What the builder won’t tell you – it’s a lot of work, so why bother?

What the builder won’t tell you – it’s a lot of work, so why bother?

It began when I was telling our builder all I’d been learning about clay:  

·      Manages moisture, reducing condensation and mould

·      Adds more thermal performance to your walls

·      No toxins to pollute the home or damage the builders

·      Fully recyclable – just put it back in water for a few weeks and it goes back to clay

·      Low carbon footprint

Like me, he had no idea of the benefits. In fact, he’d never heard of clay plaster. I had an excuse – as an old, retired executive coach there was no reason for me to know about clay. But for a builder working on people’s home every day of the week, it was a real loss.

Time to oil the keyboard and get writing!

Construction and renovation is a major polluter: 21% of our carbon emissions in the UK and 20% globally, so any way to reduce that has to be good. But if the relevant people don’t know about it - and don’t know they don’t know - then it’s time to take action.

As ever, it was a middle of the night realisation – homeowners need to know there are options that can make their homes more comfortable, cheaper to run and better for the planet. BUT, the builders won’t tell them, because they don’t know themselves!

I woke determined to write an easy read book for homeowners, so they could take their place in the team. Then, the next night, I thought about timing. This was the second week in August 2025. I was speaking at a couple of events in October, so it would make sense to have a sample chapter to offer my audience by then. And why not get it out in time for Christmas shopping?

That was tight, but never one to back off a challenge – I was off!

I love the writing bit…

Sitting at the keyboard in my cocoon, following thoughts and options is the best bit for me. I need a block of time to focus down. So I was soon totally absorbed in hemp, heat pumps and builder’s contracts.

Three weeks later, the first draft was done. I felt satisfied and excited!

BUT: I’d forgotten just how much work still had to be done:

Expert oversight: I always get my work checked. If I’m pointing homeowners to what is possible, I must make sure I’m saying the right thing. My first book: Beginner’s Guide to Eco Renovation was checked throughout by an eco-inspired architect. For this one, I tapped Her Retrofit Space – a platform for women in retrofit. All the disciplines are there and they were very generous with their time.

Editing: I worked with a great editor for Beginner’s Guide to Eco Renovation, so it was a no brainer to go back to Suzanne Arnold. She has a good eye, is used to my style and always manages to make me laugh somewhere along the way. A great skill when you have to tell an author they didn’t get it quite right!

Creating an index: honestly, I forgot this one! It was another middle of the night moment -realising I didn’t have an indexer booked in. Unbelievable, I found someone straight away who could take me on – but then I messed it up!  I forgot to send over my deposit. And despite a few email questions and discussion, she didn’t remind me. Entirely down to me, but that 9.30am email on the day the work was to begin was devastating: ‘Since I didn’t have your manuscript or deposit by 9 am this morning, I’ve taken on other work’. I’ll never make that mistake again!

But a solution came to me via Fiverr. Brad took me on, reading the manuscript thoroughly, working out the major headings then sending it over for checking. That was a long job I hadn’t expected – I did nothing like that for Beginner’s Guide – but I think it’s better for being a joint effort. Not to mention Brad could put the index into the PDF for me. Took me three weeks of work and a lot of blue air to sort it for the last one!

Cover design: then the challenge of finding a good designer who didn’t charge multiple thousands for a cover. Not to mention the task of making building and insulation sexy!

Lee-May stepped up and we started the search for ideas. We did try out a cover with insulation – hemp and wood fibre of course – but it was pretty dull. Then came the idea of the actual hemp plant – courtesy of the Indinature website, which I really like, we were on our way.

I’ll just need to be ready for questions as to why I have marijuana on my book cover. Of course it’s industrial hemp, but it will definitely make you very happy as it warms and cools your home throughout the year!

Doesn’t sound so much now

When I write it down like that, doesn’t feel like too much. Just need to add in checking 940 times, spotting mistakes, not being able to do anything that changes page numbers once the index is done, getting mixed up between the eBook and the print book. I got to version 13 of the eBook and version 26 of print.

Then came the dreaded mistake

Just as I was ready to hit go on Amazon I discovered a fundamental mistake in a measurement. I was beside myself – how could I possibly have done this? I knew what it needed to be. It was only in one place, but I had to check the whole book to be sure – at least 10 times.

There were tears, swear words and tantrums, but I managed to work it out. I kept checking – terrified the manuscript would revert without me realising.

Time to hit GO

It’s an emotional moment. Like sending your baby out into the world. With one touch of the keyboard I became a manuscript ‘empty nester’. What to do with myself? Did it say anything useful? Was it all a monumental waste of time?

Then I gathered myself and began the next To Do list:

·      Adjust the website

·      Say something about it on Instagram – and get back into regular posting

·      Write some blogs

·      Contact podcasters

·      Plan marketing

·      Look into PR……………………

So I’m off again! Any bright ideas, let me know.

To get your copy of What the Builder Won't Tell You, click here or order from your nearest bookshop