Ebury swoops for Dench's Flight

Ebury Press has swooped for Sacha Dench's Flight, an account of her 7,000km journey in a paraglider with a propeller strapped to her back, to follow and help to save the Bewick’s swan.

Robyn Drury, commissioning editor, acquired world all languages rights direct from the conservationist and adventurer. It is set for release in hardback and e-book in early 2022.

Travelling through 11 countries, Dench overcame her fear of flying to follow the swans on their annual migration across the Arctic tundra, eventually arriving in Gloucestershire. Dench will weave together her own experience and stories from those she met along the way, with the history of swan conservation and the myths and legends she discovered about the iconic birds.

Drury said: “I’ve been a huge fan of Sacha ever since I first read about her adventures and while we’ve been in touch for a few years, the time was never quite right for a book. So I’m absolutely thrilled that Sacha is now writing the extraordinary story of her flight with the swans — I know that readers will be beguiled and inspired by the journey.”

Dench is UN Ambassador for Migratory Species, and in 2018 she won the Britannia Trophy for the most meritorious performance in aviation, previously awarded to Sir Richard Branson and the Red Arrows and not won by a woman since 1967.

She added: "I’m delighted Ebury want to publish this story — my journey into the world and heads of wild swans, and into the lives of the people all along their annual migration. It was full of magical moments and changed my view on birds, humans and the world. As a child I loved books and to dive into the pages and be taken to far-off lands. Now I want share a journey around the planet, but from a different point of view.”