You are viewing your 1 free article this month. Login to read more articles.
Coronet has acquired a collection of deeply personal conversations between actors Laura Dern and her mother, Diane Ladd.
Publisher Hannah Black acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, including Australia and New Zealand, to Honey, Baby, Mine from Rachel Clements at Abner Stein, on behalf of Mollie Glick at CAA. Honey, Baby, Mine will be published in hardback, e-book and audiobook on 25th April 2023, alongside Grand Central in the US. The foreword to the book is written by Reese Witherspoon and the audiobook is read by Laura Dern and Diane Ladd.
The publisher says: “In 2018, Diane was diagnosed with pneumonia and told she might have only months to live. Doctors said walking would expand her lung capacity and might prolong her life. Determined to do anything to try to help her mum, Laura decided to walk with her every single day. But walking was exhausting for Diane so, to make their walks as long as possible, Laura tried to distract her mother through conversation.
“These meandering talks soon became longer, deeper and more revealing than either expected. Ranging from ambition and legacy to intimacy and marriage, often funny and deeply poignant, their conversations brought Laura and Diane closer than they had ever been. Both quickly recognised that the doctor’s order to walk more had been a gift. Both mother and daughter told the other things that would otherwise have been left unsaid. They learned things that they had never known about each other and talked honestly about the most painful moments in their lives.
“The talking pushed Diane to walk further than she thought possible and over time she got stronger. Miraculously, she recovered. Laura recorded their walking conversations so she could preserve them for her family. But after Diane’s health improved, they decided to collate their conversations in a book in the hope doing so might inspire other parents and children to talk candidly and intimately to each other about their lives. Conversations like these require a trigger; in Laura and Diane’s case, a frightening medical diagnosis. Their advice is not to wait too long to start talking. Perhaps, they hope, their book might encourage similar and similarly rewarding conversations – helping others to discover the joy and courage that comes from speaking our truths to those we love most."
Dern said: “I realised that these walks might be our final moments together. The only way I could cope with my fear of my mum dying was to make sure that we talk about everything and that we leave nothing left unsaid. I thought I was doing all this walking and reminiscing for my mother’s sake, to give her peace and strength in her final months or years, but I would come to learn that this time with her was a gift, most of all, for me.”
Ladd commented: “I hope that our book touches your heart in a positive and wonderful way because that’s why we decided to share our laughter, our search and our pain with you. I really hope you all enjoy.”
Black said: “What a privilege to be able to listen in on these extraordinary conversations. Funny, tender and thought-provoking, this beautiful book invites the reader to have their own similar conversations with their loved ones while they can. Touching on everything from love, betrayal, joy and regret, I defy you not to be moved and inspired by these incredible women.”