If you think writing a book is the hardest part… just wait until you try to publish it. And that’s coming from someone who’s pulled off some pretty surreal stunts in life — opening a restaurant from scratch, moving countries more than once, orchestrating events with floating pianos, fashion shows on rooftops, dinners in olive groves, and once managing a last-minute crisis involving a prince, a parrot, and a broken mic. Oh, and I’ve worked in the chaos of Formula 1 too. I’ve navigated champagne shortages, broken sound systems, and last-minute celebrity meltdowns. I thought I could handle anything. But publishing a book? That one humbled me in ways I wasn’t ready for. Honestly, it shouldn’t be that difficult, but let’s just say I had a lot of bad luck with my publisher. It cost me time, energy, and a few too many headaches. After firing them, I had to figure everything out myself, with a half-designed book, wrong listings, and a to-do list that felt endless.
Chapter One: The Dream
It started with an idea. A story I had to tell, about what it really feels like to start over abroad, the chaos and beauty of Marbella and Dubai, the culture shocks, the belly-laughs, and the moments when I just wanted to scream into a pillow (preferably one with tassels). I imagined the book on shelves, people reading it in beach cafés, nodding along, saying: “Oh my god, same!”
Chapter Two: Reality Hits
Then came the process. Cover designs that made me question my entire aesthetic. Fonts that looked perfect until they didn’t. Files that disappeared, reappeared, then somehow returned with the wrong page numbers. Let’s not even talk about the moment I saw a printed copy with all the unapproved edits and thought: “Did I just self-sabotage in hardcover?” Some days I felt like a literary queen. Other days, I was frantically googling things like “how to fire your book formatter gently but firmly.”
Chapter Three: Trust, Tweaks & Tears
I trusted people I shouldn’t have. I double-checked things I shouldn’t have skipped the first time. And I learned — the hard way — that just because someone says they’re a ‘publishing expert’ doesn’t mean your book won’t end up looking like a Word document from 2006. But every setback taught me something. About contracts. About clarity. About keeping receipts (literally and emotionally).
Chapter Four: The Win
And then, one day, I held it in my hands. My book. With its beautiful cover. My words. My story. My sweat, sparkles, and survival woven into every page. The messages started rolling in. “I recognize myself in this.” “I laughed, I cried, I booked a ticket to Marbella.” That’s when it hit me: all the stress, the sleepless nights, the Google Translate disasters – it was worth it.
A Few Hard-Earned Tips for First-Time Authors:
Your book needs its own ISBN, one for the print version and one for the eBook. It’s like giving your book its own passport.
You can publish directly to Amazon via Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), both for print and Kindle versions. It’s free, surprisingly fast, and gives you full control.
Use IngramSpark to make your book available to bookstores, libraries, and global retailers. This is how your book can end up on platforms like Barnes & Noble, Bol.com and shops worldwide.
Invest in a good cover. It’s your book’s first impression, and yes, people absolutely judge. I was such a fan of Sebastian Marc Graham’s work that I asked him to create a unique piece of art just for From Tapas to Towers. He painted an original artwork, then transformed it into a digital file for the cover. (I still have the original hanging at home.) One thing I hadn’t anticipated, though, is how much space you need to leave on the artwork itself for your title and subtitle. Fitting beautiful art and typography together is a puzzle of its own. It was a challenge, but in the end I’m thrilled with the result.
Triple-check your files before uploading, even one sneaky font shift can ruin your layout.
Don’t assume people know what they’re doing just because they say they are a ‘publishing expert’. Ask questions. Get references. Keep receipts. Working with a publisher can be a mixed experience. Mine came highly recommended and on paper seemed perfect, but that doesn’t always mean they fit your style or truly understand your vision. Some publishers are more focused on the commercial side than on nurturing what you’re trying to create. As a first-time author, I had a very specific vision and wanted the book to feel like mine. Looking back, there are definitely things I might do differently, but that’s part of the journey. I think perfection is overrated. And actually, those imperfections give the book its own character, like a fingerprint that makes it uniquely yours.
Be involved in every step. It’s your story, your vision, your name on the cover.
And lastly: don’t wait for perfect. Wait for true. Your book doesn’t need to be flawless. Expect drama. Expect delight. Expect detours. And then expect something even better than perfect: yours.
📖 From Tapas to Towers was mine: messy, beautiful, and worth every detour. If you’re curious about expat life, navigating cultural chaos, or just want a playful, honest guide to Marbella and Dubai…You can find it on Amazon – and many other (online) stores.
