I’ve always loved those old book covers you can often pick up in charity shops. You know the ones… a little battered around the edges, a tea stain on page 33, the spine extremely slightly creased. Well read. Well loved. Full of character.

Well, I’m excited to announce something a little special…

Whilst a vintage cover isn’t really on-brand for me, neither is Nineteen Minutes to Midnight… so I couldn’t resist.

I wanted to design a cover completely different to what I usually put out. One that reminds me of those battered Stephen King books from the ’80s you often find in old used-book stores. I do happen to have a copy of ‘Salem’s Lot on my shelf, which has had such treatment. So I brushed off my old uni design skills, drew something up, played around with the shading, and brought it to life digitally using my handy, always faithful design tool friend, Adobe Illustrator (other design tools are available), digitally enhancing it with colour and adding that nostalgic typography which so many horror-thriller novels used back in the day. I won’t lie, I was tempted to go with the ITC Benguiat Bold font, but I do believe that has been used elsewhere in the past (about a million times; most notably for the Stranger Things logo and many of King’s own novels), so I resisted. 

And I’m pretty chuffed with what I came up with:

So (professional voice on), I’m delighted to introduce the exclusive Vintage Edition of Nineteen Minutes to Midnight, is now available exclusively through my website.

This isn’t just another paperback. Created especially for collectors and readers who want something unique on their bookshelf, this edition features a brand-new vintage-inspired cover that won’t be available anywhere else. Once it’s gone, it won’t be reprinted.

Whether you’re discovering Jerome Adewale’s time-twisting adventure for the first time or returning to the mysterious grandfather clock at nineteen minutes to midnight, this exclusive edition is the perfect way to experience the story.

Printed in the UK on premium eggshell paper with a soft matte finish, the Vintage Edition has been designed to feel every bit as special as the story inside.

If you’ve never read Nineteen Minutes to Midnight, here’s what you can expect…

When sixteen-year-old Jerome Adewale discovers a mysterious grandfather clock that appears every night at exactly nineteen minutes to midnight, he’s transported to the nineteenth century, where a young Victorian poet and a terrifying supernatural entity are waiting. What follows is a thrilling race across centuries where one wrong decision could destroy time itself.

Described as ‘Doctor Who meets The Haunting of Bly Manor’, it’s a fast-paced blend of science fiction, mystery and supernatural horror that’s become a firm favourite with readers.

If you’d like to own this exclusive edition, you can order your copy directly from my website while stocks last.

Thank you, as always, for supporting my writing. Every direct order helps me continue creating new stories, and I genuinely appreciate every single reader who chooses to buy directly from me.

I hope you enjoy this special edition as much as I enjoyed creating it.

– Alex