HQ lands 'compulsive' menopause Miller thriller

HQ has landed the first adult novel from Kirsten Miller, which follows three women who are brought together when they realise that each of them developed a special power after they had gone through the menopause.

Publishing director Manpreet Grewal acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, for The Change from Matilda Forbes Watson and Anna Dixon at WME UK. Rachel Kahan at William Morrow pre-empted North American rights from Suzanne Gluck at WME New York. The book will be published in hardback, trade paperback, e-book and audio in summer 2022.

The publisher described The Change as "a feminist call to arms to any woman who has ever felt powerless". Australian prodcuer Bruna Papandrea’s firm Made Up Stories has acquired the rights to develop the book for television. The author will be an executive producer on the show. 

Grewal said: "The Change is more than a brilliant and compulsive thriller. It’s also a call to action in the fight to change the conversation about menopause. Readers are going to love Nessa, Harriet and Jo, and how their true power (which is considerable!) only comes to be once they’ve each gone through the change. Using menopause as a superpower is an incredibly powerful and positive message, and I can’t wait to get this ground-breaking novel into the hands of readers everywhere."

Miller said: "While the book is set in New York, The Change was written for women everywhere. As my generation approaches menopause, I hope books like The Change will destroy the ridiculous shame and secrecy that have kept countless women around the world from savouring the best time of their lives. I'm thrilled that HQ will be my partner for what I expect will be a very wild ride."