I’m thrilled to announce my latest project, Looking Out for Number Two. As you might imagine, it’s a book about poo. Specifically, baby poo. Imagine Number Two as a slightly irreverent guide to digestive health during the first year of life. From the curiosities of stool color and burp science to grunting baby syndrome and the power of the microbiome, Number Two will represent the first book of its kind to help parents understand that what goes in and how it comes out can impact lifelong health.

Heavily subdivided, fast moving and fun, Number Two might be positioned as Why Do Men Have Nipples meets What To Expect written in the approachable voice of a Dummies guide. Wow.

World Rights for Number Two were acquired by HarperWave, an imprint of the NY publishing powerhouse, HarperCollins. Thanks to Jessica Papin and Dystel & Goderich Literary Management for connecting me to my editor, Sarah Murphy, who had the capacity and vision to understand what I imagine. A spring 2017 launch is planned.

Coming full circle to content for parents

I love this project because of what it represents. I first went to the web in 2006 with the selfish intent of promoting my last book. But rather than just peddle books, I realized pretty quickly that the new tools of media production gave me a powerful platform to the world. Since then I have worked to sell the medical community on the idea that doctors need to be translating, creating and sharing ideas for public consumption. So I’m back to the core thing that made me understand the power of being public. Totally full circle.

And no, I won’t be talking about explosive green stools here on 33c. But I will chronicle my progress and some of the issues I face shaping a collection of content for parents. With unlimited access to information, the creative ways that health information is packaged and curated will become increasingly important. More on the evolving role of books and media later.

Early to bed, early to write

My writing schedule now demands an alarm that goes off dangerously early every AM. Number Two will take shape inside of 90 hard-hitting minutes that start and end in the dark every morning. Then I’m off to work. No writing retreats or sabbaticals. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. If it weren’t for parents and babies that I serve every day, I’d be unable to write a book that offers practical solutions to their problems.

So, early to bed, early to write. My writing schedule runs through mid-March.

It’s not a book, it’s a movement | Subscribe to the Number Two mailing list

If you want to to hear more about Number Two and its progress, leave your email below. I’ll deliver occasional updates and let you know about new developments. I’m looking for a powerfully creative Number Two Crew to help me with aspects of the book’s creation and promotion. But if you don’t sign up below, I can’t reach you. You can also keep and eye on Twitter under hashtag #Number2.