William Collins signs Georgie Codd’s ‘moving’ search for a father figure

William Collins has signed Never Had a Dad by Georgie Codd, a “funny and moving” book based on her search for the “ideal father figure”.

Jo Thompson, commissioning editor, acquired world English language rights from Ed Wilson at Johnson & Alcock. Hazel Eriksson, senior editor, has taken over the project, which is scheduled for publication on 6th June 2024. Additionally, the television rights to Never Had a Dad have been optioned by a major UK producer, William Collins said. 

“Codd’s unusual story was first picked up by the renowned US podcast ‘This American Life’, which previewed the tale to millions of listeners worldwide in 2022,” William Collins said. “The book follows what happened when Codd, who grew up without knowing her father, was inspired by a stranger’s practical joke to advertise for her own ideal father figure. 

“The ‘dadverts’, which were placed in an eclectic range of national newspapers and magazines, invited responses to the request: ‘Fatherless, friendly 31yoF looking for intrepid M50s–70s who wants to try being a father figure (not sugar daddy).’ More than 50 men replied to dadverts in Private Eye, New Scientist, Farmer’s Weekly, Grindr and more, leading to sprawling conversations, nerve-racking meetings and a full spectrum of reactions – from touching to tragic, hilarious, horny and everything in between.”  

Eriksson said: “Georgie’s engaging voice caught our attention immediately and we had to know how it would all end. Never Had a Dad is equally funny and moving, and offers a fascinating, fresh look at what we mean when we talk about family.”

Codd commented: “My quest to find a dad started back in 2018 and has taken me to some pretty unexpected places since. I wasn’t sure I’d ever share the story in print, and getting it here has been an intense and interesting journey of its own, so I feel lucky to have had strong support from Ed and William Collins along the way. I’m excited to be able to launch the book soon and find out what happens next.”

Codd’s first non-fiction book, We Swim to the Shark, was published by Fleet Books in 2020 and featured on BBC Radio 4’s “Woman’s Hour”. She also founded the online literary festival BookBound 2020, created during lockdown in aid of mental health charities in the UK and New Zealand. 

Codd is a graduate of the University of East Anglia’s Prose-writing MA, where her flash fiction won the Seth Donaldson Bursary.