Some of you know that I’ve been working on a book for a while — it’s called “The Elephant in the Room,” and it’s a memoir about my life as a fat man in a growing America. Just after midnight last night, I wrote the final sentence and then typed -30-, which is old newspaper lingo for the end of a story. I emailed the draft to my agent. Most of my columns for the Charlotte Observer were about 600 words. One of the features I write for ESPN might run 4,000. This was 61,000 words. I hope a few of them are good.
This is just the end of the beginning. A few trusted readers are going to take a look and give me some thoughts. I’ll read those and make some changes. Then my book editor at Simon & Schuster will get ahold of it, and he’ll have more ideas. What we end up with will be different than what I turned in today. That’s how it works and how it ought to work. I don’t know when there will be a book for you to buy. But you can bet I’ll let you know through this blog, Twitter, Facebook, emails, town crier, etc.
There’s still a long way to go. But for now: I wrote a book! I think I’ll go sleep for a couple of days.
13 replies on “Elephant in the Room: The end of the beginning”
It’s about time you wrote a book! T;o)m Campbell
Good luck Tom, I’ll look back at your blog?
That is something to beveryproud of! Now take that well earned nap!
You should be so proud ? well done!
In Soviet Union when you write a book it finishes you.
Congratulations. Hope to get in a year or so…..???
I’m looking forward to reading it.
Yea for you!!!!
GREAT NEWS!!!!! ATTA BOYS for hanging in there and making it happen.
[…] just finished writing his book, all 61,000 words of it, on living as an overweight man in America. While I can’t wait to […]
I am so beyond proud of you!!! I still want an autographed copy when it comes out. I hope you will be having a book tour so I can buy a copy in person and have you autograph it on the spot…This way overdue. Please keep us posted.
[…] You’ve been very open about your weight, describing your upcoming book, “The Elephant in the Room,” as a “memoir about my life as a fat man in a growing America.” Why are you so open about this […]
Hi…just read your piece in the Atlantic which I presume came from your book. Wow. Thanks for your honesty, for the detail, for telling how it really is. You remind me of me.
Best of luck to you! And thanks.