16 April 2019
Announced today, we’re absolutely thrilled that Dr Amit Patel and Kika have signed a deal for their debut non-fiction memoir with Pan Macmillan . Scheduled for publication in Feburary 2020, the book will tell the story of how trauma doctor Amit lost his sight and found help in the form of guide dog Kika.
Editor Charlotte Wright acquired world English rights for the as-yet-untitled book from Lauren Gardner at Bell Lomax Moreton. Scheduled for release in February 2020 it recounts how Patel lost his sight within 36 hours due to a condition called keratoconus.
The synopsis explains: “His life changed forever. Struggling to make even a cup of tea and terrified of stepping outside with a white cane after a number of traumatic travel experiences, he refused to leave home on his own for almost three months. Until his guide dog Kika came along.”
Patel is known for his journeys through London which he often shares online via Twitter. One of their videos went viral in 2018 after a commuter rudely asked them to move on a London Underground escalator.
Wright said: “I knew as soon as I met Amit that I wanted to publish his book. His positivity and enthusiasm immediately resonated with me and his partnership with Kika is wonderful to watch. His story is truly inspirational and is a lesson to us all that, whatever our circumstances, we should live life to the fullest extent possible.”
“When I lost my sight I felt I was mourning the loss of the person I once was,” Patel said. “It wasn’t only my sight that was taken from me but also my confidence, my independence, my drive and my passion for life. I was lucky enough to have an incredible wife by my side who helped me get back on my feet and then I met my guide dog Kika, and then everything really started to fall into place. The opportunity to tell my story is an incredible one and I hope that it will not only help to challenge perceptions of disability but also give hope to those going through tough times in their life.”