Guest Blogger Carla Stewart: FIVE KEYS TO A FUN AND SUCCESSFUL BOOK RELEASE PARTY

Myra here. I'm delighted to welcome back my good friend, award-winning author, and all-around wonderful person, Carla Stewart! When I first met Carla, we were both published-novelist wannabes, and we've critiqued, conferenced, commiserated, and celebrated together through the challenges of this crazy writing business. I love her like a sister!

Today, Carla joins us to share insights, ideas, and advice gleaned from her personal experience with highly successful book launches. So sharpen your pencils, turn to a clean page in your notebooks, and get ready to learn from someone who knows whereof she speaks (er, blogs)!

Award-winning author Carla Stewart

If the release of your new book is anything like mine, it’s been at least two years (or much longer) from the time your book was a glint in your eye until you’ve held your baby in your hands. It’s like being “with child” for twenty-four months! Having given birth to four human babies, I was more that ready for a celebration after just nine months. So double that and then some, and that’s what it feels like when you book baby is born. Why not celebrate your new release with abandon? Show it off to the world and let others join in!

First, a word about terminology. A book release party can be called a launch. It can be a traditional book signing. It can be a virtual book launch. For our purposes here today, though, I’m going with the theory that it’s a PHYSICAL, in-person release party. In other words, this is a VERY BIG DEAL, and you might have to get dressed up for this. But, you know, you deserve it, right?

I’ve come up with five keys to making sure your release party is a smash hit.

PLANNING – The five W’s and How Much?

·      Who to invite – Everyone. It always surprises me who turns up at my release parties. So be sure and include neighbors, friends, work colleagues (yours and your spouse’s), church members, hairdressers, people you’ve met casually who know you’re an author. Make a list and add to it as you think of others you want to include.

·      Who will provide books – you or a bookstore? Order well in advance of the event if you will be providing your own books.

·      What type of party – Theme-related parties are fun using elements from your book. Begin jotting down ideas for decorations and if you will have a reading, a skit, music (live or background music). What unique angle does your book have? Play that up. For my debut book, Chasing Lilacs, we had a fifties-themed party that I documented here. 

·      When – Set a date that is close to your release date and get it on the calendar as early as possible.

·      Where – A church, bookstore, restaurant party room, museum, art gallery, or any place that is unique to your book and would lend atmosphere are all good choices. Bookstores may restrict you on decorating and entertainment, but they offer ease in having books available. Securing a location and coordinating the date go hand in hand and should be one of your first moves. Courtney Walsh held her launch in an art gallery. Read about it here:  And here: 

·      Why have a release party? – See first paragraph. Chances are you are not the only one invested in your writing venture. This should be a time of celebration for your cheering squad.

·      How Much? Make a budget that’s within your means. Jot down the major costs (food, decorations, publicity, rental of facility if applicable, giveaways). It adds up fast, and chances are you will spend more than you budget, but this gives you a starting place. Save your receipts for tax purposes later!

PUBLICITY - Ways to invite people.

·      Personal invitations (postcards with your book cover work great) – I’ve found these to be most effective since people have a physical reminder they can tape to the fridge or tuck in a purse. There’s just something about a personal invitation that makes people feel welcome.

·      Create events on FB or GoodReads.

·      Newspaper ads and/or press releases. This works especially well in small to mid-sized towns.

·      Newsletters: Your author newsletter or those of your church and writing groups

·      Local radio station. TV if you’re really lucky!

·      E-vites

·      Flyers and posters

ENLIST HELPERS – Friends. Relatives. Your church’s social committee. Children. I always give my grandchildren jobs at my release parties – passing out slips of paper for the drawings, collecting cups and plates from guests, even taking pictures. They love it! Don’t be shy about asking for help. People become invested in your career when asked to help. Some jobs you can delegate:

·      Greeters to welcome guests.

·      Refreshments – Baking cookies, making sandwiches, set up and serving. Catering is great, but not always in the budget. You’ll have a lot more fun if you’re not preparing the food.

·      Set-up and Clean-up – A great job for teens and kiddos. Cash is a nice motivator.

