Blogger: Rachel Kent
Your book has released! Your “baby” has been born, and it’s likely that the gestation of this baby was much longer than nine months. It’s time to celebrate and promote this new work.
Many authors like to host a local release party when a new book comes out. This is a great way to let your friends, family, congregation, neighbors, and acquaintances celebrate with you–and it gives them a chance to buy an autographed copy of the book.
I attended a book launch over the weekend for Michelle Ule’s new book, Bridging Two Hearts. Michelle had some wonderful ideas, and I’d like to pass them along to you.
- Costume option: Michelle’s book has two main characters–a massage therapist and a Navy SEAL. Michelle offered a prize for those who dressed up as either a SEAL or as if they were on their way to the spa. You can see Michelle in her white robe in the picture. Many people dressed up and had fun.
- Food: Because of the Navy connection, Michelle ordered some MREs or Meals Ready to Eat.
These are packets of food that are used by the military. You can see them in the basket in the picture on the left. It was a very clever idea–though I have to admit that I’m glad I don’t have to eat those every day. She also had a huge tub of passion fruit gelato because there’s a scene in her book where her characters “connect” over gelato. And chocolate chip cookies since there’s a scene in which there’s reconciliation over some freshly-baked cookies. There were lots of other goodies to munch on as well.
Reading: Michelle and her husband read a favorite scene aloud during the party. Her husband read the SEAL Josh’s part and Michelle read Amy the massage therapist’s lines. Michelle actually smashed (hard!) a cone of gelato in her husband’s face at the same moment that Amy did it to Josh. Michelle’s husband, a Navy guy himself, took it VERY well. I assume she cleared it with him first. The crowd loved it! Everyone was laughing.
- Door prize drawings: When I walked in the door, I was met by a high school student (hired by Michelle for the night) who helped take my purse to a back room, got me a name tag and entered my name into a door prize drawing. I didn’t win anything (sigh), but Michelle had some great prizes that went along with the book. I saw lotion and candles–just like you might find at a spa.
You can see that Michelle thought creatively about what to do at her party, and I hope you will too when your turn comes!
If you’ve had a release party in the past, what was successful for you?
If you have a book coming out soon, or even if your story isn’t published yet, do you have ideas for costumes, themed food, and prizes for your party? And do you have a favorite scene that you could read to your gathering?
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I haven’t had a book launch party, but Michelle’s sounds like it was fun for everyone! I love the theme related costumes, foods, reading, and prizes. Okay, I love everything that I read! Michelle also has lots of great Pinterest book promotion options with her pictures!
What wonderfully creative ideas! Thank you for sharing them, Rachel. It sounds like it was a fun party.
Congratulations, Michelle, on your book release! It seems the party itself would be enough to entice people to buy your book.
I won’t be having a release party for awhile, Rachel, but your post has gotten me excited in thinking about what I might do (I love planning parties!)
There are four items I would love to have, but they are all Faerie food, so they may be challenging to make. The first is Drachta Arsha, an ancient Faerie bread of hazelnuts, cinnamon and cloves. The second is a mililowara, a rich pastry of nuts, honey and spices. The main dish would be glaisrai heartha, a Faerie stew. I would enjoy having caccai du lan too because they are chocolate pancakes with spices. Traditionally, they are supposed to fly, so that might be a problem. However, my main character’s aunt is not a good cook and when she makes them, they are “heavy” and fail to fly, so I could say “Aunt Keena made them.” With a little work, I think I could adapt human recipes to resemble these Faerie dishes. The main drink would have to be chamomile mint tea as it’s my main character’s favorite beverage.
For costumes, guests could come either in traditional Cu Tailte clothes (a dress with a hooded cloak) or in t-shirts and jeans. Siobhan, the main character delights in the comfort of dressing like a human teenager when she spends the summer at her aunt’s house. Her aunt is a healer who lives incognito in the human town of Baile Eile (Siobhan and her family are human-sized, wingless Faeries. Irish folklore, from which the book draws its inspiration, says that Faeries come in many different sizes and appearances. Few have wings.) Wearing t-shirts with pictures of dragons or unicorns would be especially appropriate since those two magical beings play a significant role in Siobhan’s life.
