Vermilion brings forward Deborah James book as campaigner says she won’t be alive to see it published

Vermilion has brought forward the publication date of Dame Deborah James’ second book How to Live When You Could Be Dead from January 2023 to 18th August 2022 after the author and campaigner revealed she did not have long left to live.

In 2016, at the age of 35, James was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer and given less than an 8% chance of surviving for five years. She has documented her journey since and has launched the BowelBabe fund to support the work of Cancer Research UK, Bowel Cancer UK, the Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden among other causes. 

Last week the “You, Me and the Big C” host revealed she had moved to hospice care with her family. She was made a dame days later, after the Duke of Cambridge visited her parents’ home in Surrey and handed over the honour.

Samantha Jackson, editorial director at Vermilion, told The Bookseller: “It’s an absolute privilege to be publishing How To Live When You Could Be Dead by the incredible Dame Deborah James. Deborah’s positive mindset in the face of life’s biggest challenges is a huge inspiration to us all. We couldn’t be prouder to be her publisher.”

How to Live When You Could Be Dead explores James’ passion for the growth mindset theory and how to be positive even when faced with life’s biggest challenge. The publisher said that for every copy sold in the UK, £3 will go to the BowelBabe Fund for Cancer Research UK.  

“We have the ability in our minds to dictate our own outcomes – bad or good – and with the right skills and approach, we can be the master of our lives,” James said. 

In an Instagram post announcing the change of publication date on 17th May, James wrote: “I’ve got a few things to share with you before I die that I’m gutted I won’t see in real life! But I’ve now been granted permission to share them and I’m really excited!

“For the past two years I’ve been working on my second book How to Live When You Could Be Dead – oh, the irony of the title! I wanted to share all my (hard-won!!) learning on how to have a positive mindset when we are faced with life’s biggest challenges.

“While it is in its final edits, as anyone in publishing will know, suddenly changing book publication dates (regardless of health!) isn’t an easy feat. It was originally due out in January 2023!!! 

“All things considered, Penguin has managed to put it on pre-order and is aiming to publish it on the 18th August. It is still long after I’m flying high, but hopefully a little less longer for you to wait. 

“We have worked really hard over the past few days to ensure the book benefits Bowelbabe Fund as much as possible. All my royalties will go to the fund and Penguin has kindly agreed to make an additional contribution per book. Altogether the donation per book will be £3.”

In 2018 Vermilion published James’ first book F*** You Cancer, her personal guide on how to live with cancer and still be yourself.  

The book has already shot to the top of the Amazon Bestsellers list, ranking #1 in books overall followed by Richard Osman’s The Man Who Died Twice (Penguin).