Recently I've be getting lots of email which can be paraphrased as 'where's my bloody book?' Whenever I see friends, relatives, colleagues and acquaintances, they always ask 'when am I getting my book?' So I thought it would be a good idea to give you an update. 

Firstly thank you everyone for pledging. It was wonderful that the book was funded so quickly. It shows that there's an interest in the subject. Or it shows that all those years of being nice to people have finally paid off. People can still buy special gift hardbacks so if you come across anyone who looks very interested in alcohol, do tell him about my book. Any money raised now, I get royalties from rather than just going into the Unbound lunch fund so please do spread the word.

Secondly, to answer the where's my book question, I had a meeting with my editor and hopefully I'll hand the book in in June 2015. Then it will be edited and turned into a book. This is a long process as we want the book not only to read well but to look wonderful as well. There will be maps, illustrations and scratch n' sniff sections (probably.) So the book will be published in 2016 date to be confirmed. 

I am spending every waking moment either writing, reading or thinking about the book. Except when I'm at work in which case I'm 110% committed to that (just in case my employers are reading.) So far I have written four chapters and there will be ten in total. In order to make the book as good as it can be, I have to take strenuous research trips to places such as Portugal, Bordeaux and Jerez. I've just come back from Sicily which was damn hard work:

I'm going to post exerts from some of the chapters soon just so you know that I'm really working and not just sitting around in restaurants drinking wine. Please let me know what you think but only if it's positive. I'm not interested in negative feedback.

Thank you!