My rivals: Brian May and Stephen Hawking

I’m just editing the final proof of the new book I’m co-authoring. It’s the latest in the world-conquering Dummies series and it’s about the Big Bang theory.  I have to finish it by Wednesday. It’s great to see it as it will actually look on the page but it’s now made me nervous about whether people will like/read/buy it.

Having finished the proof, I’ll have to start thinking seriously about how to promote it. It’s strange to be trying to promote something to other people rather than being on the receiving end. Most of my days are spent fielding calls and emails from PRs keen to see their clients’ products and services mentioned in my articles. I’m not sure I’m very good at it to be honest.

The biggest fly in the ointment to the book’s success is perhaps the competition. Take Brian May, Queen’s legendary lead guitarist. He has just handed in his astronomy PhD after a 36 year gap to follow his rock career and has now published a book with Britain’s most famous astronomer Sir Patrick Moore. Guess what, it’s all about the Big Bang.

If that weren’t stiff enough competition, Britain’s most famous boffin, Stephen Hawking, has also brought out another book on the Big Bang for beginners. How am I supposed to compete with that lot?

Do all authors have these same nightmares just before publication I wonder?

About writer’s block

Here I plan to let everyone know what life is like as a freelance journalist and author, particularly those moments when I’m stumped on how to write the next few words and gaze out of the window for inspiration.