In my previous blog I wrote about the first milestones of Verraad mij niet – Het geheim van Amsterdam, from the very first sketches to the book presentations in Amsterdam and at school.
Finishing the drawings felt like the end, but it turned out to be the beginning of something much greater.
And the story didn’t stop there. The months that followed brought new milestones that carried the illustrations far beyond my own studio.
Now available nationwide
The book is for sale online and in bookstores across the Netherlands, and was even featured locally as a Book Week Tip during the national Boekenweek. Seeing the cover on display among other highlighted titles was a proud and joyful moment.
Library breakthrough!
The Dutch public libraries ordered a total of 175 copies, making the book available nationwide, from Groningen to Maastricht. When I checked in my own local library, it had already been checked out! The same was true for more than 15 libraries in and around Utrecht. That moment felt like a true breakthrough: my work is alive, traveling, and being seen by people I may never meet, yet still touch through illustration.
A true success story
The first edition is completely sold out!, And the second edition is now available. In total, 750 copies have already been sold. A milestone that fills me with gratitude and pride.
And who knows... what is yet to come...
I say champagne. Let’s toast quickly, because the next breakthroughs are already on the horizon!
Curious to buy the book or discover more about the story? Take a look at: www.melvertel.nl
