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So you finished your book – I bet it took quite a lot of time and work. Most novels and book length manuscripts take more than a year to finish because an author bleeds his heart onto every page. You got up early each morning or missed sleep each night to write. You turned down invitations for important social events and locked yourself away with your laptop. You haven’t seen your friends for months, and may have to put an A.P.B. out to find your husband and children. Looking in the mirror you see that your skin grew pale and your hair dark for want of sunlight. Still you weren’t done. After months of query letters and piles of rejection letters, you found a publisher. Whether your book is eventually self-published or traditionally published that took some money and hard work. You designed or paid an artist to create the perfect cover. You tore your hair out with the edits and just when you were sure that you could repeat the book verbatim without actually having the book in front of you, it was sent to the printers. When it arrived, you tore open the box and held it up in the light. Wow! And you’re not going to have a party?

A book launching party is not only fun and rewarding; it is a great way to kick-start your sales. The party is an enjoyable way to get the word out and reward yourself for all the hard work and dedication. It is also a great way to let your family and friends know that you are still alive! And planning the party is an entertaining way to release all the tension. I have had three book-launching parties and enjoyed all of them. My first publisher threw me a party in a quaint little coffee shop in a neighboring town. I invited family and friends and did a short reading. All of my friends purchased a signed copy of my novel and I felt like a ‘real author’ for the first time. I had my next two book launching parties at the local library. My sister helped me serve donuts and coffee. I did a few readings and signed books. In this setting I met strangers who wandered in and ended up buying books. I never had a book launching party for my children’s series, Sisters of the Last Straw, but have decided to throw a party for the fourth volume.

When you plan your party, think of a unique venue that reflects your book. We had a local author who wrote a vampire thriller and had her party at the local ‘haunted house’ on Halloween. She advertised in the paper. Not only did she sell hundreds of books, but she made the vendor happy because he sold numerous tickets to his attraction. Another friend of mine wrote a book on the history of the N.J. Pine Barrens. She held her book launching party at a famous historical store in the center of the yearly cranberry festival. The lines to get a signed copy of her work wound out the door! A romance writer in my local group had her latest novel launched at the local ice cream parlor. I may have the book launching for the fourth Sisters book at the ice cream parlor with a free scoop of ice cream for each book sold.

Where are you going to have your book launching party? Make it fun but remember that it is all about business. Put on your marketing hat and be creative! Send out specially created postcards with info about your book on the cover. Send out those press releases about your launch party! Remember the more creative your venue – the more likely the story will be carried in the paper. Offer an incentive to the public – a free slice of pizza, or other treats. What a way to start your marketing. It is too good a marketing tool to skip! Next time let’s talk about twitter!

Karen Kelly Boyce lives on a farm in N.J. with her retired husband. She is a mother and grandmother. She is the author of “The Sisters of the Last Straw” series published by Tan Books. You can see her work and learn more about her on her website: www,kkboyce.com