What happens at a book launch?

September 5, 2005 6:12 PM

What happens at a book launch?

Author's first published work. Happening in a nightclub for a couple of hours in the early evening.

posted by larry_darrell to Writing & Language (4 answers total)

(1) Guests arrive at bookstore; at University President's home; at "fancy-schmancy" hotel ballroom; at the "it" nightclub.

Depending upon the "status" of said author, guests may be cleared to enter said premises by P.R. hacks.

(2) Guests head to the bar - "open" or "cash" based on said author's status.

(3) Guests get a bit lubricated, albeit "snacking " on hor doeuvres. If the author is important, said hor doeuvres are both "passed" and "tabled."

(4) President/CEO of publishing company calls attention by tapping an hor doeuvres fork against his/her glass. Speaks. Praises the editor, the team at the publishing company and the author, "this century's leading light."

(5) The editor for the author praises the team at the publishing company, the author's agent (if he/she has one) and finally the author ("One of this century's leading lights of literature, etc.").

(6) The author says a few words. Thanks everyone. Feels a bit awkward being in the spotlight ... raises his/her glass. "Cheers to all." He/she scampers to a corner with close friends -- all of whom can't wait to "split" and "down some drinks" at their favorite bar.
posted by ericb at 6:51 PM on September 5, 2005

And most importantly, author is available at the end to "sign" the promotional copies of his/her book for attending guests ("To whom should I ascribe my autograph -- or, "signature," if said author is deemed "important."
posted by ericb at 7:06 PM on September 5, 2005

eric - nice answer. Been to one too many of these have we?
posted by Popular Ethics at 8:22 PM on September 5, 2005

While ericb has pretty much covered it, most of the ones I've attended have involved a reading from the book in question by the author, or some sort of talk based on the book, and sometimes a brief Q & A session with the audience.

Having helped man the bar at a few the amount of alcohol got through at a free bar can be surprising. I'd say that some of the guests get more than a bit lubricated.
posted by drill_here_fore_seismics at 1:47 AM on September 6, 2005