Dragons and unicorns would be key in the decorations too. Herbs are quite important in the book, so they would be integrated into the decorations as well. They might also make great party favors. Each guest could get a small package of an herb. Each one has a significance, so it would be fun for the guests to discover the meaning of the herb they’ve received.
I definitely know which scene I would like to re-enact from the book. It would be the first time Siobhan meets Ewan, a human boy who is the equivalent of her age and with whom she ultimately becomes romantically involved. They get off to a rocky start. They meet on a country road (Baile Eile is a rural community) and he flirts with her. She doesn’t understand flirting, though, and she takes his teasing seriously. When he asserts that she needs to be nice to him so that he’ll protect her from The People Beyond the Grove (a local urban legend), she hits his bicycle with lightning. Fortunately, he isn’t on it at the time. He had laid it down on the side of the road and walked with her as they talked. They’re a good distance away from it when Siobhan decides to destroy it.
As you can see, I had fun thinking about this. I hope that you had fun reading it, Rachel. I also hope it will become a reality in the not to distant future.
Blessings!
Now I’m hungry! 🙂
Though since you talked about your novel, I realized that I really don’t have an idea of what most everyone here is writing. Of course, I don’t talk about my novel either, but beyond knowing the general genre of what folks are writing in, really don’t know much about everyones’ actual projects.
Thanks, Larry. I hope you ate something to satisfy your hunger.
I know about a handful of people’s books, but you’re right. I know very little about even who is writing non-fiction versus fiction, let alone the particulars of the books. It’d be nice to share that.
Have a great rest of the week.
I would love an excuse to wear a dress with a hooded cloak!
haha. I would too, Rachel! 🙂
Maybe someone very small could wear one too? How cute would that be?
Wouldn’t it be fun? Well, as long as I didn’t have to wear it all the time. 🙂
Rachel, Morgan and Jennifer,
It is official. When I have my book launch (by the grace of God) everyone from this community who would love an excuse to wear a hooded cloak is invited to the party. 🙂
Sounds great, Christine!! 🙂
P.S. I plan on wearing a cloak and dress this fall at the Louisiana Ren faire. I went for the first time last year and had a blast! You would have loved it! See my blog post link below. 🙂
http://www.pensonaworldmap.com/2012/11/traveling-into-medieval-times.html
No pubbed book yet. Recently laughed over coffee with my CP imagining the acknowledgements though! 🙂
Scene I could read from my current WIP–yep.
Hubby involvement?–I’d love to dress him up like a cowboy. Not sure if he’d be game, but last night looking at Laura Frantz’s pins of Scottish castle on FB, he said, “is that in Scotland?” Me: “Yep, I could live there.”
Him: “Me too, I’d even wear a kilt!” (gulp). LOL–so, maybe…..
Oh a kilt 🙂 My husband is pretty shy so I think my chances of dressing him up or not good!
Ha! Sounds like you could get him to dress up in a kilt…he might balk at the cowboy attire though. 🙂
Mine would NOT wear a kilt, but he would probably do the cowboy thang.
My first novel features a character who feeds her entire community with beans and cornbread that miraculously don’t run out. Clearly, I’ll need to have a poor man’s supper for my debut and I’m thinking of taking up a collection/offering to feed the hungry. The book is set in the 50s in Appalachia, so costumes wouldn’t be terribly glamorous!
What a great idea, Sarah! To find a way to help others as a part of your book launch. I love that.
I love this idea. Hope it turns out well, Sarah.
I love the idea too, Sarah. It’s fitting that the actions at the party should reinforce the theme of the book and I like that people wouldn’t dress glamorously. It would be a way to identify with what the poor in Appalachia are still going through. Blessings on you!
I agree with everyone, it’s nice that you are using your book as a platform to help others, even in regards to the launch party.
Now that is the sort of “platform building” this industry needs more of!
Great ideas, Sarah!
Like others said, giving back takes your launch party to a whole new level and demonstrates what you stand for as a believer and an author. Good work! I’d like to come to your party.
Feeding the hungry is a great way to add dimension to your launch party, but it also would give you an opening to approach local media and do radio interviews. It becomes an angle from which to talk about your book.
You could use the same idea for book signings, which would take you out into the community more.
Sounds like a terrific idea, Sarah!
That sounds like a book I might want to read! Congratulations on getting your first novel published!
