Wren & Rook, the non-fiction imprint of the Hachette Children’s Group has acquired Can Everyone Please Calm Down?, a humorous exploration of modern sexuality written by comedian Mae Martin.

Martin's recent show Dope was nominated for Best Show at this year’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards. Martin has also appeared on TV shows such as BBC3’s Uncle, Live at the BBC and Russell Howard’s Good News. 

Debbie Foy, Publishing Director of Wren & Rook, acquired world rights from Tiffany Agbeko at John Noel Management. It will be published in July 2018 in paperback.

Can Everyone Please Calm Down is inspired by Martin’s 2016 Edinburgh show Us and her BBC Radio 4 show Mae Martin’s Guide to 21st Century Sexuality.

Debbie Foy, Publishing Director of Wren & Rook, says: "Gender and sexuality aren’t black and white, binary concepts – 40% of people under 25 don’t identify as gay or straight. But society hasn’t necessarily caught up with this sexual revolution – it’s 2017 and we are still labelling people by who they sleep with. Mae’s mission is to make sexuality ‘one less thing for kids to worry about’ by turning her comic wit towards binary definitions, pigeon-holing and intolerance, and pointing out that our sexuality is all on a spectrum. A truly millennial book, Can Everyone Please Calm Down? is a hilarious and illuminating guide to dating and relationships in the 21st century. We’re thrilled to welcome Mae to the Wren & Rook list."

Martin is also making a one-off sitcom pilot for Channel 4. News of both the book and the sitcom were first revealed in this exclusive interview Martin gave to the London Evening Standard in August. She said of the pilot: “I play myself. I wrote it assuming I can act but I don’t know if I can. It is based loosely on my life. The central character is struggling with sexuality issues with her family. I don’t know how to embellish, it’s all about me.”