A debut novel sets bar high
AFORMER town pupil has taken the literary world by storm with her debut novel hitting the Sunday Times bestseller list.
Abigail Dean, who attended Stockport Grammar School on Buxton Road, hit the list with her debut novel ‘Girl A’.
Having had a passion for English since her days at the school the book includes a thank you to the English department and her former teacher Mr Howson.
After leaving Stockport Grammar, Abigail studied English at Cambridge University.
She then went on to have a successful career as a lawyer, but in summer 2018 she decided to take some time off and follow her dream of becoming an author.
Three months were spent in Dulwich Library, London, writing the novel and in October 2019 her dream came true as HarperCollins won a nine-way auction to publish ‘Girl A.’
The novel follows the story of successful lawyer Lex Gracie, who was the subject of national news as a child for her escape from a family of religious fanatics.
When her mother dies and leaves Lex and her siblings the family home, Lex realises she can’t run from her past and must come to terms with her childhood.
Abigail said: “I’m so excited to be working with the fantastic team at HarperCollins to introduce Girl A and the Gracie family to readers across the world.
“The whole process has been dreamlike, and I’m in awe of my agent, Juliet, who has worked tirelessly to make all of this happen.
“There is lots of excitement and a fair dose of nerves, but I’m so thrilled that people are going to get to meet the characters.”
In addition to the novel, Sony Pictures have acquired the screen rights with renowned Emmywinning music, television and film director Johan Renck set to adapt the book into a TV series.