Deborah Hall-Branch

If you scroll down a little further on my blog you'll see the short article I wrote on my most recent launch party. For your viewing pleasure, a few of my pictures have been posted with still more to come. But, hid far away behind the scenes are those several or more weeks of why, who, what, when, and where. My first question, "Why do I have to have a launch party?"  I'd written the book, it started out the publishing gate with a bang. We'd already received an email from a Pastor in India who felt his women's ministry would be greatly encouraged to not only read my story, but also meet the author face-to-face.

Before we could even get online services secured mainly to www.deborahhbranch.com readers where searching the web in hopes of finding my personal email information. Also, I'd received invitations to speak from local law enforcers who headed up domestic and rape advocacies. So, why did I need to have a launch party? To me, it wasn't going to make or break the sales.

For certain, well-known celebrities were not standing in line waiting to get their Evite, and sales still had not stopped. So, for two weeks, night and day I pondered over this matter negotiating between the monies set aside growing interest in my book marketing account which would've came in handy to buy a few new fabulous outfits for India. Or, have the launch party. To be perfectly honest, buried inside of me I knew all too well how important it was for a first time author to launch their book.

After returning back to my very own reality show, immediately I inherited the most wonderful support team. They gathered in every little piece of paper I'd scribbled my ideas on and began to create the vision. Choosing a theme became the hardest part since the book is on abuse. Instead of waiting on my support team to brainstorm with me, I decided to ask my dear husband his opinion who said we should all dress up as ... well, to protect the innocent let's just say, we shredded his detailed idea later burning the small pieces of paper. Nevertheless, it all worked out.

"First Time Goers," if you're planning a book launch party, have a great support team to work with you. Use the monies (royalties, savings, etc.) wisely. Fulfill every dream you envisioned. Most of all remember it is your time to shine for all the hard work, long lonely hours, weight gain from over indulging in chocolate, forgetting the children's names (unfortunately they were somehow changed to the characters names), and those dreaded query letters. Think of it as marketing, and don't get offended if someone doesn't remember the name of your book, but instead the wonderful buffet. Give them time, you're brand new. Create a "Thank You" card with the book cover on it. It'll jar their memory. Get just as creative as you did for the party.

 Above all, enjoy yourself.  Will I do it again? Can't wait!