I love the idea of a poor man’s supper. Janet and others are right — you can get publicity on radio/tv station for this. Some years ago, a ministry was planning on feeding the hungry, so they asked the community to donate jackets, coats, etc for the winter event. They provided food and clothes for everybody. And local doctors showed up to provide free medical care. And sports personalities they knew showed up to talk to the kids. Next thing you know, TV stations showed up. It all began with one person having an idea, and God who is able.
I wish you every success in your book launch!!!
Awesome idea!
Aw, that is so awesome!! I’ll help with the cooking.
Such fun ideas! I love the creativity, that is a happy thought, being able to plan a book launch party someday.
Why not start planning now, Lisa? Decide that you will be a published author and then work towards that. With God’s grace, it will happen.
Blessings!
That’s a good idea. I had planned on filing all of this away for the future since I’m in the same boat — no books to launch yet — but that sounds fun to make a decision and work toward it!
Perfect timing! I’ve been writing down ideas for a party I want to do in July when my first novel, MISTAKEN, releases. Because it is based in the 1920s, I was thinking about encouraging folks to come in period costume (love the idea of prizes) and having a local dance team do a Charleston demonstration. There’s a historic building with a beautiful dance hall, complete with a sliding ticket window in the front door, so we might even require a secret password–speakeasy style. Rather than serving the prohibited liquor (lol!), we’ll use another feature of the novel–a soda fountain–and serve “soft” drinks, ice cream sodas and such.
I’ll probably follow Michelle’s lead and do door prizes and a reading. Not sure I can talk my husband into acting out any scenes with me, though! I may have to work on that one. 🙂
Thanks for all the great ideas!
Sounds great, Karen. Lots of fun and nostalgia. I’d love to come. Best of luck with MISTAKEN.
If you’re in the Pacific Northwest, you should come, Christine. I’d love to have you there. 🙂
Thank you, Karen! 🙂 I would love to be there. Unfortunately, I live in the Southeast U.S. Please keep the community here updated on when the launch party is. I will keep you in my prayers that all goes well. I still would love to come since it sounds like great fun. I will be there in spirit.
That sounds really fun, Karen! Got me quite interested in the book; I’m quite an Art Deco and jazz afficianado, so anything set in the 1920s piques my interested.
Could you share a little bit more about your novel?
Sure, Larry. Thanks for the prompt. 🙂 Mistaken is set in Port Angeles, Washington during the heart of the roaring twenties. When Laurie meets a stranger on the shore, she must decide–is he a friend or a rum-runner? During Prohibition, it’s anyone’s guess. You can learn more about it on my website at http://www.karenbarnettbooks.com.
Lovely colors on the novel cover, and can’t believe I hadn’t stopped by your blog ’til now!
Thanks for the link!
I love that book cover too, Karen! Fabulous and so intriguing!
This party sounds great, Karen! 🙂
A warning about costuming your guests. The only ones who wore costumes to my party were my relatives–my brother-in-law in particular was hilarious wearing his SCUBA gear. There were enough of us to highlight the theme, but it would have been more fun if others had come in their camouflage or bathrobes . . .
Sounds like fun!!!
Maybe a Charleston flash mob in front of Pike Place Market? 😉 Then advertise the launch party right there!
Port Angeles is a stunning part of the Puget Sound area. I would love an excuse to visit again.
Rachel, thank you for sharing! I enjoyed seeing this through your eyes and I liked learning more about Michelle’s launch party! (I have to admit, since I subscribe to Michelle’s blog, I already knew a few of the details. :))
I think it’s fun for authors to personalize their launch parties. It’s a super way to say “thank you” to friends, family, and readers, and it’s also a great means to showcase the elements of one’s book.
And what a neat idea to hire a H.S. student to take purses, etc. at the door!
Congratulations on your release, Michelle! I can’t wait to read it. 🙂
Yeah, her blog popped up in my feed right when I finished writing mine. Lol. They are a little bit similar, but that’s because it was the same party!
Rachel, I love these ideas! Michelle sure was creative in planning for her book launch party. It sounds like it was a ton of fun.
