Mountaineering literature has a long tradition in Slovenia, and over the years my parents, Marija and Andrej Štremfelj, have begun putting their incredible mountaineering experiences into writing. For their latest book, Moč noči je v svetlobi zvezd: Midva na veliki himalajski poti (The Power of Night Lies in Starlight: Our Journey on the Great Himalayan Trail), I had the honour of illustrating the cover.

The illustration was created in close collaboration with the book's layout designer. During the early stages of the project, we carefully coordinated the composition to ensure that all elements of the cover worked together and remained clear and readable.

Having visited Nepal several times myself, I had plenty of inspiration to draw from. After reading the manuscript and reflecting on the title, the image that immediately came to mind was that of snow-covered peaks glowing beneath a sky filled with stars — a sight made possible by the absence of light pollution in the high Himalayas.

Below, you can follow the process behind the illustration, from the very first napkin doodle to the final printed cover. Holding a book with your artwork on it is always a special feeling, but knowing that it has found its way into more than 2,000 homes across Slovenia makes the experience even more meaningful.

At the moment, the book is available only in Slovene, but we hope to bring it to English-speaking readers in the future.