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Shannon
(new)
Apr 11, 2016 10:50AM
So next week is my very first launch party. It's at the small, local library in my town and so far, I know of about twenty people who will be there. The problem...I don't have a clue what to say. I plan to read the first chapter of the book, but other than that, I've got no ideas. Anyone have any words of wisdom?
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Maybe tell them a little about what inspired your story? What gave you the idea to write this particular book?
Excellent idea! How long of a speech sounds reasonable to you??
In my experience, launch parties don't typically include a reading. Those are for the "tour" if you choose to do that, but I very rarely do readings unless requested. Book designer has some great suggestions here: http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2013/0...
As does Bookbaby: http://blog.bookbaby.com/2012/03/how-...
This is a party, so make it fun! I have seen some really fun events that have party games, and favors, and even costume events around the theme of the book.
For my book launch for The Hunted, the sequel to The Hunters I plan on having a party favor bag with stakes (because they are vampire hunters) wolfsbane, (because several of the main char are werewolfs) and bookmarks. Everyone will get one.
I am also going to have the book trailer, character bios, and some great music playing on a loop.
I will have an area set up for games. Stake the vampire (Pin the tail on the donkey, but with a stake and aiming for the heart) Guess the creature ( a matching game with characteristics of weres, vampires and immortals, and you put which you think it is.) and I am still trying to come up with a third idea.
The winners of each of these fun games will receive a signed poster related to the series. (That way people don't put off buying the book because they are hoping to win it in the contests.)
I plan to have some food and drinks and the activities for 1/2 hour. Give a quick 10 minutes speech, announce the book tour, the contests, and that I am doing a signing. At the top of the hour, announce the winners and then let the party wind down when it does while I schmooze with guests. All in all, the event will probably not go more than 2 hours.
Pour some alcohol and offer toasts -:) Is there an after-party too?Good luck, Shannon!
I was planning to do the same thing but I'm putting it off....Maybe you could sort of spin it off around the theme of your book and even sell some of the night? I've read that a launch party isn't so much selling, it's connecting to readers. Invite the press, and make it public!
I do have a ton of links saved on my laptop, next time on there I'll just post them all up. They're all very handy for what to do.
Question along the same line, where would you guys recommend holding a launch party??
Anyway, best of luck Shannon, you'll be fine!
I would say anywhere with space that is willing to do a cross-promote and will let you serve light snacks. Bookstores and libraries often won't let you do that. I have had rental halls who were willing to give me a discount because I was promoting them for something more than just weddings! In nice weather you can rent space at a park (usually pretty cheap, but you might get more people than you had planned, and doing a video display is difficult.) I have known authors to do a small gathering of friends in their homes, and then record the event as part of an online party, inviting attendees to participate in online games for the prizes and have someone there to field questions from the public. I have debated doing something like that for the next book, but figuring out fun online games... ugh. Plus, needing more cameras to record... If you are tech savy, it could be a cool way to go. For the signing portion of the event, they use an e-copy signature through authorgraph.
Nik wrote: "Pour some alcohol and offer toasts -:) Is there an after-party too?Good luck, Shannon!"
It's at the library, so we'd probably have to sneak our alcohol in...I LOVE that idea! 8-) Sneaking flasks in...so many more people would come!
Maymunah wrote: "I was planning to do the same thing but I'm putting it off....Maybe you could sort of spin it off around the theme of your book and even sell some of the night? I've read that a launch party isn'..."
For mine, I was approached by the librarian. She kind of nagged me into it. 8-) She's doing snacks and drinks as well, so I think it just depends on what library you're at. The big plus for me, was that it's free. All she asked me to bring was myself and books to sell. I'm doing the book trailer and will have business cards around as well. Fingers crossed! Good luck with your own!