Though I don’t have a book coming out any time soon, I have thought about a few things I’d like to do for a launch party. Keep in mind these are totally imaginings at this point. 🙂 Ballroom dancing is an integral part of my story, so I’d love to have it at a dance studio. I’d have swing music playing, and other types of music for dancing. My heroine has an “anniversary charm bracelet” that her husband adds a charm to with each anniversary. I’ve thought that might be a fun prize to give away to someone–a Brighton bracelet. I’d serve coffee because my heroine loves coffee, and maybe some candles would be around too. I’ve thought it would be fun to see if a dance instructor might be willing to teach a simple swing dance. But that might be too complicated. I like the idea that Karen mentioned of having a group perform some of the dances in the book.
Now you’ve got my mind going. 🙂 I’m going to have to write down a few more ideas that are popping into my mind as I write. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing this.
CONGRATULATIONS, MICHELLE!!
Sounds fantastic, Jeanne. Swing is my favorite type of music. The ballroom dancing, though, would be quite elegant. I look forward to the day your book launches.
Thanks, Christine. 🙂
You and hubs need to learn a lovely waltz and you could wear one of those epic gowns. Come ON, Jeanne, live grand!
I second Jennifer’s idea!!! 🙂 Love it!!
What creative ideas. Kudos to Michelle and congratulations on the release of your new book. Rachel, thanks for sharing information about the launch and the photos.
I haven’t held a launch party yet. Part of me is afraid to be the author who does all this planning and then no one shows up. Most of my contacts aren’t local, and I know that’s something I need to work on. One of my clients holds a launch party twice a year when she releases new books (she has two ongoing series).
Thanks again for these great ideas.
P.S. I left a comment on yesterday’s post, but never saw it listed. Not a big deal, but I thought I would mention it in case there’s a glitch. 🙂
Cheryl, the post didn’t come up until really late on my email either. I finally went searching for it through the website.
If you have a launch party and invite me, I will be there, but you won’t need me. I think you’re selling yourself short. You have a great website and lots of friends here. Just say the word and you’ll likely have more people come than you’ll know what to do with! 🙂
Indeed! Now that you mention it, it’d be awesome to have a launch party celebration for everyone here who has already, or is about to, launch a book.
I know a few other online communities have get-togethers, and I think folks here already meet up at writers’ conferences.
Of course, the logistics of it would have to be worked out, but I’d say the idea has merit.
Thanks Christine. You’re so sweet. Maybe by the next book release I’ll have worked up to it.
Congratulations, Michelle, on the book! And the party sounds like it was a wonderful. The costume idea is pretty cool.
I guess my way of celebrating my novels’ release would be different from everyone elses. I wouldn’t want to focus on the book at all: wouldn’t even want to hear about the book, just finally enjoy being with the folks that getting the darn thing to publication kept me from enjoying the company of.
Though a dance-party with folks dressed up like extras from Mad Max would be awesome….
Mad Max…hmm. So Larry, any connection to your book or just your favorite movie? You still haven’t told us what your book is about yet…. 🙂
Ah! My high-concept pitch:
“Twilight….meets Apocalypse Now. 🙂
Whew. Thanks, Rachel, for something lighthearted to read today. The last two days’ blogs have been pretty intense.
Congratulations, Michelle! Great ideas. Will keep them on file for future reference. I love the idea that you and your hubby read excerpts from the novel, and reenacted the scene…
I know! I was kind of scared to blog. I appreciate all of the fun comments today.
Ooo, love all of these ideas. I really like the idea of customizing the party based on the book. It’s sort of like customizing wedding details to the bride and groom’s personality…most things are probably standard (e.g., there are prizes and food), but the particulars vary. Love it!
Since my book is about a singing competition, maybe I’d have to have a karaoke thing going on, or invite several singers I know to give a little concert in the background. Hmmm…fun to dream!
I love the idea of having singers perform and a karaoke event too. Sounds fabulous, Lindsay! 🙂
I love your ideas, Lindsay. And I am already looking forward to reading your book!
What a great idea!! Or you could just give a concert. 😀 But if there’s karaoke, I call Suo Gan and any other opera stuff.
I really, really enjoyed this post, Rachel.
Now my mind, which already seems to run a mile a minute (lol), is whirling big time with tons of launch party ideas. Fun times! And congrats again to Michelle!!
