Watkins Boycott: The Rights to My Book Are Finally Mine Again

Twelve months ago, I joined the boycott of my publisher, Watkins Media, following revelations that Watkins CEO had investments in an Israeli AI technology company that collaborates with the IDF.

My first book was due to be published by Watkins in November 2025, and I had delivered the manuscript, which was ready to go to print.

However, I could not continue with publication knowing there was a risk that profits generated by my book could, directly or indirectly, be reinvested in Israel’s military machine.

So I withdrew my book and sought the return of my rights.

Twelve months later, after a long and difficult battle, the rights to my book are finally mine again.

The decision I made has come at considerable cost, but I have no regrets. As Palestinian poet Rasha Abdulhadi wrote:

“Whatever sand you can throw on the gears of genocide, do it now. If it’s a handful, throw it. If it’s a fingernail full, scrape it out and throw.”

Refusing to publish my book under those conditions was my fingernail full of sand.

Now I have the rights back, I want to work with agents, editors and publishers whose values align with mine.

Despite the many issues in the publishing industry, good books continue to find their way into the hands of readers, and this is what I want for my own.

My book is called Miss: When a Teacher Breaks the Rules.

It is a memoir about teaching in some of London’s strictest academy schools and my life as an activist, and how those two worlds collided.

It is a love letter to teachers and teaching, and an account of all the things in an unjust education system that get in love’s way.

The manuscript is complete at 80,000 words, professionally edited and ready for publication.

And this is where I would really appreciate your help.

If you know an agent, editor or publisher who might be interested in Miss, I would be hugely grateful if you would send them this post. A personal introduction would mean a huge amount.

And if you don’t have a direct publishing connection but would still like to help, please share my Instagram post. The further it travels, the greater the chance that it reaches the right person.

Meanwhile, the wider campaign to end complicity with Israeli apartheid, occupation and genocide in the arts continues. You can follow Boycott Watkins, Fossil Free Books and Cultural Workers Against the Genocide to find out more and get involved.

May we all continue to write towards a world in which every one of us can know peace, and be free.

Hello, I’m Holly.

I offer creative writing retreats in Pembrokeshire, online writing groups, book mentoring and editorial support.

I’d love to hear from you. If you have any questions about my retreats or how we might work together, please get in touch using the form below.