Brazen lands film director Lorna Tucker’s ‘fearless’ memoir of homelessness 

Brazen, part of the Octopus Publishing Group, has signed Bare by film director Lorna Tucker, a memoir about her survival as a 15-year-old living on the streets of Soho.

Romilly Morgan, publishing director, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from literary agent Millie Hoskins at United Agents and will publish on 14th March 2024. Tucker’s screenplay of Bare is also currently in development with Raindog Films, Colin Firth and Ged Doherty’s production company.

The synopsis reads: “Aged 15, Lorna was living on the streets of Soho, trying to avoid abuse and rape whilst battling an addiction to heroin. She worked as an escort and a stripper, lost custody of her daughter, and relapsed multiple times. But, somehow, and unlike most of the people imprisoned by the streets, Lorna didn’t just survive but she flew."

In 2018, Tucker released her first feature documentary  "Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist" and it debuted at the  Sundance Film Festival. The same year she was named by both Harper’s Bazaar  and Elle magazine as one of the five biggest breakout female film-makers of the year. She was also included in the Evening Standard’s 2018 Progress 1,000 list of London’s most influential people.

December 2018 also saw the release of Tucker’s second feature documentary,  "Amá", “a gentle yet powerful film about the sterilisation abuses of Native American women across the US.” Tucker’s most recent project, a film entitled "Someone’s Daughter, Someone’s Son", is described by the publisher as “a blunt and dignified window into life on the street and hopes to raise awareness.”

Her next documentary about Katharine Hepburn, ”Call Me Kate”,  will be released by Netflix in spring 2023. 

Morgan said: “There are hardly any homeless memoirs out there. Even fewer by women. Lorna’s book is a landmark account of what it is to be a 15-year-old girl left to the streets.”

Tucker commented: “To re-examine what were perhaps some of the darkest times in my life has reminded me of the fun, silliness, hope and beauty that can be found in chaos. I hope this book entertains, inspires and shines a light on how it’s possible to own your story and it’s never too late to turn things around. Thanks to Brazen and Millie Hoskins for supporting me on this journey. Working alongside them both has not only been empowering but healing too.”