Since my book involves Nazi Germany during WWII and has several scenes involving traditional German foods and clothing, I would plan to wear my traditional German dress (dirndl) to the launch party and serve foods mentioned in the book (gingerbread, roasted nuts, dumplings, a special soft drink, etc) for my guests to enjoy.
I would also have 30s swing music and German music playing since they are featured in the book too.
I would like to have people bring WWII memorabilia to the party, so they can share it and be entered in a special giveaway. Sarah Thomas’s fantastic idea above sparked me to think about perhaps taking up donations for our local Veterans group.
Thanks for initiating this flood of great ideas in our online community, Rachel! Have a great day everyone!
Sarah Sundin writes WWII and she’s had some fun launch ideas as well.
Rachel and I both attended a screening of The Best Years of Our Lives at a vintage movie theater in the town where the story is set. Sarah rented out the theater–whose marquee appears on the cover of her book Blue Skies Tomorrow.
You can read about the event in more detail at this blog post: https://booksandsuch.com/?p=10641
I hadn’t ever seen The Best Years of Our Lives before and I loved it! I rented it on Netflix after the event to watch again with my husband. He liked it too! It’s rare that we both like the same movie.
What a cool launch party! Love it! And I love Sarah Sundin’s books too!
Thanks for letting me know and for the blog post link, Michelle! I hadn’t discovered this fabulous blog community when it was posted. 🙂
I’ve seen a bunch of WWII movies, but not this one, Rachel. It will have to be viewed asap! Thanks for the Netflix heads up! 🙂
I love your ideas, Morgan. 🙂
Thanks Jeanne! 🙂
A good friend of mine HAD pieces of a Messerschmidt. Bummer, talk about a centre piece!
Whew! You are right. I might creep my guests out though! lol
The food sounds wonderful, Morgan. And the idea of donating to veterans is fantastic!
Thanks, Christine! I was inspired by Sarah Thomas’s comment above. This post has spurred so many fun comments! We’re all cookin’ up some great ideas!
The book I’m currently writing is inspired by two lumber barons who were notorious bachelors in my hometown in the 1890’s. They built neighboring mansions, which are now operated as a conference and retreat center. I would LOVE to hold my release party in the music room of one of the homes. I have a friend who owns period clothing from the 1890s and I would love to borrow some to dress up! I may even convince my hubby to dress up, too. 🙂 The Victorians were known for their parties. I would tie in as much Victorian flair as possible!
Love this idea, Gabrielle!! 🙂
Oooh–now that sounds elegant!
Now that sounds like a fun novel! And a very elegant and fashionable party! Sounds like the sort of thing that local media would love to cover; the visual flair of it would be too awesome to resist!
Have someone cut some cedar and lean the beams against the wall. Or put them on work horse and serve tea and coffee off them.
Okay, a launch party for a book about Sodom. Um. Ashes. Um. Food with lots of salt. Um. Salted caramel ice cream. Come on, help me out here.
Latayne, I read your comment to Michelle, and she tossed out ideas off the top of her head: lava cake, desert theme, prizes: Dead Sea skin products. Then she said, “Come on, give me a hard one!” That girl knows how to throw a theme party.
Michelle is so creative! Lava cake. I love it! 🙂
I was thinking hummus, falaffel, kabobs, tabouli. We have a middle eastern restaurant chain in the area I live in that is great.
LOL, Latayne. 🙂 Okay, I just read further down. I’m glad others had good suggestions for you. 🙂
That girl has a fertile mind! I asked on Facebook for ideas to pitch to a military magazine I work for, and she threw out about 20 in an hour. Amazing.
So I did come up with an idea. Dirt cake (had that? It’s yummy), with little candy “artifacts” in it. Could make it in layers, mark off squares with string just like a real dig, and let people “excavate” their squares.
That sounds like fun to me!
Ideas? I’m not as good as Tricia Goyer, but I was a city editor of the UCLA Daily Bruin back in the dark ages and coming up with story ideas was part of the job.
Meanwhile, I’m pondering my own next launch–An Inconvenient Gamble in May–but it’s about NOT gambling . . . 🙂
You can’t just leave us hanging like that, Michelle. Out with it. Let’s hear SOME details. 🙂
If I ever need a blog topic, I just ask Michelle! 🙂
Fedoras, bomber jackets and bullwhips?
