| Lying next to Richard Branson is terrific. There's a | | | | when I see someone buying my book, I can't control |
| buzz. Everyone wants to touch you. ""Wow", people | | | | myself: "Omigod - you're buying my book", I squealed |
| gasp, "you and Richard Branson. Amazing. Who would | | | | to a nice man. "Well, since I am with the subject of |
| have thought of the two of you together - you | | | | screwing, I thought I'd buy Nearly Finished as well. |
| from Cape Town and Mr B, the global entrepreneur". | | | | Aren't they about the same thing?", he answered. |
| Indeed. Before you get too excited, let me explain. I | | | | Hmm. Consider a review on Amazon for Screw it: " |
| am talking about my little book, Nearly Finished - a | | | | …Screw It, Let's Do It reveals the lessons |
| guide to home renovation (Double Storey, $16) which | | | | that have helped him through his business and |
| for a few weeks, lay on the shelf (see, I told you | | | | personal life, like believing it can be done and that, if |
| not to get excited) next to Mr. Branson's bestselling | | | | others disagree with you, try and try again until you |
| little book, called, Screw It, Let's Do It (Virgin Books, | | | | achieve your goal or that you must love what you |
| $5.80). Our books nestled side-by-side at my local | | | | do." Exactly. In Nearly Finished, we reveal the lessons |
| book shop in a section where they place the ten top | | | | that helped us through the renovating process and |
| selling titles of the week. The list is for that store | | | | our utter belief that it could be accomplished, even |
| only. Sure, it is not the national hit parade or The | | | | when others disagreed with us; when they said that |
| New York Times Best Selling list, but it was a huge | | | | it couldn't be done; we persevered. When they said |
| rush for yours truly. To bask in the afterglow of Mr | | | | that we would fail if we sub-contracted and worked |
| Branson's fame was lovely. Nearly Finished is based | | | | without a project manager or fancy designer, we |
| on articles I was commissioned to write for the Cape | | | | said, 'screw it - let's do it'. Our philosophy is that |
| Times on the renovation of our house. South African | | | | anyone can build or renovate. Our mission: to |
| publishers, Double Storey approached me and invited | | | | demystify building. Get a handful of three inch screws |
| me to develop the newspaper series into a book. | | | | and pay someone else to get on with your job. Love |
| When Nearly Finished was released, we were on | | | | your home. Enjoy it. With property values rocketing |
| holiday. On our return, we found that the little bookie | | | | globally and living spaces shrinking - we are after the |
| was at no 9 at the bookshop. Thrilling. It soon moved | | | | same thing. As homeowners who live in Cape Town, |
| to number four. Mr B was at no 3. Major thrills. | | | | New York, London or Shanghai, we want to make |
| Armed with a skinny cappuccino, I sat in the coffee | | | | the most of our homes, maybe buff them up a little |
| shop adjoining the book shop, monitoring the action | | | | bit or a lot. Ultimately, we all want to finish. Although |
| and smoozing potential buyers: "Hey, why are you | | | | Nearly Finished is a story about one family's |
| not buying my book?! I'll even sign it for you". A | | | | experience of building in Cape Town (that's us) and is |
| fascinating pattern emerged. People began picking up | | | | not meant to be an A-Z of building, it does contain |
| Mr Branson's Screw it, Let's Do It and then reached | | | | universal reference points and tips about the building |
| for Nearly Finished. Or the other way round. I was | | | | process; what can go wrong and what to look out |
| chuffed. I am still a virgin with this literary gig, so | | | | for. |