Men are spared pregnancy but the process of getting a book out has some uncomfortably close comparisons. And we have two books coming out in the next month with the first, Edward Whitaker’s new photograph collection, Beyond The Frame, already in selected shops.

It was also on Henry Cecil’s kitchen table when we visited on Wednesday morning as part of the research for the biography I am writing for next Christmas. Having the book there did a bit for Edward’s street cred but probably not as much as him being there at 4.30 am to do a ‘Morning in the life’ of the Cecil stable as well as a Frankel update which will be in Sunday’s Racing Post.

While he was there Ed got commandeered into doing a team photo which just reminded us how much is involved in getting one horse, let alone 120, to the races. I hope you enjoy my picture of him at work – and his ‘real’ ones on Sunday.

Our second book is Warrior: The Amazing Story of a real Warhorse, which is out in October after an opening feature in the Daily Mail on October 1st or 8th. The last  proofs, complete with unique Alfred Munnings illustrations, looked terrific so we now hold our breath to see actual copies in our hand next week.

Now that is publishing’s ‘new born baby’ moment and it was exhilarating this week when I finally had a chance to look at Edward’s book and read all the captions we had worked on for so long.

Let’s hope buyers think so too – starting with the chance to buy Whitaker originals at the Osborne Gallery from next Tuesday.