazy cocktails – this staple recipe book for veggies, vegans, flexitarians and meaties alike will show just how easy it can be to incorporate plant-based eating into your diet", the publisher said of the book.

Kenny said: “Henry and Ian are such exciting talents, both with extraordinary passion and energy, as well as the nous to make their vision a reality. They are on the cusp of becoming the faces of the global movement towards plant-based eating, and the whole of HQ are thrilled that they chose to join the list."

Kenny added there was "no better time" to publish the book with vegan eating being embraced by celebrities such as Beyoncé and Simon Amstell, and with Google searches of the word ‘vegan’ growing 90% in 2016.  "They’re addressing a huge gap in the market,” she said.

Firth and Theasby said their "mission" was simply to help everyone realise how "easy and delicious" it can be to enjoy plant-based food.

"It’s an honour to see the way our recipes have delighted our fast-growing audience," they said. "We’re overwhelmed and humbled by the growth of BOSH! and are excited to work with HQ and William Morrow to bring a book of our most unique, delicious and often indulgent home-cooking to a global audience.”

BOSH! The Cookbook will be published in hardback and e-book next Spring in the UK by HQ, and in the US by William Morrow.