Despite all my nervous nilly ways, last week’s launch party was a huge success and in hindsight, I needn’t have been nervous.
120 people attended at the bookstore.
100 copies of Mrs. Perfect were sold–plus thirty more of Odd Mom and Flirting and Frog.
Since September when Odd Mom Out debuted at the Bellevue Barnes & Noble it’s sold like hot cakes. Around 600 copies. That’s a snazzy number for one bookstore.
The night of the launch, people waited in line for up to two hours to get their books signed. I’m sorry to those who had to stand that long. I really tried to move quickly through the signing aspect this year. I even asked everyone to open their books to the title page so they were ready to be signed when folks approached me. (Kind of like curtseying to the queen–awkward but must be done.)
I did get some complaints, though. Friends said they went to the Ooba’s party and I didn’t show until almost 10 pm. Unacceptable, they said. I should have been there drinking and celebrating, not slaving away signing books.
Others said they ended up hung over on Wednesday morning. Apparently drinking chocolate-tinis late on a schoolnight wasn’t very smart. Next year I’ll serve punch. No, make it a V-8.
Actually, everyone was very happy. My friends just like to torture me. (Thank you.)
To relive the festivities, check out the photos from the launch party page and the pre-party page my fabulous web team has just made available. The pictures are from a number of cameras, so huge thanks to Danielle Peck, Christina Arbini, Lee Hyat, Kari Andersen, Kristiina Hiukka, and my web designer, Emily Cotler, for making sure I had tons of photos from the event to help me remember my Mrs. Perfect launch.
Oh! And before I forget, this was a fundraiser and between donations from my readers and friends, we raised a $1,000.00 for Page Ahead even without Barnes & Noble’s contributions. Thank you to everyone for supporting such a worthwhile cause. And if any of you should want to still make a donation to Page Ahead, send me a check for $40 or more made out to Page Ahead, and I’ll send you fabulous JP swag: a 5 Spot bag filled with Hawaii skin care set, a mass market edition of Flirting with Forty, a Jane Porter water bottle, a blow up ball, and treats.
The launch party may be over, but there are still a dozen different events ahead. Do check out my Events page here on my site for the low down on tonight’s signing in Seattle, the Wednesday night signing at University Bookstore Bellevue, the Hawaii festivities, the Kirkland signing, the Spokane signing, the New Jersey events, and the huge San Francisco literacy signing in late July.
Jane,
Thanks for sharing all of the launch party and pre-party photos.
It looks like it was a lot of fun!
You look fabulous!!
I just bought Mrs. Perfect and I can’t wait to read it!
Congratulations, my friend!!
Hugs, Julie 🙂
Attending this launch party was a dream come true for me as a reader. I had so much fun!! I can’t wait for the next book to come out and the next JANE PARTY!!!
Jane,
You make me laugh worrying over the launch parties. As I’ve told you before, people can’t help but enjoy your work and we love to support you. Congratulations on another sucessful book launching.
Looking forward to seeing you in New Jersey in June.
Your “Mrs. Perfect” party was just as fabulous as all the rest! You definitely know how to throw a party and bring together so many great folks. It was a lot of fun catching up with old friends and meeting new ones. Thanks, again, Jane! 🙂
The party was FABULOUS! The chocolatinis were strong, but as you saw in the pictures, that didn’t stop me! LOL! You have a lot of fun and interesting people in your life and I was happy to meet some of them at your party. Thanks for the great evening!
Thank you for the “virtual party via photos”
experience. It looks like it was fabulous; I heard from someone who had been at the signing that it was great…and you were worried 🙂 Wish I could have been there…will be retired next year then nothing will keep me away!
Mary J.
Looks like a success!! What a great party with lots of great pictures. I’m glad you sold lots of copies of the new book- I would have waited in line two hours to have you sign my book LOL! Maybe one day I’ll get to attend a launch party (can you move one to the East coast:)? I know I scan the bookstore everytime I’m in there to see what Jane Porter books are there!
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