What Are The Ingredients of a Best Seller?

So I’m writing a book. It’s about (surprise, surprise) childhood. Specifically, it’s about eight qualities I see in children that us grown-ups seem to have forgotten in the process of growing up. I’ve always wanted to write a book, but I envisioned it would happen much later in life, when I have a few more grey hairs on my head. But my wife and a few of my friends have encouraged me to get going on it now. I suppose it’s partly about putting my money where my mouth is. My Dad has had visions of writing his own book for years, about wisdom he wants passed down to his boys and grandchildren. I’ve been on him for a long time, harassing him and prodding him to just do it. Perhaps I figured it was just time for me to take my own advice. I’ve been working on it for about six months now, devising an outline and wrestling with the meat of the book. Currently, I’m able to steal a few hours a week to work on it at an Atlanta Bread Company in town. There’s something about the smell of fresh bread and hot soup that gets the ol’ creative juices flowing. Plus they have free Internet access, which helps with research. Ever since I started this thing, I’ve referred to it (in my to-do list and out loud) as my “best-selling book.” As in, “Time to go work on my best-selling book.” It has given me a grand vision for the thing, but I must admit, it has added a little pressure, too. When staring at a blank computer screen, it can be hard to determine what makes a best-selling book. I want it to be funny, but touching. Thought-provoking and inspiring. Serious, but not in a preachy way. I want it to be practical and yet exceedingly entertaining. Yikes. At least I don’t have to try and fit in any hobbits or elves. We’ll see how it goes. So far it has been a lot of fun. Starting was the hardest part, but wrestling with the guts of the book has been a challenge, too. I’m just trying to write as fast as I can, get eight-plus years of thoughts on childhood out of my head. I can’t wait to get into the more creative aspects and refinements, although the thoughts of what the cover should look like are already haunting my thoughts. What does the cover of a best-selling book look like? Alas, I don’t know. But I shall press onward, knowing that every best-selling book is different, but the thing most of them have in common is that they were written from the heart. Now that, I can do.