My biography – Lonesome George: The Life and Loves of the World’s Most Famous Tortoise – is now out in paperback, published by Pan. It’s also been shortlisted for this year’s Royal Society General Book Prize, “the world’s most prestigious award for science writing”. It’s great to be on the shortlist but bookmakers William Hill have only given its author Henry Nicholls an outside chance at victory, with 5/1 odds of winning the £10,000 prize.

I dropped Henry an email last week to ask how he was coping with the sudden surge of interest in his book, which the Daily Mail described last week as “something of a bizarre best seller”. “Just about,” came his reply. What with the Royal Society shortlisting, the recent discovery of Pinta genes on Isabela and the release of the paperback, he’s been acting as my spokesperson for the seven days. He’s been doing interviews with all and sundry and in and out of radio studios, but most flattered by coverage of the book prize in The Independent: “If any of the shortlisted books should win the prize for storytelling, it is this one,” wrote highly respected journalist and science editor Steve Connor. “It is the first book by Nicholls, who is surely set to become an author of many more fascinating science books. In many ways, this book is what good science writing is all about – explanation through ripping narrative.”

Well, if I were a betting tortoise – and, before you ask, I’m not – I’d stump up some cash. It’s got to be worth a flutter, hasn’t it?