What I Did on Launch Day & Book/Chocolate Winner!
Okay, guys, I’ve been waiting over a year to get to put up this post! I love reading launch-day reports from other writers, and half the reason I got myself out from behind my desk and into the real world (okay, the real BOOK world, anyway) was so that I’d have something to write about.
Yes, fantasy can create reality. 🙂
Before I start the report. I want to thank everyone again who has helped and is helping me launch the book. This includes not just the bloggers who are talking about me so kindly, but also local friends and family who are just working to keep me (relatively) calm and sane. Hugs to you all!
There are still a few contests running, chances for you to win a copy of The Writing & Critique Group Survival Guide. Check these out:
- Mary Hershey & Robin LaFevers’ Shrinking Violet Promotions
- Joyce Moyer Hostetter’s The Three R’s-Reading, ‘Riting & Research
- Martha Engber’s Growing Great Writers from the Ground Up
- Jennifer R. Hubbard’s WriterJenn
And I want to announce the winner from my own contest, who gets both a copy of my book and a bar of Lindt’s Intense Pear Dark Chocolate. Drum roll…
- Susan R. Mills!
Susan, email me at beckylevine at ymail dot com, and I’ll get your prizes out to you!
Okay…back to the day!
I did write. Well, I tried to write. I sat down at my computer for an hour and took notes on an upcoming scene. Okay, it wasn’t until two days later that I got my brain together enough to actually start the scene, but the effort was made. I believe, on launch day, that more than counts!
And then I went out. My first stop, with the simple goal of ordering mini-cupcakes for my launch party, hit CUPCAKE FAIL. My favorite bakery does not make the mini’s. I have to say, as seriously intense as modern cupcakes are, I believe the regular size are overkill. So…back to the drawing board. Let’s skip over the control-freak anguish and just get to the result. Mini-cupcakes will be provided by Kara’s Cupcakes in Palo Alto, where the woman who took my order was kind, patient, and quoted Occam’s Razor at me.You really can’t beat that kind of service!
Okay, then came the big moment. I had tried, a few times earlier in the week, to see if my book was on the shelves of any local bookstores, but no luck. I took this as fate, or at least as a positive indication that I might very possibly show up at one of those stores on launch day and NOT have to push past my shyness/nervousness (yes, really) about approaching a bookseller & offering to actually sign my books. So I strolled casually to the back of the Barnes & Noble in The Pruneyard Shopping Center, pretty sure that I’d just be browsing the writing section for other people’s books. At first glance, I was right–nothing in the craft section. So I browsed and looked for a few other things, when…BOOM!
They’d stocked it among the marketing & getting published books!
Well, probably, being next to a book on getting an agent is not such a bad spot. 🙂
It didn’t matter, though, because after I took my breath and hunted down the incredibly nice salesperson and asked if they’d like me to sign the books, they ended up in an entirely new spot. And, look-proof that I DID ask and that I DID sign!
It felt good, weird, and silly all at the same time. But I do love the stickers!
Finally, thanks to my husband’s back being on the mend and sitting in a chair being not quite so painful, I took him and my son out to dinner to celebrate. We went here and ordered only from the appetizer menu–one of our favorite things to do. Even my son, pretty much a burger guy, was able to find a delicious set of Sliders. Then home to pajamas, Ben & Jerry’s Karamel Sutra ice cream, and a few episodes of Battlestar Galactica. Yes, geekdom reins over glamour in our house!
All in all, a wonderfully happy, exciting day. The perfect way to step briefly out of life’s regular programming. 🙂
beckylevine.com 
25 Comments
Bravery, book spotting, cupcakes, dinner with family: sounds like a perfect celebration. I’m so very happy for you, Becky!
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The book spotting was the coolest! Thanks, Jeannine. Are you having fun at ALA? 🙂
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There is nothing like holding yourself prepared for not much then letting out a happy breath when you spot your book! So glad it seemed lost then found then relocated.
Yes, ALA was fun — just blogged!
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I’ll check it out. Hoping for pics! 🙂
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The perfect day! I’m so glad signing books was such a great experience. Love to see that autographed sticker.
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You would have been proud of me. And you were right about the people working there-VERY nice!
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How fun!! I’ve kept checking in to hear this story! Whoohoo! What a great day! And you even wrote!!! I’m celebrating with you by refusing to resist exclamation points! If ever a day deserved them, this is it! Go, Becky!!!! :)!!!
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Use all the exclamation points you want!!!!! 🙂
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AHHHH!!!!
Happy Launch Day!!! So awesome!
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Thanks, Beth! 🙂
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Such a thrill! So glad you found it. And thanks for the shout-out.
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I was glad, too! And thanks for the post. 🙂
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I’m so happy for you. How exciting to see your book on the shelves. And, I can’t believe I won! I’m glad you emailed me because I’ve taken the week off from blogging and I wouldn’t have known about it otherwise. Thank you so much! I can’t wait to read the book.
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I’m glad you’re glad, Susan! 🙂
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How awesome! I guess it pays to hunt 🙂
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You never know! 🙂
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I got your book! And it looks SO pretty! Love it. Huge congratulations!
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Thanks! I know you know that feeling of having it show up and loving how the publisher made it all look! 🙂
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Good for you! I’m buying the digital edition of your book today (cause all the way out here in Egypt, it would take WEEKS for the book to reach me, plus I’d pay about double its price shipping + customs), and I can’t wait to read it!
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Marwa, you just made my day! And now I’m dying of curiousity–how did you find out about the book/my webpage? Through Writer’s Digest?
Thanks so much!
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Becky, I first heard about your webpage from another writer’s blog (can’t for the life of me remember which one, but will try to dig that up). But I heard about your book from Jane Friedman’s post about it: http://blog.writersdigest.com/norules/2010/01/19/FormThePerfectCritiqueGroup.asp. Couldn’t resist it, especially that I am currently in the beginning stages of figuring out how to set up my platform, have recently started a blog, and started shopping around for online critique groups. In-person groups are kind of difficult for the writing I’m currently doing – historical fiction in English – where I’m living – Egypt. I’m currently trying a few out to see what works for me, but still haven’t settled in. I think your book will help me in this process, so I should be the one thanking you! 🙂
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Congratulations, Becky, on the launching of your new book! I’m so sorry I’m late to post here. I’m finding it hard to keep up with both the writing world and my day job (I’m also taking a drawing class again). Next time I’m at Border’s, I’ll look for your book. I have a gift card to spend.
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Thanks, Stella! 🙂
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What a wonderful way to spend the day! (And Occam’s Razor — seriously?! How cool.)
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I think she had me figured as a worrier. Wonder how!
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