Sandycove pre-empts debut essay collection from comedian McNally

Sandycove has pre-empted a "funny and irreverent" debut collection of essays by stand-up comedian Joanne McNally.

Martina O’Sullivan, publisher at Penguin General, acquired world rights from Faith O’Grady at the Lisa Richards Agency. The as-yet-untitled book will publish in autumn 2023 and will explore topics such as sex, dating, heartbreak, friendship, body image and ageing.

McNally is the co-host with Vogue Williams of the podcast "My Therapist Ghosted Me" which has two million downloads each month. Her forthcoming tour, The Prosecco Express, has sold over 70,000 tickets so far in the UK and Ireland with 30 nights at Dublin’s Vicar Street and three sold out appearances at the London Palladium.

McNally said: “I've always wanted to write a book and I could not be happier that I'm going to do it with Penguin. I started out in life wanting to be a journalist but was told I'd need to be prepared to sell my granny for a story and considering all my grannies were deceased, I didn't feel I had the resources to pursue that dream, so to get an opportunity to write without having to traffic elderly people is very exciting.”

O’Sullivan said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be working with Joanne. My sister first introduced me to the podcast back in May and I’ve been obsessed ever since. Joanne is undoubtably a comic genius but, more importantly, she’s a gifted writer with a distinctive perspective and a knack for shrewd observation.”