Dawn French is writing a book about turning 60

Wednesday 12th July 2017, 9:46am

Dawn French is writing a new book about age called Me. You: A Diary
The book is set to be published in October, the same month that the comedian turns 60
French describes the book as a "unique shared diary", which also leaves space for the reader to write

Dawn French is to write a new book called Me. You: A Diary.

It will be the comic and actor's first non-fiction title since her 2008 autobiography Dear Fatty.

Me You, A Diary is due to be published in October, the same month as French's 60th birthday (11th October). The book, which will focus on the topic of age, is described as a "unique shared diary" which will leave space for the reader to add their own thoughts.

Dawn French explains: "I can't count the amount of diaries I have crammed full with entries in January, that then fizzle out as the other months pile in. One of my teenage diaries has fulsome fizzing reports of every single conversation, thought and feeling about every friend, every crush, every meal, every argument until mid-March, when the entry on the 18th simply reads, 'Washed hair.'

"Thank God, this isn't that. This book is a way for us to tell the story of a year together. Feel free to write your appointments in it, lists, thoughts and reminders of, say, who to kill, and when, and in what order. But I've also written about age and life as I see it, through the seasons and the months, and I've added some places for you to join me in some fun and some thinking. By the end of the year, I am hoping you will have a fatter, scruffier book that is written by me but totally personalised by you."

Louise Moore from publishing company Michael Joseph comments: "It has been an absolute joy to work with Dawn on this very special, very different book. Spending a year in Dawn's company will be a fantastic treat for all her fans."

The new book is expected to sell well. French's last three fiction novels - A Tiny Bit Marvellous, Oh Dear Silvia and According to YES - have all been bestsellers. Trade newspaper The Bookseller calculates that, combined with the autobiography Dear Fatty, French has sold over 2 million books to date, generating £16.9m in sales.

Me. You: A Diary will be published on October 5th, a date publishers label 'Super Thursday' as over 500 titles are set to be released that day to coincide with the early Christmas sales push.

Me. You: A Diary is available to pre-order now:

Me. You: A Diary

By Dawn French

I can't count the amount of diaries I have crammed full with entries in January, that then fizzle out as the other months pile in. One of my teenage diaries has fulsome fizzing reports of every single conversation, thought and feeling about every friend, every crush, every meal, every argument until mid-March, when the entry on the 18th simply reads,

'Washed hair.'

Thank god, this isn't that. This book is a way for us to tell the story of a year together. Feel free to write your appointments in it, lists, thoughts and reminders of, say, who to kill, and when, and in what order. But I've also written about age and life as I see it, through the seasons and the months, and I've added some places for you to join me in some fun and some thinking. By the end of the year, I am hoping you will have a fatter, scruffier book that is written by me but totally personalised by you.

Come on in. The paper is lovely...

First released: Thursday 5th October 2017

Hardback

eBook

Audiobook