Whew! That Was Too Much Fun to Repeat Anytime Soon!

It was fun, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t relieved it’s over. I’d planned (and shopped for) and stressed over it for weeks. Finally the big day came and it was wonderful and exciting and fun… but, whew! Am I ever glad it’s in the rearview mirror.

“What the heck are you yammering about?” you may be asking. You’re in good company; folks ask me that all the time! I’m talking about the book-launch party for my latest release, Tender Mercies. It doesn’t officially come out ’til June 21, but those who attended the launch party could purchase copies in advance. See? Sometimes knowing me isn’t such a bad thing.

We had lots of great people in attendance, plenty of good food, and fantastic audience questions during the Q&A portion of the program. My master of ceremonies was equal parts amusing and entertaining, and nobody fell asleep during my reading from the new book. Plus, folks didn’t seem to mind waiting in line to buy personally inscribed copies. I’d call that a successful event, wouldn’t you? Oh, and I can’t forget Abigail – my rock-star of a manicurist – who custom mixed nail polish so I’d match the shade of blue my designer used on the book cover! Yes, I admit it: I have fancy party fingers!

On a more personal level, it was a success in that I didn’t touch any of the chocolate (either in the form of Plain or Peanut M&Ms or my homemade chocolate-chip cookies) and I only nibbled a few corn chips with my heavily cilantroed guacamole. I eschewed the lemonade and stuck to chilled water. Of course, I did have a glass of sangria and I snarfed up some tortilla chips with salsa when hubby and I went out to La Costa – our favorite Mexican restaurant – for a celebratory dinner with friends and family.

The sound system at the venue acted a bit wonky, but that can’t be helped. I did, however, note a few things I’d do differently next time: not get quite so many blocks of cheese, or stockpile soppressata… and maybe buy only two bags of corn chips. Plus, six avocadoes should yield plenty enough guacamole, and maybe I don’t need to set up five dozen chairs. And perhaps I’ll make only a half batch of each type of cookies (unless I keep small zip-top bags close at hand for attendees to take surplus snacks home with them). But I’ll prepare more of the organic figs stuffed with toasted walnuts. Those went over really well!

This morning, several folks told me how much they enjoyed themselves – and how nice the venue looked, all decked out in aqua (I got most of the party supplies at my local Dollar Tree for a buck and a quarter apiece – still quite a bargain, all things considered). Many folks even arrived wearing aqua tops… and I hadn’t even sent out a memo! Go figure.

Today I’m tired, but gratified everything went so well! I’m grateful for the friends who offered to help set up (and stayed to clean up afterward). I’m grateful I had a tall(ish) friend who, along with my dear husband on a stepladder, orchestrated the hanging of the “Book Signing Today” banner outside the hall. I’m thankful for the sweet friend who graciously agreed to serve as my “hospitality agent” and “name-tag writer-outer,” warmly greeting people at the door with a dazzling smile and a welcoming, “Hello, friend!”

I’m appreciative of all the folks who bought one or more of my novels – both the new one and my backlist titles. I’m also deeply thankful for those folks who – although they couldn’t be there with us in person – called, emailed or texted prayers and good wishes for a successful turnout.

All in all, it was a great book-launch party. I’m already looking forward to the next one.

About the Author:
Rita M. Reali is an international award-winning author and longtime editor who most enjoys editing memoir, general fiction and romance, along with inspirational writing. She’s self-published four novels: Glimpse of Emerald, Diagnosis: Love, The Unintended Hero and Second Chances – the first four in the seven-volume Sheldon Family Saga. Her fifth novel, Tender Mercies, comes out later this month. As a former disc jockey in her native Connecticut, Rita used to spend her days “talking to people who weren’t there” – a skill which transferred perfectly to her being an author. Now she talks to characters who aren’t there on “a little chunk of heaven in rural Tennessee.” Contact Rita.