Fantastic idea, Latanye.
Kudos to all these great ideas! Thanks to everyone for sharing. Gives me a lot of food for thought.
My book, For What It’s Worth, came out in December. It’s a clean romance about a girl who opens a wedding cake shop. We served wedding cake, had doorprizes (t-shirts, mugs, mousepads & bags) with pictures of the cover. We held it at a wonderful little independent bookstore. It was so much fun and we had a great turnout.
You can see pictures of the event at http://kareywhite.blogspot.com/2012/12/for-what-its-worth-book-launch.html
I love how Michelle used elements of her story to add a special touch to her release party.
My launch party last July turned out very well. My debut novel, A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California, takes place in 1870. My husband, daughter, and I donned Victorian-era costumes to give a period feel, as did some guests. Some others wore Western wear.
Because my book was released smack dab in the middle of a blistering Sierra Foothills summer, I opted for an old-fashioned ice cream social, a good choice since the party just so happened to take place on National Ice Cream Day.
I arranged for entertainment so the 150+ guests would have more to do than shovel in ice cream and watch me sign books. Since my hero and heroine both play violin/fiddle, I wanted to include music. I was blessed to have a folk music group, a men’s barbershop choral group, and a small string instrument ensemble perform.
I had tables set up with Victorian-era toys, an ice cream puzzle, and assorted items and pictures that gave a feel for my story. To show my guests how my book fits into Barbour’s Destinations Romance line, I displayed the historical Bride books that had been released prior to mine. There were door prizes, too.
I had the milestone event recorded and share the video on my website: http://keligwyn.com/press-room/the-latest-news (Scroll down to July.)
Keli, you are just on the ball! That party sounds fantastic! 🙂
P.S. I enjoyed your party video! 🙂 How fun!
I’ve noticed that most of the book launch ideas are for historical novels. I see one for contemporary. What about suspense/mystery/thriller fiction?
How does one even begin to think of ideas for a suspenseful book launch? The only thing I can think of is that this genre is so mysterious that the book launch doesn’t happen LOL. Failing that, I can only think of a book reading, or Q&A with a writer’s club.
I agree, Jan. As a writer of a dystopian post-apocalyptic coming-of-age existential literary magical-surrealist love story which subverts and redefines the tradition of heroic literature (among other genres), I could really use some ideas.
My book party would look like a cosplay convention…..
For a suspense novel, what about dinner theater? Host a screening of Hitchcock movies? Do an ad-lib mini-play using scenes and dialogue from famous suspense movies or novels?Invite a local theater troupe to get involved?
A mystery dinner theater sounds fun! Good idea! I have friends who do plays — perhaps I can write a short screenplay for them to act out a chapter or two. If they can do it for me for free or for a nominal fee that won’t break this poor writer’s coin pouch, that is…
For your dystopian — think upside down. Think Johnny Mnemonic meet Minority Report meet Merlin meet Total Recall world with graffiti alleys, dim streetlights, and everybody in the audience with a flashlight and gas mask (you know, party favors!). You’ll need a lot of styrofoam and an artist to create the setting — or you can get brick design wallpaper. Use lots of hot glue. Enter the author — you — to explain everything. I have no idea what you feed such an audience.
I don’t write dystopian (mine is thrillers), but I watch a lot of movies in your genre.
🙂
Hmmm….I think the menu would be caviar and foie gras. How do they eat it through the gas masks? Is it a conceptual statement about the inability of society to partake in that which is ideal, the existential struggle between the emphemeral pleasure of the world and the constant state of soul-hunger?
Now the magical-surrealist aspect is covered! 🙂
Late to the party, but…
My book is set in 1860’s, 1870’s and 1890’s Arizona AND Boston, among the Brahmins. I could have a Victorian tea, complete with petit fours and china cups and maybe even a string quartet. AND, why yes, it also takes place on a ranch, so bring on the barbeque, the cowboys and the horses.
AND? There is a Navajo village involved, so maybe Kiersti Plog and I could build a hogan (hey, Kiersti?? You busy?). And that of course means, I’d need a sizable Navajo contingent as well. I’ll call my friend Helen Yazzie. She can make fry bread and set up a loom.
But, you can thank me for skipping the massive firestorm part. We don’t have the special effects budget to burn down a mansion and a mountain.
