Mirror Books to publish refugee's story of 'bravery and endurance'

Mirror Books is to publish The Journey by Abdul Musa Adam, with Ros Wynne-Jones. 

Executive editor Jo Solis acquired world rights as well as TV and film rights, direct from the author. Publication is scheduled for 23rd April 2020 in paperback and ebook. 

"Abdul was just 7 years old when his parents were killed before his eyes. As a brutal ethnic cleansing campaign swept western Sudan, Abdul and his 3-year-old brother were forced to flee their homeland," reads the synopsis. "But their gruelling journey across the Sahara desert was fraught with danger. In neighbouring Chad, they took shelter in one of the world's most inhospitable refugee camps, where every day was a struggle against hunger and disease. Until one day Abdul was offered a chance to escape. A chance that could save him, but would force him to make the most heart-breaking decision of his life. Abdul's death-defying flight from war and persecution is shocking, and has left him with deep scars. But his love of horses finally provided a lifeline–his unique affinity with animals has led him to work with racehorses, and has reunited him with the tribal traditions of his childhood."

Adam said: "When I arrived in the UK at the age of 15, I was frightened and alone, having lost my family in Darfur and travelled thousands of miles through Africa and Europe. But arriving in Wiltshire gave me the opportunity to reconnect with horses, and has led to a much brighter future in the UK. I have written this book because I am still searching for my brother Yusuf, who may still be living my past–in a refugee camp, on the streets or in a warzone. I hope telling my story may help me find him."

Wynne-Jones added: "Working with Abdul to tell his incredible story over the past three years has been one of the privileges of my writing life. His strength of character and astonishing resilience have seen him survive three civil wars and the underside of a lorry. What's most remarkable is that he remains a kind, decent and lovely person with so much to offer Britain, and especially its horseracing community, despite everything he has been through. Meanwhile, his love of horses shines through everything he does, and makes what could be a bleak story of loss into a profound tale of hope."