Radar nets joyful story of friendship between a man and his cat by Nelson 

Radar has acquired Sigrid Rides: The Story of an Extraordinary Friendship and An Adventure on Two Wheels by Travis Nelson, described by the publisher as the “joyful friendship between a man and his cat”.

Publisher Briony Gowlett acquired world all language rights to the story of Nelson and his deaf Norwegian Forest cat, Sigrid, direct from the author. It will publish in June 2023.

The synopsis reads: “When Travis Nelson arrived in London, he expected to embark on a new life and a new job. Coming from California, he’d uprooted his wife and his cat, Sigrid, and planned to be here for the long haul. Then Covid-19 struck. Travis’s new job vanished as the company cut staff. For two years, and through successive lockdowns, he was stuck in limbo in an unfamiliar city, trying to find his way.

“To keep himself occupied, Travis set out to discover his adoptive home. He bought a bike and began cycling through London’s streets and parks with his unusual travelling companion, Sigrid – his deaf, Norwegian Forest cat – who came along for the ride. But what started as a way of injecting routine and purpose into Travis’s life in stressful times, created an internet sensation. When Travis began posting videos of the pair’s rides on social media, he drew in another community of people looking for moments of joy in an anxious world.”

“In this charming memoir, Travis charts his adventures with Sigrid. He unlocks a hidden London seen only from a cyclist’s viewpoint, as well as finding friendship and hope. Most of all, it is the story of one man’s relationship with his feline companion – one that has given him direction and a sense of belonging at a time when he felt lost.”

Gowlett said of the acquisition: “I haven’t had the heart to tell my dog that one of Radar’s star authors for 2023 is a cat. But in all seriousness, the stories of Travis and Sigrid’s adventures on their bike never fail to lift my spirits and we know the book will do the same for readers.”

Nelson added: “I’m thrilled to be sharing more of Sigrid’s story and to give some insight into this remarkable companion and our friendship. The past few years have been difficult for a lot of people, myself included, and it’s been a real pleasure to bring a little joy to people’s lives. I hope by sharing my story I can encourage people to stay positive and look for those little opportunities to find and create happiness in our day-to-day lives.”