Daniel Howell writes mental health guide for HQ

YouTube star Daniel Howell is releasing a guide to mental health, You Will Get Through This Night, with HarperCollins imprint HQ.

Kate Fox, deputy publishing director at HQ, negotiated a deal for world all language rights with Daniel Kirschen of ICM Partners. The print edition will be led by Fox and the audiobook by audio editor Rebecca Fortuin. The book will be published in the US by vice-president and editorial director Carrie Thornton of Dey Street Books. It will be released in hardback, e-book and audio download in the UK on 18th May 2021.

Howell, who rose to fame through comedy YouTube videos that have racked up more than one bilion views, scored a hit with his debut publication with Phil Lester, The Amazing Book is Not on Fire (Ebury), in 2015. It became a Sunday Times and New York Times number one bestseller, selling 167,000 copies for £1.6m in the UK, and was followed by a sell-out world tour.

The new book, his first solo publishing venture, is inspired by his own mental health journey shared with millions on fans on stage and screen, along with his work as an ambassador for mental health charity Young Minds. He will mark the publication by donating £10,000 to the charity.

HarperCollins said: “You Will Get Through This Night will be a practical guide to understanding and taking control of your mental health, written in an entertaining and personal way from someone who has been through it all.”

Howell explained: “Mental health is a huge part of all of our lives and for too many of us it’s a mystery, but if we understand our minds we can put ourselves in control so we can really live. I’ve been open about my story, letting people laugh and learn from my struggles and You Will Get Through This Night represents all of it. It's deep, it's dark, it's personal, it'll make you laugh, it'll make you cry and it actually has profound professional mental health advice that might completely change your life.’

Spilt over three sections; This Night, Tomorrow and The Day After, the book “provides a refreshing, realistic approach to looking after your mental wellbeing the way we all experience it—whether you are in a crisis, just looking to make a change or want to know how to look after yourself every day.”

The print book was written in consultation with psychologist Dr Heather Bolton and the audio edition will also feature meditations and guides to use as entertaining and practical tools.

Fox said: “Dan has already been so generous with his story, and helped so many people. Rebecca and I are thrilled to be working with him and Dr Heather Bolton to create a book to bring that understanding, inimitable voice, coupled with expert advice, to even more readers.”