Danielle Binks has sold world rights to debut author Kay Kerr’s YA novel, ‘Please Don’t Hug Me.’

Text Publishing has acquired Kerr’s ‘contemporary coming-of-age tale’ about ‘a neuro-diverse and socially awkward year 12 student, Erin, who is dealing with tragedy by writing letters, ditching her sham friends, and discovering true companionship in the most unlikely of places—a mature-age women’s clothing shop’.

Text senior editor Jane Pearson said Kerr has ‘created a wonderful character whose experiences of feeling on the outer, of confusion and of working out that it’s okay to be who she is have touched us all’.

‘There’s an authenticity to the voice, and a real warmth comes through in Kay’s writing. I think teenage readers, whether they are neurologically diverse or not, will identify with and love Erin,’ said Kerr. ‘And, of course, teenage girls with ASD [Autism Spectrum Disorder] will find in her a kindred spirit.’

No release date has been finalised for the title, but publication is expected for late 2018 or early 2019.