HQ bags Brand's practically perfect Poppins book

HQ has bagged a second book by comedian Katy Brand, billed as part manifesto, part celebration of Mary Poppins.

Lisa Milton, HQ executive publisher, acquired world all language rights from Cathryn Summerhayes at Curtis Brown. Practically Perfect: Life Lessons from Mary Poppins will be published in hardback, e-book and audio on 15th October 2020.

According to the synopsis: “Katy will explore how we can apply some much-needed advice from Mary Poppins to our everyday lives. Covering themes as broad as mental health, our need for fantasy, feminism, and family, her life lessons are interwoven with a satisfying amount of geekery in the form of film analysis, interviews, and insider knowledge.”

Her previous book, I Carried A Watermelon, was released last year, exploring how her obsession with the classic 80s film “Dirty Dancing” influenced her life and attitudes.

Brand said: “Since I was eight years old, Mary Poppins has fascinated and beguiled me. She’s confident, cocky and completely in control. So, I am thrilled to be taking a deep look at the film, the books, and the legend that is Mary Poppins, and finding out what life lessons she can teach us.”

Milton added: “We all had the time of our lives publishing the brilliant I Carried a Watermelon by Katy Brand last year, so when she told me how much more there was to learn from her other favourite film iconic film, 'Mary Poppins', I knew it was the perfect second book from her.”