Vertebrate scoops Mort's mountain dog adventures

Vertebrate Publishing has scooped Never Leave the Dog Behind, a celebration of mountain adventures and misadventures with four-legged friends by award-winning author Helen Mort.

Founder Jon Barton acquired world English language rights from the author, for publication on 1st October.

The synopsis explains: “Inspired by the story of Missy, a German Shepherd who was abandoned by two hikers in the Canadian Rockies, the book explores the relationship between people, dogs and the great outdoors, comprising interviews with dog owners and experiences with a variety of dogs as well as Helen's own observations as a runner and pet owner herself.”

Mort is a writer, trail runner and climber from Sheffield, where Vertebrate is based. Her first poetry collection, Division Street (Chatto), was shortlisted for the Costa Prize and the T S Eliot Prize, and won the Fenton Aldeburgh First Collection Prize. Her first novel, Black Car Burning (Chatto), was longlisted for the Portico Prize and the Dylan Thomas Prize.

She said: “Never Leave the Dog Behind is about how the company of dogs can take us out of ourselves: out into landscapes and open spaces. It's a book for dog lovers and people who enjoy being outdoors, but it's also for anyone who has felt dogged by loneliness. The last few months have made all of us think more about companionship and freedom, and those are the themes at the heart of my writing.”

Signed hardback copies of Never Leave the Dog Behind are now available to pre-order from the Vertebrate Publishing website.