Book Launches—Eat, Pray, Love, Entertain and Give

 – by Ruth Bonetti

Our book baby is birthed, swaddled between covers. It’s time to party!

And what better way to party than with a book launch? But it's not always that easy.

If we self-published, funds are tight until sales happen. Unless we’re Kate Grenville or Tim Winton, mainstream publishers say ‘There’s little budget and rarely do book launches increase sales.’

Even Oxford University Press, my first publisher, were pained that a small pebble on their strand had the temerity to ask for funds. They gave a nominal token when I booked Queensland’s then First Lady, Senator Flo Bjelke-Petersen, to launch it. Like authors, politicians crave favourable PR ops.

So what makes a successful launch?

ENTERTAIN

Send your book into orbit with a flourish. I enlisted students to play excerpts from Enjoy Playing the Clarinet. For Taking Centre-Stage, I played clarinet, wearing a red dress and orchid. Or, play a sound track of relevant music.

MUSIC

But words and music are my fortés, so live music happens at my launches. A worker is worthy of his/her hire. My good sons will sing for their gingerbread; I won’t ask their colleagues to do so. Relief. My crowdfunding ran above my target so I was able to pay Greshka gypsy band.

Is a launch worth the effort and expense?


EVENTS create SIZZLE

Many jostle for a slim mention in limited PR space. An EVENT has a chance to hook media.

EATS

Enlist helpers to prepare food that’s relevant to the book, like gingerbread for my Finnish sagas. Bianca Kasurinen, who worked with Jamie Oliver, is a Godsend to prepare Finnish pastries for my launch of Midnight Sun to Southern Cross on 23 April. If cheese and bikkies fit your budget, so be it.

What if we slaved at the stove so there’s lavish food and people don’t come to the banquet? Or the letters ‘RSVP’ were ignored and the food runs out?

PRAY

We pray that enough people will be interested to attend. That they will buy books. Try this line: ‘One for yourself, and one to lend to friends, because you know loaned books aren’t returned!’


SET THE SCENE

I allow my great-uncle–who died in 1962– to snatch the photo limelight from me. His pics reinforce the story, as does ‘his’ Facebook page ‘Burn My Letters; Karl Johan Back’ for a book published in 1920.

Place scribbled proofs pages on seats as teasers.

Present a SHORT PowerPoint presentation.


LOVE

Spread the love around. Thank people who helped along the way with relevant gifts; a bamboo for Anne Hamilton as she encouraged with the word that a bamboo suddenly flourishes after latent years; a seed in a matchbox for descendants. Small but special.


HELP MATES

Thank those loved ones who man the credit card swiper, MC, or carry trays.

Today, on our wedding anniversary, I thank my husband who travelled the paths with me, carried my bags and my baggage, who supports me in my writing journey.

Before Skype and emails, during our long distance romance, I waited weeks for Antoni’s first missive, which consisted of a cross word puzzle centred around my name. What wordsmith could resist that?


FAITH

Believe in our God–given gifts, and the enabling of our hard work to reach fruition.

Have you run or attended a book launch? What tips would you give?


About Ruth Bonetti


After publishing in her primary field to help presenters of Words and Music to perform with confidence, Ruth turns to her heritage. Her two-part saga, Midnight Sun to Southern Cross is completed with the launch of the second book at St Lucia Uniting Church, Brisbane on 23 April at 2pm. Bookings essential: ruth@ruthbonetti.com.


http://www.ruthbonetti.com/burn-my-letters/