Salamander Street snares Gomm's poetry and sketches collection

Salamander Street has snapped up I am Ill with Hope, a collection of poems and drawings by poet, artist and former actor Oliver Gomm, known to his fans as Gommie.

The publisher acquired world English language rights to the book directly from the author. It will publish on 27th September in paperback.

"I am Ill with Hope is a deeply moving mixture of texture, illustration, poetry and verbatim conversations, and a gentle homage to the often-overlooked places we inhabit and the frequently forgotten voices we hear," the synopsis states.

"In 2019 Gomm began walking the coastline of an England with nothing but a backpack, a tent and an unusually large collection of pens. His aim? Searching for hope during increasingly hard times. From losing his way on the Dover Hills to bankruptcy in Rhyl and wild camping in Scarborough, Gommie’s extraordinary journey is still ongoing."

Gomm began walking the coasts of England and Wales in 2016, after deciding to quit acting. Starting in Devon, he travelled through places including Ramsgate, Whitstable, Faversham, Sheerness, Pitsea, Southend and Basildon, among others. He won the Soho House Newcomer Award presented by Kate Bryan, and his work is currently being exhibited as part of the Soho House Collection.