·      Decorating – Do ahead of time if possible. Provide materials and props and let creative friends help. Ask permission if you are in a bookstore.

·      Photography – Have more than one person take pics if possible. Take a lot of random photos and pose with readers.

·      Sales – If you are in charge of selling your own books, enlist help to take money and fill out receipts (important for tax records). If your event is in a book store, they will handle sales.

·      Drawings for giveaways – I have a small form to capture addresses and emails for future mailings and my data base, but letting someone else pass these out and collect them is a huge help! The slips of paper can then used to draw for prizes.

LOGISTICS: Party Time

·      Guiding Principle: It’s all about the readers and guests. Provide a festive atmosphere that invites people to mingle. Make sure guests feel welcome from the minute they walk in the door.

·      Have a schedule. Will you sign books the whole time or chat with guests before moving to the author table? When will you hold drawings for the door prizes (People LOVE door prizes!)? Let guests know so they can plan how long they will stay. 

Door Prize Baskets

·      Will you be doing a reading? Will there be entertainment (special music or a skit perhaps)? Decide ahead of time when these will occur and try to honor that.

·      Round tables or groups of chairs will invite guests to stay and visit while having refreshments either before or after you’ve signed a book for them.

·      Author table: Don’t position too close to the entry. You want people to have a chance to enter the room and feel the warm reception.  Bookmarks and a bowl of candy are nice additions on the signing table.

·      Talk to each guest either while circulating or when you sign their book. Ask for proper spelling of their names and how they want book signed.

GRATITUDE

·      At the end of the day, you’ll want to thank those who’ve helped you. Send notes or provide small “hostess” gifts to your helpers. Inexpensive candles, note cards, sticky notes, bath gel, etc. make nice gifts.

·      Send a thank-you card to the facility that hosted your event. If a bookstore, leave a plate of refreshments for their break room and/or give a small gift to the coordinator.

·      Make a donation to the church if they’ve hosted your event.

·      Pam Meyers made a YouTube video of pictures of the event and sent the link to those who came. She also has a great tip if you have a book trailer.  

HAVE FUN! Releasing a new book is a day to rejoice. Enjoy it. Visit with your guests. Pose for pictures. Laugh. This is a day for you . . . and your readers. Treat them to a wonderful day, and they will be counting the days until your next book releases! 

Carla Stewart’s writing reflects her passion for times gone by. A child of the fifties and sixties, she recalls it as a glorious time when the summers were lazy, colors were brighter, and music filled her heart. Carla’s desire is to take readers back to the times when they knew they were loved, to that warm, familiar place in their hearts called “home.”

Her award-winning novels include Chasing Lilacs and Broken Wings. Stardust is her newest release. She loves readers and participating in book club discussions. You can learn more about Carla and ways to connect with her at www.carlastewart.com.

About STARDUST: 

In the bayou country of East Texas, the neon sign of the STARDUST stands silent, no longer beckoning visitors to its cozy cottages. But two days after Georgia Peyton buries her unfaithful husband, a curious thing happens: the STARDUST sign sputters to life and winks at her. Sustained by a memory from the past and determined to build a new life, Georgia acquires the STARDUST with hopes of breathing new life into it too. 

But the guests who arrive aren't what Georgia expects: her gin-loving mother-in-law; her dead husband's mistress; an attractive drifter who's tired of the endless road; and an aging Vaudeville entertainer with a disturbing link to Georgia's past. Dreams of a new life are crippled amid the havoc. Georgia's only hope is that she can find the courage to forgive those who've betrayed her, the grace to shelter those who need her, and the moxie to face the future. One thing is certain: under the flickering neon of the STARDUST, none of their lives will ever be the same.

Leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for Carla's book along with two authentic Southern pecan pralines from East Texas.

You can find Carla here:

My website: www.carlastewart.com

Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/#!/ChasingLilacs

FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/carlastewartauthor

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3335371.Carla_Stewart

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/chasinglilacs/   

Amazon link to Stardust:

StardustVideo Trailer: