Edith here, half high (no, not THAT kind of high…) and half exhausted north of Boston.
My eleventh mystery officially released on Saturday. Called to Justice is my second Quaker Midwife Mystery and I’m delighted by the reviews and cheers it has received so far. Any regular reader here knows that my tenth mystery came out only two weeks ago, and I was confronted with how to celebrate two books (under two names in two series from two publishers) at once.
So I held a double launch party at my fabulous local independent bookstore, Jabberywocky Bookshop in Newburyport, MA on Friday night. To top off the celebration, I’ll give away an advance copy of my third spring book, Mulch Ado About Murder, to one commenter today!
Owner Sue Little is super supportive of local authors and readers everywhere. When I mentioned I wanted to interview my alter ego Maddie Day – and vice versa – she thought it was a great idea.
I found an Indiana cap, and brought my Quaker bonnet. I baked gingersnaps from the late 1800s (Fanny Farmer helped with the recipe) as well as Kahlua Brownies Robbie Jordan might serve in her country store restaurant (recipe in Flipped for Murder). I assembled a few door prizes. And I wrote up a number of questions for Maddie and me to ask each other.
The audience kept building. I spied local writer pals, a bunch of Quakers, fans I’d met at previous library events, and more.
My darling son JD helped dole out raffle tickets.
I’d started speaking when two Wicked Cozys slipped in – Julie Hennrikus and Barb Ross, having battled traffic all the way up from the Boston area (we three slipped out for a drink and a late dinner afterwards, too).
It was one of the more fun launch parties I’ve held. People seemed to like the alter egos talking to each other.
After my script was done, I read a short first scene from each book, and then entertained lively audience questions.
Afterwards? Wine, dessert, and signing books, of course.
And if anyone not local to north of Boston wants to order a signed copy of Called to Justice, please consider doing it via Jabberywocky! Just make sure to request a signed copy in the comments when you check out.
Readers: Thanks to everybody for helping me celebrate! Which authors have you helped celebrate launches – or wished you had? Writers, favorite launch parties? Tips and downfalls? Remember, I’m giving away an advance copy of my third spring book, Mulch Ado About Murder, to one commenter today!
Looks like you had a good turnout and a great time.
Much success!
Thank you, dear Reine! Wish you could have been there.
What a fun party! I love the alter-egos talking. Did you find your voice changing as well? Oh, if there really was teleporting so we could pop in. <3
Wish I could have filmed it! I don’t think my voice changed much, until I read the short scenes. One much more somber than the other.
What a fun idea! I wish I could have been there. (And I love your dark red dress!)
I wish you could have, too. I love the dress, too. Swingy, doesn’t wrinkle – and it was a “hand-me-down” from my best friend, who is the same size as me. Extra special.
It would have been fun to attend! I haven’t done a launch party in person, but I’ve done a few on Facebook for Ali Brandon, Barbara Early, and T. C. LoTempio.
Wish you could have joined us, Melissa.
Marvelously creative approach – and what a lovely venue! I’ve done a few book launches – a cookbook launch years ago with a good friend who is a reviewer, Steve Vogel’s launch for his book, The Pentagon: A History (fascinating history of the building of the Pentagon), and Sherry Harris’ and Mary Ann Corrigan’s joint one for their first novels, and Sherry’s subsequent one. It is such a thrill to meet the authors and hear from them.
Thanks, Vida. And we authors love to have new readers in the audience. I’m glad you get to check out Sherry’s events.
Looks like it was a fun time. Congrats on your new book. Another to add to my TBR list.
Thanks so much!
I have never been to launch party but it sounds like fun. A tea party launch theme would be interesting. Maceoindo(at)yahoo(dot)com
A tea party would be fun, Jess.
Nice event, fun! Where can I get the recipe for the historic gingersnaps? Congratulations, Edith. You look fabulous!
I think I’ll have to do a blog post about that, Guta! Will let you know when it’s up. (Or you can look in Fannie Farmer 1899 Cookbook.)
Wow, how nice. What a great looking bookstore. Happy you had lots of fun. (The gingersnaps and brownies look delicious.) It must be so encouraging to have seen two of the wicked cozy authors there to support you. Congratulations and much continued success.
I most recently helped to celebrate the launch of When The Grits Hit The Fan by commenting on blog and Facebook posts, tweeting, writing reviews and making recommendations because I loved it so much. I still think about the characters and it’s been at least a couple of weeks since I finished reading the book. Now I’m looking forward to getting acquainted with the Quaker Midwife Mystery series and your other cozy mysteries series. ( :
You are so sweet to support the book in those ways! That’s so important for authors, to have readers share what they like about our stories. Thank you!
