Award-winning author and mountaineer Andy Kirkpatrick has signed a deal with award-winning independent publisher Vertebrate Publishing for the eagerly anticipated follow up to his first book, Psychovertical.

Provisionally entitled Cold Wars, and scheduled for publication in October 2010, Andy’s second book will build on the success of Psychovertical, which was awarded the prestigious Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature in 2008. 

Awarding the Boardman Tasker to Psychovertical, chair of the judges Tim Noble said;

“Taken as whole it stands as a beacon for the next generation of young turks: a challenge to pick up the pen and overcome their own reticence. Kirkpatrick has taken up the baton on behalf of generation x and, at just the right moment, has said 'Yes I can'.”

Specialising in big wall aid climbing, and winter expeditions, Andy made his name through ambitious ascents such as his 12-day solo ascent of the Reticent Wall of El Capitan, Yosemite, in 2001 – at the time considered one of the most difficult routes of its kind in the world. In 2002, Andy made a 15-day winter ascent of the Lafaille Route on the Petit Dru – likely the most difficult route of its kind in Europe.

More recently Andy climbed the 3,000ft Nose of El Capitan with injured soldier Major Phil Packer, as part of Phil’s quest to raise over £1 million for charity Help for Heroes.

Speaking of his own climbing, and his motivation to climb, Andy is philosophical;

“I haven’t climbed Everest, skied to the poles, or sailed single-handed around the world. The goals I set out to accomplish aren’t easily measured or quantified by world records or ‘firsts’. The reasons I climb, and the climbs I do, are about more than distance or altitude, they are about breaking barriers within myself.”

Andy intends to apply the same originality to Cold Wars that he used to such good effect with Psychovertical. Cold Wars will be anything but a chronological, blow-by-blow account of Andy’s climbs. 

Cold Wars will be published in October 2010.