HarperNorth lands two-book deal with social media star McCartney

HarperNorth has landed a two-book deal from comedy writer and social media star Sophie McCartney.

Genevieve Pegg, publishing director, acquired world all language rights from Lauren Gardner at Bell Lomax Moreton for non-fiction title Tired and Tested: The Wild Ride into Parenthood, to be published in February 2022, followed by a fiction debut in 2023.

McCartney is known on social media as Tired and Tested, and has more than one million followers on Facebook. She is best known for her mum parody of Ed Sheeran’s "Shape of You" and combines original musical compositions, parody and stand-up comedy in her content.

Pegg said: "I’ve been a huge fan of Sophie’s work right from the start – she’s made me and millions of other women laugh and feel like we’re not alone in the crazier parts of parenting. But more than that, when I read Sophie’s book I knew her honesty and humour would strike a chord with readers everywhere – for everyone who wonders why adult life doesn’t come with an instruction manual. Laugh-out loud funny and fabulously frank, I can’t wait to share this and Sophie’s amazing novel with readers."

McCartney added: "It’s been my ambition to write for as long as I can remember, so I’m absolutely overjoyed to have signed with HarperNorth. I wanted to write not only about parenting, but the wild journey into adulthood and realisation you’ll never be ready for the monumental responsibility. I’m hoping to bring a lot of laughs to 'tired and tested’ grown-ups everywhere – a safe space for collective mistakes, life lessons and discoveries. Because let’s be honest, it’s a jungle out there! As a mother-of-two, I’m quite often overwhelmed and exhausted — like so many of us I've 100% NOT ‘got this’ — unless, of course, you’re referring to headlice. I’m beyond excited for publication, and also for my debut novel in 2023."