Ebury Press gets 'unique insight into farming life' from the Red Shepherdess

Ebury Press has acquired Call Me Red: A Shepherd’s Journey by Hannah Jackson, a.k.a. The Red Shepherdess. 

Publishing director Sara Cywinski and editor Michelle Warner acquired world all languages rights from Jenny Heller at Robertson Murray Literary Agency. The memoir will be published on 11th March 2021. 

Jackson grew up in the Wirral and hadn't stepped foot on a farm until she was 20 years old, but had always loved animals. On a visit to the Lake District she witnessed a mother gave birth to her lamb, and it was a lightbulb moment: she never looked back, says the publisher. 

In Call Me Red, she will tell the story of how she broke the stereotypes of her Liverpudlian "townie" childhood, faced up to life’s challenges head-on and followed her dreams to become a shepherd, nurturing her own flock of sheep on an idyllic Cumbrian farm. She will give a unique insight into farming life and the values it has taught her, Ebury Press said. 

Nature writer Will Millard will co-write the book with Jackson. 

Cywinski said: "When I first came across Hannah, I immediately wanted to know more about her life on the farm and how she got there. Behind the beautiful landscape, talented sheepdogs, impressive number of sheep and eye-catching red hair is someone who works so incredibly hard to survive and thrive in agriculture. Through sheer determination and perseverance, Hannah has become a successful farmer in her own right, doing things her way. She’s remarkable and a true inspiration—and her book doesn’t disappoint either. And, when it comes to author commitment, gestures don’t come any bigger than naming one of your lambs Ebury!"

Jackson commented: "When I set off on this farming journey I never imagined it would actually lead me to writing my own book. I am so thankful to Ebury for this opportunity to really tell my story and share my life on the farm in so much detail, and I hope to inspire people to design a life they love and to find the confidence to go against the grain, no matter what society says they should be. And let’s just say, Ebury the lamb has a forever home in the flock here at Brookside!"

Jackson has appeared on BBC One's "Countryfile" and made it to the final round of Channel 4's "SAS: Who Dares Wins" in 2019.