At first, I wasn’t sure if I should throw a launch party for the release of The Inquisitor’s Mark. After all, this is my fourth book. And it’s a sequel. I wondered if maybe everyone I knew was sick and tired of going to events where they felt obligated to buy my books.
But after discovering this wonderful local indie store — The Hockessin Book Shelf — right over the state line from me in Delaware, I decided it would be fun to give it a try.
Of course, in this “Before” picture, I did wonder if anyone would come. (See my stiff, nervous smile?)
I shouldn’t have worried! I was thrilled to see former co-workers, including the principal I spent most of my teaching career working with before her retirement.
Students from my old school, whose teachers read The Eighth Day aloud to them, and kids who met me as a guest speaker at the Pennsylvania Writing and Literature Project last summer came out to see me.
One girl drove an hour with her mother to attend this event because she bought The Eighth Day at the Baltimore Book Festival last fall and has been anxiously waiting for the sequel. She sat down to start reading immediately. I admit, for just a few seconds, I felt like a famous author!
This little store makes the best of a small space by utilizing rolling book shelves that can slide between other shelves to clear the center of the store for events. Ingenious!
The event was catered by a retired teacher-colleague who now has her own catering business. LOVED the BLTs in little crunchy baskets! Also ingenious!
And my daughter was happy because she got to hold this handsome charmer and future reader!
So, Saturday was kind of awesome. I am thrilled that so many people came out to celebrate with me and were genuinely Β looking forward to reading what’s next for Jax, Riley, and Evangeline. (One extremely bright young man already had a theory about why the book was called The Inquisitor’s Mark based on a detail about Jax’s family crest tattoo that’s mentioned in the first book — and he was right!)
But now it’s time to put my nose back on the grindstone. Revisions for The Morrigan’s CurseΒ are due in two weeks! Eek!
Good thing you had a release party then – that one young lady would’ve been disappointed.
Congratulations!
And happy to host you today.
Congratulations, Dianne!!!
I’m so happy for you that you had such an amazing time at the launch party! What a huge success π So cute that the girl sat down to read right away π Have a wonderful week!
So glad your nervous smile turned into a genuinely happy smile π I think I’d be pretty nervous, too.
Sounds like an awesome book signing. Congrats!
Congratulations! Love the pictures, the day looks like it was a hit. I’d be super nervous too but you looked great. Good luck with your revisions!
What fun pictures! Congrats on your launch! It is always nerve-wracking to wonder if anyone will come. I’m glad they did!
Good luck with edits on your next book!
Congratulations! I love the photos–everyone looks so excited. π
Your interview at Alex’s site really intrigued me. I might have some new reading to catch up on! π
It was an awesome launch party and I was honored to be there. Of course you have to have parties for sequels! Thanks for introducing me to a new indie bookstore that turned out to be only 20 minutes from my house. I’ll be going back there soon. Oh, and the food was scrumptious.
Glad you had fun too.
I am so excited for you! Congrats on another release. And it looks awesome too. π
Congratulations on your new book! I read about it on Alex’s blog, so I thought I’d stop by here to congratulate you. Best of luck with it!
Looks like a great turnout. Congratulations, Dianne! π
Super fun! And I think I would have started crying on the spot if I found out someone drove an hour and immediately started reading!
Just had to share – we’re watching my brother-in-law’s kiddos for a week and their son just came home from the book fair–with your book! He was sad when we told him his parents hadn’t left him any money for books, but apparently when he saw yours, he wanted to read it so badly that he paid for it with his own money. For an 8 year old, that’s saying something! He’s reading it now, and I have to resist the urge to look over his shoulder and keep asking him where he’s at now π
Congrats on your release! It looks like an amazing turnout. Bonus points for a baby in attendance. I can’t wait to read TIM.
This is wonderful!! Look at the lovely story, your awesome FOUR books, and all delighted fans you have! I’m so happy for you! I hope all your experiences at signings are just as warm and fun! π
(Oops. That was supposed to say “lovely store.” It’s great and the food looks yummy!)
Your smile did look nervous in the beginning there, but I’m glad it all turned out well for you. Congratulations on such a wonderful success you are having with your books.
And you are right, that little bookstore seems amazing, and I’d love to chow down on one of those BLTs. π
That is wonderful! How awesome your old students showed up too.
That is truly awesome. ^_^ Glad that you had such a successful launch and had so many people show up, including some of your devoted readers. Yay!
Looks like you had a great time. Speaking personally, I’m a firm believer in launch parties–whether it be your fourth book or your fortieth! (I wonder if Harper Lee will hold one for her new book?)
The party was such a lovely event. You were beaming and I’m so thrilled for you!! I can’t wait to read it!! The food was really yummy too. π So happy and honored I could be there.
Congrats again!!
Congrats! It looks like you had a great turnout! Pics were great. =)
What a great book store – rolling shelves. How cool! Thanks for sharing these fun details. I’m enjoying The Inquisitor’s Mark and hope you have lots of happy fans to meet at future events.
Thanks for dropping by my blog on Blitz Day!
Oh, I love the pictures that you shared of your launch party, especially that of the long line of people waiting for your book. And your daughter and that baby look so cute together.
I’m so glad I scrolled through, looking at your previous posts, as I would’ve been so sad to have missed this! I’m glad you had one, and that it turned out so well. Hooray!