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Post by snowfilly on May 15, 2009 13:20:20 GMT 1
AS we're all a bunch of bookworms here, I thought you might have some ideas I could steal. Save me thinking too much ;D Have you been to many launches? What sort of places were they held in? Bookshops, pubs, schools? Did the authors do a reading, or just sign copies, or did other people speak? Were there refreshments on offer, did you pay to get in or anything? Was it book in advance (like the Stephen Donaldson one I went to) or turn up and queue for England (like the Terry Pratchett one)? What would attract you to come to a luanch by an author you'd never heard of? And if anyone has any other ideas, throw 'em my way. I'm collecting Thanks, people!
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2009 18:50:10 GMT 1
I've never been to a book launch before but I have seen the queues going down the street when an author signs copies of their latest book at the local bookshop. If the launch was held in a village hall or somewhere like that there could be scope for refreshments, games for kids, stalls selling crafts that sort of thing to attract people in who had never heard of the author before. Don't know if that's much help.
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Post by kunuma on May 15, 2009 20:58:40 GMT 1
I've never been to one either I'm afraid! :-[I wouldn't go to one for an author I hadn't heard of, and there are a few authors where I wouldn't go if you paid me, but on the other hand, there are a few authors I would LOVE to meet! Sadly there are quite a few I will never get the chance to.
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Post by susanb on May 24, 2009 17:59:04 GMT 1
I haven't been to any book launches (sadly, virtually no publishers left in Boston...they've all gone to New York). I have been to a lot of booksignings though. The biggest is the National Book Festival on the Mall in Washington DC....it's been going on for 8 years, (no idea if it's going to continue, but everyone is hoping). They round up about 70 authors and poets and have them speak and sign from about 10am to 5pm on the last Saturday in September. How early you turn up to line up for a particular author depends a lot on how popular the author is....I was third in line, at 9am, for a 1pm signing by Neil Gaiman last year! Terry Pratchett signed the year before, and his line was unbelievable too. Check out the links below to the Library of Congress site....it gives an idea of the Festival, and best of all, if you click into the author profiles, it has links to webcasts of their talks. general page www.loc.gov/bookfest/specific to Terry Pratchett's profile...the link to the webcast of his talk is immediately below his name: www.loc.gov/bookfest/2007/authors/Pratchett.htmlOutside of that, I've been to a number of signings at bookstores, libraries and schools...sometimes small bookstores that don't have space to host large events will partner with a school or a library to gain access to auditoriums and halls. Given my druthers, while I do love the sheer numbers of authors at big festivals, I think for pure enjoyment the smaller venues are the most fun...especially if the bookstores do a good job with space and set up. Ooops...missed answering a few of your questions....generally booksignings are free....the only one I've ever paid to get into was a $5 charge for a Neil Gaiman signing at a Cambridge bookstore...it was to defray the rental of the space where it was being held. I've also had cases where an event was ticketed, but tickets were free...they were just to keep some control over the crowd. Virtually all the events I've been to have authors giving a reading or a talk as well as the signing. If there are signings where refreshments are served, they aren't in the US (grin...so uncivilized!). Probably at proper book launch parties, but not signings. The only time I ever went to a signing for an author I hadn't heard of was when I stumbled into one on vacation....I was in a bookstore (well, doesn't everyone check out all the bookstores they come across on vacation?) and the sign was up for a signing that night....for a children's historic mystery book author. They had copies of the books displayed, and they looked interesting, so I went...the talk was lovley, and I had a couple of books signed...one for me (couldn't resist, it was set in Boston) and one for a friend's daughter.
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Post by Buster on Jun 6, 2009 10:42:22 GMT 1
Does the Harry Potter one count? I had to go at midnight and there was sweets and everyone was dressed as wizards (well... me excluded) and a very long que going right out of the shop! Although its a tiny country village book shop, so thats not really saying much. It was quite cool, although I didnt go back for the book launch the next two years, I just stayed in bed. Age is creeping up with me
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