My Free Upcoming Novelette: Front Cover of Letters to God

Assalamualaikum and greetings dear avid Bits and Pieces readers,

It's amazing how two months has passed since I updated my blog. And we're in 2016 already! I was under heaps of study and mountains of pressure that when I emerged out of them, I was knocked back down again out of shock. As I was slowly recovering and emerging, I managed to go through the first draft of Letters to God; albeit half way. Now that I've fully surfaced and alert, I hope I can get it done this month (please say ameen).

There is however one aspect of the book that I managed to get done (well it was my husband who did most of the work) out of God's mercy. The front cover of Letters to God has been completed!

My husband was learning Adobe Photoshop and so I enlisted his help to design the front cover. I first told him a general idea that I had in mind. The design I pictured is an ancient mailbox perched on a mysterious snowy area somewhere. Since the main character writes letters of complaint to God, I thought the ancient mailbox would symbolize the perfect place to drop those letters. I also chosen a snowy backdrop because I see snow as pure and mysterious, a place where God could live.

So we sat together in front of his computer and flick through picture by picture at Creative Commons. My husband had also done an independent research of book covers and found that white and black are very common backdrop themes. I thought for a bit and decided to give up the snow setting because I want my front cover to be unique.

By then, we had several selection of mailbox pictures but no design ideas. Disheartened, I shifted my focus to study instead while my husband continued. After a few days of creative drainage, my husband sat still on his chair, his right hand in a frenzy, eyes fixed at his computer. Hours after, he showed me his design.

I looked at it in awe. I love it! Except for one thing. The word "Letters" in "Letters to God" is the same color as the mailbox whereas "to God" are in white. I asked him and my husband showed a few book covers that others had done online. Almost all of them used different colors for their title too. After much thought, I asked him to change "Letters" into white. I don't know, I just think it looks much better. Thus behold, the front cover of my free upcoming novelette!!!


 

What do you think? Does it look good? Do you think it needs improvement? In what way? Please, do tell me in the comments.

A Prayer that is Not Lost

Alhamdulillah..I made it to Bukit Panorama! Indeed, ALLAH never abundant HIS believers' prayers. Its just that HE will grant all good wishes right on time..at the perfect moment. Or HE will grant something better than what we wished! So don't fret. Practice patience and constancy (istiqamah). 

"Oh you who believe! Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer, for God is with those who patiently persevere." (2:153)

Peak of Gua Charas

Hills covered with mists

Death

A Hopeful Sky

I went to Bukit Cerakah with my friends a few days back. I was pretty excited because it's been long since I cycled..and I would always get psyche every time I'm in the midst of ALLAH's art: the scenery.

I was flying down a hill when I saw this amazing view. I immediately pressed the bicycle brakes and took this picture from the camera that was dangling around my neck.

You know, this sky played a part in healing me. Since I started my Masters Degree, I always believe that the sky is one of ALLAH's way to convey that HE is always with me :)

A Prison

This picture was taken on a table at City Park Seremban 2. I was actually adjusting my camera's self timer so that I can take a picture of me, HafizahNik and izat. But guess what, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO! Can you believe that..?!! But fortunately, I get to capture this photo.

Any comments, polite critics, compliments and opinions are highly appreciated. Thank you :)

Blinding Road

This picture was taken in a moving Kia Citra on the north south highway. Me, my mum and cousin were on our way back home to Seremban from my sister's house at Bangi. Many times I have traveled on this highway and many times I wish to take a picture of the lights but each time, I forgot to bring my camera!
Alhamdulillah, I did remember bringing it last week and below is the result:

I love words. I always love quotes. And as a Muslim, Quranic verses constantly inspire my life. Combine with photography, I think it will suit me perfectly if I started out an effort on wallpaper quotes. I hope that you will benefit from this. Just like a war photographer who can move people's heart, I wish to provoke yours, even just a little bit. I am such a dreamer! But dreams are never wrong, right? :)

Any comments, opinions, polite critics and compliments are highly appreciated.

Dusk at Lorong Bunga Raya 26/4

This picture was taken above my neighbour's house on the street that I live in. It was about 7.30pm, I think. I was throwing out the trash when I encounter this amazing sight. Subhanallah. Although, I don't know if I had succeeded in showing you the exact awe that I had experienced with my own naked eyes.
Any polite critics, comments, suggestions or compliments are highly welcome. Thank you =)

Penetrating Sunlight

This is another picture that I took at Jeram Toi waterfalls. We had just arrived at our chosen pool when I looked up and saw this impressive sight. SUBHANALLAH.. GLORIOUS IS ALLAH.. Nevertheless, this is a picture, taken by an amateur(me), so the brilliance that had struck me at the sight of this might not be reach to you.
Any critics, compliments, comments and suggestions are highly welcome =)

Hidden Abode

I took this picture at the Jeram Toi waterfalls, situated between Seremban and Kuala Klawang; both of which in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. It was a primary school reunion. We had barbecue, we swam, played with the water and took a lot of photographs. I even cooked fried kuewteow for our picnic and they said it was delicious! =)
Anyway, this is actually a surau, a designated place where Muslims perform their prayers. It's on a hill and I had took it from below.
Any comments, compliments, critics and suggestions about this picture are highly welcome =)