Has anyone organised or attended a book launch party?

[allgirls]

What was it like? I'm planning one for here in my small town.

Breeze

[GuildJenn]

I've been to quite a few. This is all IMO.

They've ranged from "cheap wine, bad cheese" in a basement (under a lovely bookstore) to televised gala things. Some of the best ones I've been to have played with the format a bit - like one for a book involving social media that had a chat about social media with some local experts as well as a reading. It's nice if there's a connection to the book somehow.

It's a fine balance for timing - most people are there for the author and want to hear a short reading or interview or even a little bit of both, but if it's long, it gets boring and awkward. I'd aim for 15 minutes. A lot will depend on whether the writer's witty or whatever. But a good celebratory mood is best.

Venue: It should be public (not a private home) and it's nice if it's a nice space, and double good if it promotes a local business. Consider seeing if other local businesses want to be on board to promote themselves, especially if they fit in with the book itself. (They might give you a discount on catering or something.) I'm sort of ehn on door prizes, but they can be nice.

Leave time for signing, and make sure there's good space for signing and lineups. Have copies of the book to buy (order forms encourage procrastination); it's nice if there's a discount at the event. Make sure there are nice pens available. It helps sometimes to have people write names on stickies if they're asking for dedications to speed up the process and not have the author have to ask how to spell Aidan/Aden/Aeden/Aydyan a zillion times.

[allgirls]

Originally Posted by GuildJenn

I've been to quite a few. This is all IMO.

They've ranged from "cheap wine, bad cheese" in a basement (under a lovely bookstore) to televised gala things. Some of the best ones I've been to have played with the format a bit - like one for a book involving social media that had a chat about social media with some local experts as well as a reading. It's nice if there's a connection to the book somehow.

It's a fine balance for timing - most people are there for the author and want to hear a short reading or interview or even a little bit of both, but if it's long, it gets boring and awkward. I'd aim for 15 minutes. A lot will depend on whether the writer's witty or whatever. But a good celebratory mood is best.

Venue: It should be public (not a private home) and it's nice if it's a nice space, and double good if it promotes a local business. Consider seeing if other local businesses want to be on board to promote themselves, especially if they fit in with the book itself. (They might give you a discount on catering or something.) I'm sort of ehn on door prizes, but they can be nice.

Leave time for signing, and make sure there's good space for signing and lineups. Have copies of the book to buy (order forms encourage procrastination); it's nice if there's a discount at the event. Make sure there are nice pens available. It helps sometimes to have people write names on stickies if they're asking for dedications to speed up the process and not have the author have to ask how to spell Aidan/Aden/Aeden/Aydyan a zillion times.

Ok..so mine will be small town, church basement etc. The publisher has some bigger things in mind..in bigger towns. I'm doing my own for my peeps. I'm very limited..the library here is in transition(but the new one which will be opened by the time my novel is published will be fantastic with a great room for a book launch)

We have no coffee shops or other businesses like that.

It's a poetry book illustrated by a friend. Her music will play in the background. There will be refreshments(coffee/tea)

I'll have door prizes.

There will be books available to purchase. I will read a bit. I will sign some.

I'm expecting around 50 people but if I sense more will come I'll shift it to the bigger room next to the room I've booked.

There will be a guest book(someone suggested the guests write an Haiku..I thought that would be fun)

The media will be invite(local newspaper etc.)