I am chuffed with the cover designed by Nour E from Lauria. Nearly there now, the writing is almost done and I am already curious what you’ll think of the prequel Wilma’s Tulip Field Days. In a couple of days the English version is going to my beta readers. Let me know if you want to be in, just send an email to kirsten@kirstenbett.com
Edit it?
The next step is translating the story into Dutch before I edit it for my Dutch readers. Yep, after I translate the novella (it’s about 20,000 words), it still needs a good edit to make it flow better in Dutch.
Take the title: Wilma’s Tulip Field Days. I love it for many reasons, it suits Wilma; it refers to field days as well as tulip fields — both are relevant in this prequel; and I think the title makes you curious about the story. If you translate it literally into Dutch, it becomes Wilma’s Tulpen Veld Dagen… Hmm, a bit boring, not the effect I am aiming for. But what then? Last Sunday my partner Wim and I brainstormed endlessly what would be a good title for the Dutch version, to no avail.
After letting it go for a couple of hours, and seeing what Bing had to say – hilarious offerings but what I like about Bing is it has no constraints; the directions it points you in are completely out of the box. I did have to keep declining Bing’s offers to write the story for me. But after I clearly stated that was my job, it did apologise.
Tiptoe…
AI is a subject for another blog. For now, the Dutch title is going to be Wilma’s Tulpen Tijd. It flows, it evokes and I always love alliteration in titles. Literally translated back into English, Wilma’s tulip time just doesn’t sound right either. Isn’t it funny how languages have their own flow?
After I get feedback from my beta readers, I am having it professionally edited. I expect the prequel to be available as an ebook in April or May, it will be free for anyone on my email list. Let me know in the form below if you want to be in, and I will keep you posted.
PS I just asked Bing what it thought of my Dutch title and this is its answer:
“Hi! As a translation for your English book Wilma’s Tulip Field Days I find the title Wilma’s Tulpen Tijd to be a charming choice. It retains the essence of the original name while adding a touch of Dutch flair. 🌷📖”
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