Recently I’ve had a spate of emails asking me how on earth I’ve managed to shift so many copies of my book, How To Do Everything and Be Happy (1,296 copies last month (October 2011), on amazon, in the UK, and rising).
The official answer is, of course, that it’s a bloody good book and how dare you suggest otherwise. But unofficially even I will admit that there may be more to it than that. After all, no one knows just how good it is until they read it and for that to happen something else has to persuade them to part with some cash.
I have three pet theories.
1) My name. People tend to remember my name. They’re then quite surprised how different I look on telly, and the fact that I haven’t arrived by helicopter. Not to mention that I don’t own a department store.
2) The Title. People really like the title. Which is relief as I originally wanted to call it How To Be Happy, then The Happiness Blueprint, then So You Want To Be Happy, before finally settling on How To Do Everything and Be Happy. Phew!
3) The cover. People really really like the cover.
I can’t take any credit for number three. Both the ebook and paperback covers were designed by my good friend Ellen – who having taken my suggestions into consideration, ignored them completely and blew my socks off with the colourful creation you see today.
Ellen is an extremely talented young woman. Together with her business partner and fellow wordsmith Dan (hello Dan), they run Stalk and Seed, an advertising agency that’s going places. If you’re of a mind and you get a moment you should check out their funky website at stalkandseed.com.
But in the meantime I thought I’d share with you the following video that they helped create for Sir Paul McCartney (to be played behind him and the band during the American leg of his world tour)! It basically involved locking Ellen in a room for two weeks with a huge blackboard and getting her to draw whatever came to mind to the song Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, with occasional input on the phone from Sir Paul himself. The result is pretty stunning. Like I said, talented young woman.
If you’re reading this in your email or you can’t see the video – click here
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