Kyle Books to publish artist's illustrated take on 'difficult year'

Kyle Books has acquired Together, a "gently philosophical and very relatable look at how we have dealt with a difficult year", by artist Luke Adam Hawker.

Marianne Laidlaw acquired world rights in all languages directly from the artist. The book will be published on 18th March 2021 priced at £16.99.

With "touching" illustrations and "simple" text, Together looks back over the events of 2020. The synopsis reads: "When a monumental storm arrives, day-to-day life changes overnight. We follow a man and his dog through the uncertainty that it brings to their lives. Through their eyes, we see the difficulties of being apart, a rollercoaster of emotions that we can all relate to, and the realisation that by pulling together we can move through difficult times with new perspective, hope, and an appreciation of what matters most in life."

Hawker said: "When faced with the restrictions of lockdown, I naturally turned to pen and paper to illustrate what was unfolding around us. This book has helped me focus on the positives of what has been a truly challenging time, I hope it helps others do the same."

Together came about after Laidlaw saw Hawker's depiction of the 8 p.m. applause for the NHS online and made an approach asking him to illustrate "the emotional rollercoaster we're all experiencing". Collaborating over Zoom, Hawker mapped out images while Laidlaw developed the text.

Laidlaw said: "I’ve long been a huge fan of Luke’s fantastic work and am thrilled to be bringing it to an even wider audience with Together. This is a beautiful and emotional book which is perfect to share with the friends and family we have been missing. We have, to date, sold rights in six languages which is testament to the book's universal appeal and uplifting message."