I’ve been to several book signings but have never attended an official book launch. I’ve participated in a few book launch parties on Facebook. Your party sounds like it was a lot of fun–I love the idea of the two authors talking to each other! The thing I miss with the FB parties is hearing the author read an excerpt from the book.
Yes, I imagine. I might see if I can get someone to film the next one I do. And here’s a link to a talk I did to a historical society recently, with their local cable channel filming the whole thing. I read a scene there, too. Check this out, and the reading starts at about minute 34.
“This” being this: http://actontv.org/on-demand/post-video/dr-edith-maxwell
Looks like a great party, Edith.
I’m almost always on hand when one of the members of the Mary Roberts Rinehard SinC chapter releases a book. Most recently it was Annette Dashofy and her yummy Southwest-themed treats.
Wish I could have been there for that!
What fun! I’ve always kidded you are the energizer bunny in disguise, but now I know the truth — multiple personalities or should I say characters. Congrats on your launch and wishing much success for you under all of your names/personas.
Thanks so much, Debra!
What a creative idea, Edith! And I’m sure it was great fun for the audience. Wish I could have been there.
Very much looking forward to reading these!
Thanks so much, Karen! I wish you could have been with us, too. See you in Bethesda?
Yes, and very much looking forward to it. Should we have a drink in the bar?
Of course!
Wonderful and creative! I have that cookbook!
Thanks, Doris! Apart from not having an oven temperature or cooking time, it was a doable recipe.
Your dual launch sounds like a wonderfully fun event — wish I could have been there. The Robbie/Rose interviews must have been the highlight of the evening (not forgetting, of course, the treats and wine). How lovely that Julie and Barb came!
It was lovely for so many reasons, but seeing those two slip in made it extra special!
I wish I had been able to be there. It looks like it was lots of fun. I don’t think I’ve been to a book launch but I love going to book signings. Planning on going to Cozies at the Cafe, hope to see you there.
Great! Barb and I will both be there.
Doesn’t seem like we have many author’s visiting in the area
or I never see the advertisements for the book signing..
Wish more of them did come to the area.
Enjoyed the post – the cookies looked delicious.
thanks for the chance to win a copy of the boo..
Thanks, and you are welcome!
I am a big fan…whether channelling Edith or Maddie. I love meeting authors at bookshops; this looks like a marvelous event.
Thanks so much, Kat!
Congratulations Edith! What a fun party and I wish I could have been there!
We missed you! And Jessie and Liz, too.
Sounds like a very fun and creative launch. Wish I could have been there.
It was, Mark!
Congrats on your release party! Sounds like it was a lot of fun.Wish I could have been there. Maybe someday I will get a chance. Would love to get an arc of Mulch Ado….Appreciate the chance to do so
Thank you so much.
Congratulations, Edith! I wish I could have been there to see you and Maddie interview each other. What fun! And what a lovely bookshop that is.
Thanks! Jabberwocky is awesome.
I’ve never been to a launch party, but I have been to several book signings. My favorite ones were with Laura Bradford because she is a delightful person and the bookstore where they were held is a wonderful cozy indie store. That made it very intimate and friendly.
Congrats on your launch and I wish I could have been there, too!
Thanks, Ginny.
Congratulations, Edith, on the duel launch! What a fun idea!
It was a lot of fun, Jessie.
Congratulations, Edith. It sounded like a fun event, and I wished that I lived close enough to have attended. It sounded like a fun evening was had by all. Looking forward to seeing you at Malice.
Thanks, Grace. See you soon!
That looks like a really fun launch party. Interesting format for your alter egos interview each other. Would love to attend a launch party in person some day.
diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
You are always welcome, Dianne.
I love hearing authors speak so I wish I lived closer to you! Would love to win an arc as I like all your series!
I appreciate that so much, Margaret.
That sounds like a lot of fun. Too bad I don’t live anywhere near Boston.
Too bad, indeed, Darlene. We had a blast!
Tonight, from my suggestion, our cozy book club chose to read When the Grits Hit the Fan for August. I am so excited! I told of your interview with your alter ego and everyone loved the idea.
Oh fun, thanks so much, Ginny! Are you anywhere near New England? I love to come to book groups. And a cozy club – even better. ;^) Maybe I could skype in?
I’m in Lancaster, PA. Is that too far? If you could make it here, I would love to have you as a house guest!
What an unique way to do a launch party! Looks like it was very well received, complete with surprise guests! Can’t wait to get caught up with all your new releases in all 3 of your series.
Thanks so much, Doward.
sounds like a fun time! parkeremma2003 at yahoo dot com