Book Cover

Once upon a time there was my book and I thought the cover would be like
wrapping a gift in pretty paper and ribbon.
Right!
Then the trip began that started as run down the street - to a voyage around
the world in less than 80 days if possible.
The title of my book never changed. It was and still is: The Midnight Room.
So where do I start?
The book starts in Manhattan - at midnight.
My cover was Manhattan and I was contented.
I went on a trip to Morocco and came back with so many photos that I was convinced
I had the right cover now. After all - it was not only about Manhattan.
It was about Moroccan culture, people and all sorts of interesting things.
Suddenly the book is at the publisher and guess what --- the cover is not right.
Talk about stress!
A bright young designer takes on the commission of doing the cover - masks it will be,
because the people in the book all wear masks. Makes sense.
Another month goes by - so much work later - and we are nowhere close.
I feel terrible and the designer throws his arms up in total despair.
I don't sleep and would have started biting my nails had they been edible.
Out of the blue I receive a call from a friend from my advertising days. I tell him my dilemma, and he said leave it to him.
The next morning - multiple covers arrive on my PC. (No pun intended!) :-)
They knock me out. Exotic! Mysterious! Fantastic.
Which one to go with!! So many choices!
The final decision is made and the final material is at the printer.
I am excited and cannot wait for the day that I will hold this baby in my arms.
I will add some of these covers on my website if you are interested to take a peep.
Talk to you soon.
www.midnightroom.com

My Midnight Room

At last I see the end in the publishing tunnel.
Whoever said it was difficult to write a book need to think again.
Writing a book merely takes focus and discipline and that is
something we can all apply - and a little imagination of course.
What is painful – is what to do when you have written the last page.
The joy and feeling of achievement is short-lived as soon as you endeavor
to get your work published.
It took me many, many years to get my manuscript to a point where I knew
it was ready and wanted nothing more than to see it in book form.
But even then, I realized that without professional editing, I was taking a big
chance.
I knew my writing had limitations – after all – I am Afrikaans, and live in South Africa. My novel concerns Moroccans, living in Manhattan under strange circumstances.
Along comes an author of some 18 books, novels as well as poetry, and holding my breath I timidly asked him if he would mind editing my book.
This happened in a Writer’s Association group on the Internet. He wrote back that he would look at my manuscript, if he thought it worthwhile – he would edit for a fee. I grabbed the chance and sent him the first chapter. Next day he asked to see the following chapter. I sent it and by this time I could hardly breathe with anticipation.
Day after, I received an invoice for the editing, he said: “Let’s get to work. I love it!”