Final Novel from Emma Hannigan to be Published Posthumously

The literary world reeled this year with the loss of Irish writer Emma Hannigan to cancer. The novelist who has to date twelve published works to her name has seen her entire career steered by the knowledge that she carried the BRCA1 gene, which causes breast cancer. The author first started writing after preventative surgery but developed cancer despite the surgery.

In February 2018 her final works was published, Letters to My Daughters, and instant bestseller and now it’s announced that a posthumous work, The Gift of Friends will be out next year.

The announcement was made on 25th September, Hannigan’s birthday, and The Gift of Friends will be published on 28th February 2019. The Gift of Friends is marked to be “a life-affirming story that celebrates the power of female friendship”. Hannigan submitted the final draft for the book on 3rd March 2018, just days before her death.

As part of the announcement for the novel, Emma’s family released a statement about the author, paying tribute to her “ever generous spirit”. They also spoke of how it’s hard to believe six months has already passed since her death and how happy they are to have one final gift in a final book.

The Gift of Friends will be released on 28th February 2019 and is already available for pre-order.