Transworld signs Gemma Styles' debut book on mental health

Transworld has bought Why Am I Like This?, the debut book from podcaster and mental health ambassador Gemma Styles.  

Zoë Berville, senior commissioning editor, pre-empted world all-language rights from Adam Strange, while he was at Gleam Futures. Why Am I Like This? will be published by Bantam Press on 12th September 2024. 

Styles is a London-based writer, podcaster and an ambassador for American not-for-profit mental health charity MQ.

Transworld said: “Using her platform to raise awareness about our most pressing issues, Gemma Styles has become one of our most trusted voices on the subjects of mental health, activism and self-care in the digital age.

“In Why Am I Like This? she offers a roadmap for anyone who feels overwhelmed by – or that they don’t belong in – our imperfect world.

“Drawing on Gemma’s own experience of mental illness and neurodivergence, Why Am I Like This? gets curious about how we tick in order to understand and better navigate the unique pressures of life today. In the face of unprecedented levels of loneliness, burnout and insecurity, Gemma explores how we can start to feel more hopeful, connected and at peace with ourselves and each other.”  

Berville said: “Why Am I Like This? is a major launch for us this year. I know it will connect with and make a meaningful difference to the lives of readers far and wide.” 

Styles said: “I’ve always been curious to learn more about how our minds work and why so many of us seem to get tripped up by the same things. It’s been therapeutic to explore those questions in more detail while writing Why am I like this? and I hope plenty of readers will be able to relate to feelings of self-doubt or frustration. It’s reassuring to find there are explanations for many things we experience day to day and that giving ourselves a break could help us have more compassion for each other too.” 

Strange commented: “Within moments of Gemma talking to me about the nascent idea for this book it was clear that not only was she passionate about the subject, but also that she would be willing to write with an honesty and curiosity that readers would find refreshing, accessible and helpful.”