Launch Party

The launch party for the newly released Splinters of Light was exactly that. A launch party.

First of all, my hair did me right last night. It's amazing what hairspray can do when you buy it for the first time in twenty-five years.

Second, we went to Forbes Island, which is flipping nuts. It's a floating man-made "island" just off Pier 39 in San Francisco. Old Mr. Forbes lived there for 35 years (while he moored it out in the Bay) before he pulled it up next to the sea lions sixteen years ago and turned it into a restaurant.

It has a special place in my heart when it comes to sisters -- my sisters and I went there last year, and we all fell in love with it. I put an important sister scene in that same restaurant in Splinters of Light--Nora feels the roots of her love grow right through the water into the silt below, ready to hold her family in place, no matter what.

So it was natural I wanted to go there to celebrate the book's release. (I had an involved fantasy about inviting everyone I knew and loved, actually having a real, open-house launch party with a book signing and flowing wine, but dude! I looked up the price! Six friends it is!)

First, we got on the cable car at Powell Street.

I may have strong feelings about the cable car. I mean, I love it. It was a gorgeous evening, the sky was that bright blue of a city night, and the full moon hung low over Coit Tower. Completely perfect.

Sophie and I were thrilled to be hanging off the back.

Me and my girls.

THEN GET THIS PART!

We took the launch to Ye Olde Crazy "Island." We boarded and went into the dark, romantic, slightly-creepy-in-a-carnival-ride-way restaurant, and the host spoke to me from the gloom:

Host: Congratulations on your accomplishment!
Me: Huh?
Host: Your book! We would like to congratulate you on this feat!
Me: *nervously* Did I mention that when I called? I don't remember mentioning that.
Host: We have a bottle of our best champagne cooling for you.
Me: YOU WHAT?
Host: It's from Alice and Diane.
Me: ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh *melty puddle of tears*

The extremely wonderful and inspiring Diane Lewis of Alice's Embrace (both of whom the book is dedicated to) sent a bottle of Dom Perignon. DOM PERIGNON. WHAT?

Um. That stuff is really good, by the way.

I was verklempt.

Then we sat and talked, and we ogled the fish swimming past the cloudy green windows (you dine under the water level), and we watched the chandeliers swing with the tide, and it was gorgeous.

Gigi Pandian took my favorite picture of the night (notice Lala at the very top of the photo--it takes skill to do an upside-down photobomb):

It was a wonderful, intimate night, and I'm so damn lucky to have the people I do surrounding me. THIS is the way to launch a book. Not with nerves, but with excitement and love.

Oh, before I forget, you can read an excerpt here!
And I'm interviewed in the Huffington Post by Holly Robinson!
And you can listen to the Splinters of Lights soundtrack on Spotify!