Book Launch!
It's done! Fire & Sword is now officially launched! And I'm a very happy bunny indeed!!
I've visited more than my fair share of literary events over the past year. I've scratched my head and puzzled over what, in my eyes, constitutes the perfect launch event. And I've fretted over how to translate my dreams of achieving the perfect book launch into concrete reality.
The book launch of the debut novelist is definitely up there in the Rite-of-Passage occasions. Like weddings, or christenings. Am I being a trifle over-dramatic? No, I don't think so. And I'm sure my fellow writers who have been there and done that will agree with me. It is a life-changing event. Financially, the world is not transformed. But your status has changed. You feel more confident in yourself, in your own abilities. And the future suddenly seems brighter, more hopeful, because you've taken your next step out into a big, exciting world.
So what was I looking for? What was my idea of the perfect book launch? First of all, I thought it should be a colossal party which everyone enjoyed. With wine and nibbles, and -as an added bonus - teas, coffees and biscuits for the less exuberant and more genteel amongst the audience. Secondly, the most important requirement was that you ideally needed lots of friends there to share it with you.
I was lucky. Family, workmates, and fellow writers all made the effort to come along. Many were acquaintances I'd known for quite literally years. Others were local writers, historians and poets whom I'd encountered at local literary and historical events and who had always been keen to hear updates on the novel. But as an added bonus, there were a few people there who didn't know me, who'd cpme along because they'd heard about the book, and they liked the sound of it and wanted to find out more.
There must have been about 60 people there. And the format I'd worked out with the staff at the country park turned out beautifully. Charles Woodward, the manager of the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park which runs the Castle Semple Visitor Centre gave a short introduction:-
He then quickly handed the proceedings over to the capable hands of Jamie, 21st Lord Sempill. Who opened with a short summary of just how long it's been since I first got in touch to tell him I was writing a novel which chroncled the life of his ancestor, before commending me on my fortitude in actually seeing the project through to its completion! He talked about his ancestor, and how important the role of the historical novelist is in putting flesh back on the dry bands, and recreating characters and personalities for people who ,like John, 1st Lord Sempill, now exist only as signatures on charters, names on the casualty list of battles long gone but not forgotten.
Readings from the novel were interspersed with discussions - led by Lord Jamie and assisted by myself - which examined various aspects of life and warfare in late medieval and early modern Scotland throughout Renfrewshire and beyond. It was, I think, a perfect blend between fact and fiction:-
And at the end of it all came the signings. One of my pals observed later that she'd never had to queue to meet a friend before! People loitered for another hour or more, and in that time I sold most of my books, which was of course a real bonus! Lord Jamie was presented with a signed copy of the paperback for his efforts - he'd come all the way from Edinburgh for the occasion and he's a very busy man, so it was really good of him to come across to join the celebrations.
He wasn't alone in travelling a considerable distance that night: I had friends coming across from Edinburgh and the Lothians and even Perthshire, and while pressures of work meant that they arrived too late for the opening pf the launch, the fact they'd made it in the first place was much appreciated!!
So all in all, it was a grand day out! The readings went very well, and the whole event flowed smoothly and it just felt very natural and right. At long last, I'd reached my goal. All that was missing was, alas, the presence of my noble editor and publisher ericreynolds. But since Kansas is located on entirely different continent from Lochwinnch, I think he can be forgiven for his absence. And besides, without his support and enthusiasm, none of this would have taken place in the first place!!
I've visited more than my fair share of literary events over the past year. I've scratched my head and puzzled over what, in my eyes, constitutes the perfect launch event. And I've fretted over how to translate my dreams of achieving the perfect book launch into concrete reality.
The book launch of the debut novelist is definitely up there in the Rite-of-Passage occasions. Like weddings, or christenings. Am I being a trifle over-dramatic? No, I don't think so. And I'm sure my fellow writers who have been there and done that will agree with me. It is a life-changing event. Financially, the world is not transformed. But your status has changed. You feel more confident in yourself, in your own abilities. And the future suddenly seems brighter, more hopeful, because you've taken your next step out into a big, exciting world.
So what was I looking for? What was my idea of the perfect book launch? First of all, I thought it should be a colossal party which everyone enjoyed. With wine and nibbles, and -as an added bonus - teas, coffees and biscuits for the less exuberant and more genteel amongst the audience. Secondly, the most important requirement was that you ideally needed lots of friends there to share it with you.
I was lucky. Family, workmates, and fellow writers all made the effort to come along. Many were acquaintances I'd known for quite literally years. Others were local writers, historians and poets whom I'd encountered at local literary and historical events and who had always been keen to hear updates on the novel. But as an added bonus, there were a few people there who didn't know me, who'd cpme along because they'd heard about the book, and they liked the sound of it and wanted to find out more.
There must have been about 60 people there. And the format I'd worked out with the staff at the country park turned out beautifully. Charles Woodward, the manager of the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park which runs the Castle Semple Visitor Centre gave a short introduction:-
He then quickly handed the proceedings over to the capable hands of Jamie, 21st Lord Sempill. Who opened with a short summary of just how long it's been since I first got in touch to tell him I was writing a novel which chroncled the life of his ancestor, before commending me on my fortitude in actually seeing the project through to its completion! He talked about his ancestor, and how important the role of the historical novelist is in putting flesh back on the dry bands, and recreating characters and personalities for people who ,like John, 1st Lord Sempill, now exist only as signatures on charters, names on the casualty list of battles long gone but not forgotten.
Readings from the novel were interspersed with discussions - led by Lord Jamie and assisted by myself - which examined various aspects of life and warfare in late medieval and early modern Scotland throughout Renfrewshire and beyond. It was, I think, a perfect blend between fact and fiction:-
And at the end of it all came the signings. One of my pals observed later that she'd never had to queue to meet a friend before! People loitered for another hour or more, and in that time I sold most of my books, which was of course a real bonus! Lord Jamie was presented with a signed copy of the paperback for his efforts - he'd come all the way from Edinburgh for the occasion and he's a very busy man, so it was really good of him to come across to join the celebrations.
He wasn't alone in travelling a considerable distance that night: I had friends coming across from Edinburgh and the Lothians and even Perthshire, and while pressures of work meant that they arrived too late for the opening pf the launch, the fact they'd made it in the first place was much appreciated!!
So all in all, it was a grand day out! The readings went very well, and the whole event flowed smoothly and it just felt very natural and right. At long last, I'd reached my goal. All that was missing was, alas, the presence of my noble editor and publisher ericreynolds. But since Kansas is located on entirely different continent from Lochwinnch, I think he can be forgiven for his absence. And besides, without his support and enthusiasm, none of this would have taken place in the first place!!