I
see this question on writers group chats. Should I have a book launch party?
Where? How? Is it a must?
I
really like this
post by Liz Alterman. It tells of her personal experience of this very
matter.
Let’s
face it: unless you have written on a very hot topic and are a known expert on same,
or you are already an established author for fiction, your book event will not
draw a crowd of strangers. Your audience will be largely made of supportive
friends who want to celebrate with you, a very nice thing. This, too, makes a
book feel “launched.”
But
there will be a few new faces, and each is a possible future friend. This, at
least, has been my experience.
If
the very idea of throwing a party where no one comes gives you night sweats,
know that you don’t have to have book events. Many writers are not
natural partiers. It’s okay either way.
Speaking
for myself, I hope to have more books published. Parties will depend on
what/where/when. I did like my previous events after I had done them and
saw, as the book of Genesis says, that it was good.
