Press release -
Author Hannah Tovey Joins STAMMA's Roster of Patrons
STAMMA welcomes bestselling author Hannah Tovey as their latest Patron. She joins a distinguished list of great communicators who stammer. In Hannah's case, she is able to mask her stammer and sound fluent. Something that millions of people worldwide do, but many feel deep shame for doing so.
Hannah took part in a mesmerizing discussion, of writers, actors, musicians and artists – and fellow stammerers, titled ‘Is there beauty in stammering’ at STAMMAFest Global last year. The panel included Owen Sheers, JJJJJerome, Scroobius Pip and Paul Aston. Here, she spoke about her own stammer and how it shaped her work.
Hannah is scheduled to share the stage once again with Professor Owen Sheers at STAMMA’s Hay Festival event on 1st June with fellow Patrons Margaret Drabble and Professor Owen Sheers together with the poet Zaffar Kunial. The panel, titled ‘Unspoken: The Secret Power of Stammering’, will see the authors discussing how a different kind of speech can give a different kind of voice.
Hannah's debut novel, The Education of Ivy Edwards, was published in 2020. The novel was a #1 Amazon Bestseller, an Apple Books Summer Essential, and Heat Magazine’s Read of the Week. Her second novel, Is This It? was published in 2021, and she has recently completed writing her third. She is a graduate of Faber Academy. She hails from South Wales, grew up in Hong Kong, and now lives in Southeast London with her husband where she misses Llanelli beach, her mother and cockles.
Hannah said “I’m immensely proud to be working with STAMMA, to connect with, celebrate and support those in the stammering community. I know that openness, individuality and diversity are front and center of STAMMA’s mission and I’m excited to join their brilliant cohort of patrons.”
Jane Powell, CEO of STAMMA added “We’re delighted that Hannah is joining our team of Patrons; another brilliant communicator, who has a stammer. Having a stammer has led many of our greatest communicators to have a facility with words and an often-unnerving insight into human behaviour. And as someone who is able to mask their stammer, yet talk about it, she is helping us send the message to thousands of people across the UK that acknowledging their stammer is OK ."
With her appointment as STAMMA Patron, Hannah joins authors Dame Margaret Drabble DBE, David Mitchell and Owen Sheers, broadcaster and former MP Ed Balls, the actor, rapper and podcaster Scroobius Pip, former Scottish International Rugby Captain Kelly Brown, sporting agent Jon Smith, businessman and broadcaster Arwel Richards, Baroness Janet Whitaker of the House of Lords, and renowned osteopath James Davies.
Further info
Hannah is represented by Hayley Steed at Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV and Film Agency.
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Our Purpose
We exist to create a world that makes space for stammering. Where it's embraced as just a difference. Where no-one judges your stammer or the way you choose to deal with it. We’ll get there by bringing people together, whether they stammer or not, to propel a movement for change.
We will stand up for and embolden those who stammer, provide support and information, and challenge discrimination wherever we find it. We’ll fight for NHS speech and language therapy services for those want it. No matter how you talk, we're here for you.
Join us and help the public understand that stammering is not a sign of being drunk, dishonest, nervous or weak. It’s simply how some of us talk.
