A photo of me smiling as I hold my latest book in print for the first time. You’ve probably seen this sort of picture from all sorts of authors and wondered if it’s some crazy and acceptable marketing ploy. I have to say that looking at myself, smiling triumphantly as if I’d won a gold medal seems slightly incongruous. I’ve written a book, not hurdled four hundred meters nor dived from a great height. But to me, if feels as if that’s exactly what I’ve done.

As an Olympian, you commit to daily exercise in pursuit of some goal that you have, an internal aim that pushes you forward, something you can’t explain to others. It’s something you feel you must do. That daily routine, sometimes done joyfully and sometimes when you’re not feeling so bright, gets you to the point where you can compete, hopefully successfully.

It’s not so different for a writer who sits alone in their writing nest every day, working towards their final goal of a finished book. There are, for writers like Olympians, dangers along the way. Doubts, insecurities, financial worries, and personal issues are the least of them. For an athlete, their personal trainer will help to guide them forwards, as will their friends and families. Their support is crucial. It’s no different for writers. I know that each of my books has been due to the support from my editors, Nicci Robinson and Victoria Villasenor, and my friends, family, and most importantly, my wife.

So next time you see a smiley-faced author holding up their book, think about the long journey that author has had, often alone, and then you’ll know exactly why the writer looks so pleased. And they’d be even more pleased if you connected with them over the love of words.