We are bubbling with excitement, because Sarah Turner‘s brilliant debut fiction book is set to be published by Transworld! Frankie Gray, publishing director, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to Stepping Up and one other title from Hannah Ferguson in a six-figure deal. Bantam Press will publish Stepping Up in hardback, e-book and audio in March 2022.

Equal parts warm, hilarious and emotionally charged, Stepping Up tells the story of Beth, a woman in her thirties who is forced to reevaluate her life when the unthinkable happens. Beth has never stuck at anything, until an unspeakable tragedy turns her life upside down, and she finds herself guardian to her teenage niece and toddler nephew. Having never been responsible for anyone, or anything, it’s not long before she feels seriously out of her depth. But with a little help from her best friend Jory (purely platonic, of course…) and her lovely, lonely next-door neighbour Albert, Beth is determined that this time she’s not giving up. It’s time to step up.

Sarah said: “This is honestly a dream come true. My heart and soul (and many tears!) have gone into the writing of Stepping Up and I am absolutely thrilled to be working once again with Transworld, who have looked after me so well for both my non-fiction and the new fiction adventure.”

Frankie said: “Stepping Up is a beautiful novel: joyful, moving and ultimately hopeful. It is a relatable, life-affirming and funny exploration of family life, grief and unexpected responsibility. Sarah brings to her debut novel all of the humour, warts-and-all approach and warmth that have made her Unmumsy Mum books so successful. I love this book and I can’t wait for readers everywhere to fall in love with Beth and her family, just as I have.”

Sarah Turner is a bestselling author and blogger. Her non-fiction books The Unmumsy Mum, The Unmumsy Mum Diary and The Unmumsy Mum A-Z are hilarious and candid explorations of what it means to be a parent to young children and the bumps along the way.

Read the full Bookseller article here.