TALK IT OVER
http://www.writers-online.co.uk NOVEMBER 2019^35If you
have a question
you would like Jane to
consider, email jane@
janewenham-jones.
comand I have always felt it was worth it.
First, you should talk to your publishers. It is true that
publishers generally do not get quite as excited about launch
parties as authors do, but they may still be willing to make a
small contribution or help with invitations or publicity material.
Then they, or you, should approach your local bookshop, if
you are lucky enough to have one. You won’t know unless you
ask, and if they agree, this can be a cheap, cheerful but very
effective way of holding a launch.
Arrive with a big smile, a copy of the book cover, and your
publicity plan, schmooze the manager and see what you can
arrange. He or she will often be pleased to have all those extra
bodies in the shop. Sometimes they’ll provide the wine and
crisps too or you can bring this along. The bookshop staff are
likely to want to keep it fairly short but you can always repair to
the nearest bar afterwards.
Invite all your family and friends, but also ask if each of them
can bring a friend or work colleague – a quick way of doubling
the numbers. Your publisher will probably be pleased to make
a ‘showcard’ advertising the evening, that the bookshop can
display. You can get flyers printed cheaply these days that you
can leave around town, and you can set up a Facebook event.
These are all excellent vehicles by which to get the title of
your book known to potential readers. And who knows which of
them might be moved to buy a copy and then tell someone else
about it.
Inform the local paper and local radio – you never know they
may well have a corner to fill – and get photos on the night that
you can send out afterwards.
If there isn’t a handy bookshop nearby or they are not keen for
whatever reason, then yes, find a venue. Bookshops are unlikely
to set up a bookstall for you unless they can be very confident
of significant sales but you can get stock from the publishers
and maybe they would like to attend and man the table? Or you
could enlist a friend to help out?
The advantage of a venue is that you can make a night of it
- perhaps providing everyone with a glass or wine or fizz when
they arrive and then directing them towards a cash bar. If the
venue has one. I have been to launch parties in village halls,
private houses, hotels, pubs, cafes, and even – when Desmond
Fforde, husband of the bestselling Katie, edited a book of
nautical tales for charity – on a Thames barge. Depending
on your budget, you can choose whether to self-cater or out-
source, provide peanuts only or a full buffet, serve champagne or
coffee and cake. The author Elaine Everest put on a wonderful
1940s-themed afternoon tea in Ramsgate’s Home Front Tea
Room to launch her novel The Teashop Girls. A topical theme is
always good.
However, to avoid disappointment, do take the view that the
main purpose of the evening is to spread the
word about your new book and celebrate
your wonderful achievement. As
your friend has pointed out, even
if you sell a hundred books, the
royalties won’t cover many bottles
of prosecco. So, I would suggest
you spend only what you are
comfortable with and see any books
sales as an added bonus. I hope you
have a ball!
First-time author Gillian Harvey waited a long
time finding a literary agent who was a matchUnder the covers
A
fter two decades of trying to get my foot in an agent’s door, let’s
face it – I was the writerly equivalent of a Tinder addict going
through a dry spell. By the time I had a positive response, I’d
have pretty much signed with the first agent who’d swiped right.
Luckily, as fate would have it, when I sent off my latest (and first
successful) book, I landed on an agent who was the right fit. She does
all the stuff you’d expect an agent to do – with one added special
ingredient: speedy email replies. For an impatient and paranoid soul
like me, that is the agenting Holy Grail.
Her frequent communication also meant that I had zero
expectations when I clicked on her email on the day that shall be for
evermore known as Book Deal Day.
Cue an enormous adrenaline rush – after the first sentence I was
out of my chair and leaping into my surprised (and long-suffering)
husband’s arms. ‘I’ve... I’ve got a book deal!’ I gibbered.
As well as my secret fear that nobody would ever really want to
read anything I’d written, the shock of the offer was compounded by
the way it was delivered. To be honest, after a lifetime of waiting, I’d
expected more of a fanfare: confetti cannons, champagne, fireworks
and some posh-looking person reading a scroll on the front doorstep.
Or at least a phone call.
Once my husband had peeled me off and my heart had stopped
thundering, I returned to read the rest of the mail. But to my horror,
instead of seeing the words ‘here’s a contract, sign it quick!’ my agent
informed me that she had, in fact, written back to negotiate.
Are you actually mad? I wanted to cry. I’ll take whatever I can get!
Send me through a bit of bog-roll with a written promise and I’ll sign
it immediately. Who cares about percentages, rights or advances? It’s a
frickin’ book deal!
(I wrote back that it was brilliant news and that I looked forward to
hearing from her. Kind regards.)
I’m not going to lie, the wait to hear back from the publisher was
butt-clenchingly awful. But eventually, on my hundredth daily email
refresh a fortnight later, I had news. They’d agreed the terms!
Then, ‘I’ve just written back with a query on international rights,’
my agent breezed. As if that was perfectly fine and normal and not at
all horrifying.
International rights? My mum hasn’t even read the book yet.
Of course, long term, the woman was right. And proved why agents
are worth their salt.
But I’m sure the six weeks it took to get things sorted – including
an annoying break for blummin’ Christmas – took at least a year off
my life.- Everything is Fine by Gillian Harvey is due for publication by
Orion Fiction on 28 May 2020.