It’s funny, isn’t it? We all know the old dictum “Don’t judge a book by its cover”, but if we all really lived by that rule, writers and book designers wouldn’t spend anywhere near the time they do agonising over every shade of colour, every size of image and every style of font that they use.

And I have to confess that I, like most readers, totally do judge books by their covers – at least when we are talking about literal books. So although I had no idea what I wanted for my book cover, I knew it was important to get it right. That’s why I was so thrilled to connect with Liz Carter of ‘Great Adventure’ – I love her work. And after giving her the vaguest of briefs, the very first image she sent me blew me away! I love the way it shows a little girl gazing up into the vast beautiful mystery that represents my friendship with God. For me, it’s a perfect cover.

Of course, in every other sense, my entire book hinges on NOT judging a metaphorical book by its cover. I mean, take the subtitle: “the miraculous life of an ordinary person”. It is not false modesty to say that in myself I am very ordinary. My husband and my mum might disagree, but they are duty bound to be biased, and I love them for it. No, someone might walk past me in the park, smile and say “Hi”, and think ‘strange boots’, or ‘nice coat’, or even, ‘wow, dogs really do look like their owners’, but I’m pretty sure nobody would think ‘oooh I bet she’s got some miracle stories to share’.

Because that’s the point, isn’t it? The Bible tells us that God hides His most precious treasure “in unworthy earthen vessels of human frailty” (2 Cor 4:7 – Amplified version). – or as the Message puts it, “in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives.” There’s that word again: ordinary. Every one of us ordinary folk has treasure inside, especially if we walk with God. And that verse has given me great comfort as I have been writing this book, feeling utterly inadequate and overwhelmed by the task I was attempting.

So I have taken the pressure off myself to write an extraordinary book, and simply contented myself with cracking open the clay pot of my life and inviting you, the reader, to have a peek inside, in the hope that you will find treasure there. And thankfully, although my life may be ordinary, I do now have a fabulous cover!

Can I confess, I don’t actually like endorsements? The prickly, principled part of me absolutely cringes at the concept of asking people (the ‘bigger’ the name, the better) to write nice things about your work that will persuade other people to spend their money on paying for it. It all seems so cynical and worldly. But those more experienced than I have persuaded me that it is a good and healthy way to help my book reach more people, and if I believe in my message that has to be a good thing! I’m still uneasy about it, but the whole publishing process – since the fun of writing the first draft ended – has been about leaving the comfort zone where I usually hide. So with a deadline approaching I approached two friends who are consistently encouraging to me, and who have written their own books. I figured asking them for endorsements was the least cynical (though still cringe-inducing) approach.

And when my friend Anne’s endorsement hit my inbox yesterday, it was a totally beautiful boost. At times I have kept slogging on with multiple edits and other practical and peripheral elements involved with publishing, simply because to give up now would feel even worse. I’ve invested too much – I’m committed to seeing it through to the end. But yesterday her beautiful words reminded me that my book has a life and a future beyond the ‘finish line’ of publication. And it’s that future that matters – it’s about the readers who will read it for the first time like Anne did, and be impacted and encouraged by it… who may even meet God in it. And that truly makes it all worth while!

So I choose to ignore the cringing fear of self-promotion, and am sharing it here: my first ever official endorsement, for all to see! Come on, little book – I’m cheering you on!