Thursday 5 May 2011

Out to Launch

Last night I went to the launch party for Caroline Green’s debut YA title DarkRide, a book I just about finished on the train journey home. Not because it’s short, I might add, just brilliant and difficult to stop reading. Congratulations, Caroline!

The launch itself had all the essential ingredients -- wine, a reading, good company and a charming author – not to mention that other strange phenomenon of a 21st Century social life: the meeting of people one has already ‘met’ via social networking. In short, I had a great time, and I couldn’t help noticing that a lot of books were sold too.

The reason I find this particularly noteworthy is the fact that I was recently told (by those who know) that new authors shouldn’t feel the necessity to hold a book launch at all, at least from the point of view of sales. The reason being that all those who would come would probably have bought the book anyway. This has had me wondering about my own debut next year and whether I should go to the trouble of organising a launch party if, as is likely, the publishers don’t hold one. But last night’s spectacle of happy people chatting over dwindling piles of stock as the wine flowed has me thinking again. And after all, without that launch party I wouldn’t have met the author, I probably wouldn’t have bought her book any time soon, and I certainly wouldn’t have had it signed. So my question over whether to launch or not seems to have been answered right there. At least, from the sales perspective – it goes without saying that it’s always fun to open a bottle or two with friends, whatever the bean-counters think.

Before I sign off, I’d also like to send out congratulations to Fiona Dunbar, whose new book, Divine Freaks, is published today. Fiona was at Caroline’s launch last night, so I was finally able to chat in person with someone I only knew by reputation and facebook. Divine Freaks, by the way, is about a girl who can see ghosts, and you have only to glance at my last post to see why I find that interesting. Congratulations Fiona!  

17 comments:

  1. Yes, have a launch party. I'll come!

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  2. Ha ha, thanks Sue:) It was good to see you last night too.

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  3. I say a big "YES" to launch parties.

    I almost didn't have one but was very glad I did. Scared of an embarrassingly poor attendance, I shamelessly invited a whole load of people with whom I'd very nearly lost touch entirely (as well as all the more obvious candidates, obviously). I thought they mostly wouldn't bother turning up, but many did. I think they were mostly quite touched that I'd remembered them when it came to handing out invites, and I was massively flattered that so many of them made the effort to attend. So I had a lovely reunion party (albeit one where I had too little time to talk to anyone for any length of time, much as I would have loved to) quite apart from selling out all the copies of my book that the shop had in.

    It was tremendous. Yours will be too.

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  4. Dave, I'm pretty worried about the Tommy-no-mates effect coming into play, so it's reassurring to hear you say that. Where did you have your launch? Heffers? Or somewhere in London.

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  5. Heffers - which obviously helped in terms of getting a local crowd out.

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  6. I'm a long way off organising a launch party of my own but it's fascinating to read about other people's. I'll come to yours Thomas - and I'll bring the kids! (Assuming you live somewhere I can drive to and back in a day)

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  7. Thanks, Kate -- please come and bring the kids! Maybe it'll be in London...

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  8. Aside from the commerce and networking side of the thing, a book launch - your book launch - is a wonderful celebration of your achievement and a place for all the people who want to congratulate you to do so and take a little moment. I think that's just as important as beans and wine...

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  9. Thanks, Rachel. Um... do you get back to the UK much?

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  10. I've been looking for a good reason to go to London. Have a launch party there!

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  11. Ah, Anita -- you'd be more than welcome! And London would certainly be the best place.

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  12. I am overdue a trip home, Thomas!

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  13. Thomas je découvre aujourd'hui ton blog et comme on dit : mieux vaut tard que jamais ! J'ai fait "traduire" bien sur pour bien comprendre. Maintenant j'ai un regret : ne pas parler assez bien anglais pour tout lire en VO ! Si je peux dire quelque chose (en temps que novice!) au sujet de cette soirée de lancement : fait là ! Je sais que tu est timide maisce sera un grand moment et le couronnement de plusieurs années de travail. Bises à vous 4 Céline

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  14. Definitely have a launch Thomas! It's something that should be celebrated. Publishers rarely put on anything for me personally, so I tend to do stuff myself. But you can't rely on friends: Advertising is the key to getting punters in! (but you can count on me!)

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  15. Thanks, James. You and your family are definitely invited.

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