Noticed many of the historical novels mentioned today are Victorians. Pretty cool to see the genre changing like that, towards a new unified theme / setting amongst different writers.
No firestorm? I’m disappointed. 😉
Victorian and Cowboy combo (plus Navajo)–ecletic, Jennifer. I would love the Victorian tea party though, especially with the string quartet. I would offer my services as a violist (except I’m not that I’m not very good).
Maybe you could have a “progressive” party. Have guests start in one room (Victorian maybe) then move to the next (cowboy?) then the next (maybe Navajo). I think it could work.
EPIC!! A progressive dinner party! I knew you’d solve the problem!! Well done Christine!!!
Great idea, Christine!
Or if you had a large room to host the party, you could have the Victorian tea on one half, the ranch/BBQ on the other and have the Navajo part in the middle of the room – thus joining the two worlds (like in your book perhaps?). 🙂
My first novel (self-published) was released a month ago and I will have a book signing sometime soon. Procrastinating… probably because I don’t know what I’m doing! I really appreciate this blog and all of the great ideas.
The name of my book is Secrets of the Old Ladies Club. It’s about 5 best friends who live in a retirement village built by two of their sons. The ‘girls’ are crazy, fun-loving seniors who fail to see themselves as over the hill. Tension is created when a mysterious man takes up residence at the village, a love child shows up, and all kinds of secrets claw their way out of past.
Suggestions?
Hmmm……maybe try incorporating some of what the gals in your book like to do as party games?
Since your characters sound over-the-top, and it sounds like there might be themes of “nostalgia”, “the past” / “history” in your novel, maybe host the party at a nostalgic, fun place, like a carnival, theater, ice skating ring, or other such place that is typically associated with fun and nostalgia.
These are wonderful ideas!
Dineen Miller is speaking about Rooted Marketing at our ACFW meeting this weekend. Her description is below.
“It’s about intentionally planting seeds in your stories to be sown right before, during and after release as marketing tools. As you’re writing your story, you build in aspects that you can use to promote your book. From these ideas you can harvest most of the materials needed to promote your book at every stage.”
When the sci-fi novel, Oxygen, was released John Olson had a wonderful party at his home where everyone played games and members of his critique group dressed in costume. It was fun and the local paper gave it good coverage.
Wow-you are all so creative. Does anybody have any ideas for a Expat in Singapore themed party? If all goes well, the publishing date is August. One technical question: how much sooner or later would you have a launch party compared to the actual publishing date? Thanks!!!
A similar idea to what I mentioned to Jennifer above. You could have Singapore and U.S. foods served as well as decor involving both countries’ flags and memorabilia. It shows the whole U.S./Singapore mix that I assume may play a big role in your novel.
Of course, you should incorporate foods, trinkets, etc. from the novel at the party. You could act out a scene or have your guests certain attire to be entered in specific giveaways.
There are a bunch of great ideas above in the comments. You should check them all out. 🙂
Ideally, you have a launch party when the book first appears–the first two weeks of a book’s sale are the most important. They set up your numbers, start word of mouth and help with your rankings.
In my case, I waited until I was sure I would have books in hand before I planned my launch party–along with things going on in my life–and that’s why the part was a month after the official launch.
I’m now seeing the fruits of books I gave away and excitement among friends and folks in the community. What that translates into, I don’t know, but we’ve had a lot of fun!
I also deliberately put real locations in Bridging Two Hearts–in particular the gelato shop and McP’s the grill where Navy Seals hang out in Coronado. I sent the owner/managers copies of my books along with a small posted and asked them to stick it on their bulletin board.
I let the local bookstore know about the book and I sent six copies to the Hotel del Coronado.
This, by the way, is why you are given free author copies. You’re not allowed to sell them. Rachel has written about this aspect of publishing before: https://booksandsuch.com/?p=15426
I’m going to do this! Never have before (have never even thought of it), but I have a British manor house series starting up November 1, and I’m going to have a launch, and wear an 1880’s dress, and maybe make costumes for my three grown daughters too, and make food from Mrs. Beeton’s (a cookbook from the time), and . . . My mind is swimming and I really need to concentrate on writing Book #2 of the series! This will be so much fun. Thanks for the inspiration.