Pan Macmillan is delighted to announce they will be publishing Hilary Devey’s autobiography in spring 2012. Editorial director Ingrid Connell acquired the book from Jonathan Conway in a heated auction that involved ten publishers.
Hilary Devey is an award-winning businesswoman who took Britain by storm when she appeared on the BBC’s Dragon’s Den in autumn 2011, with her unique style, gravelly voice and warm down-to-earth manner. She has not talked in any depth about her life but now she’s ready to tell the full story of the girl from Bolton whose talent, resilience and determination have seen her overcome devastating hardships in her personal life and numerous obstacles in her business career. With no financial backing, she battled to set up a revolutionary haulage business, taking Pall-Ex from tiny beginnings to a company with an annual turnover in excess of £100 million, and which has now expanded into Europe.
Ingrid Connell commented: ‘Hilary’s story is extraordinary – powerful, moving and funny. I love the material I’ve seen so far and I know the finished book will be as inspirational as the woman herself.’
Hilary Devey commented: “Writing this book has brought back so many memories, and I have to say it’s been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I hope that readers will enjoy the account of my professional and personal journey from a tough Bolton childhood to being the new girl in the Dragons’ Den. But this isn’t going to be a ‘Look what I did so you can too’ book, because not everyone can. And not everyone should try. Building a business from scratch brings huge rewards but there are sacrifices too and I’m not going to soft soap what they are.”