How did you land on the title and cover for your book? Were there any other contenders?

Rumaan Alam I began working on this book quite a while ago now, which I only know because I uncovered an old notebook in which I had sketched out the plot. Though much changed by the time I wrote the thing, the title did not. I liked the simple, summary quality of the title, and while I don't want to get too into detail at the risk of a "spoiler," there is, in the book, some deeper context that explains the title. It's snappy, the title, but can seem reductive. I hope reading the book will reveal that there's more to it than meets the eye. As for the cover, I can take no credit whatsoever! I have been so fortunate throughout the publishing process to work with brilliantly talented experts. Sara Wood, who designed this cover, is just another of the brilliantly talented experts involved in this book's life. I'm so lucky. It's not my work so I feel unembarrassed to say: it's a great cover.

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