Last Saturday, I celebrated Love at the Mayo’s book launch. Even though I’ve released it month’s ago, I dragged my feet to throw a launch party. May isn’t the best time to throw a launch – people are busy with end of the school year events, prepping their gardens, or attending graduation celebrations. So, I didn’t have the turn out this time compared to my prior one, but the intimate group made for a fun event!
We placed this sign on the outside, so visitors could identify where the party was held. The wind was fierce, blowing the sign up.
We played Ice-Breaker Bingo, then The Mayo Hotel Quiz. They couldn’t use their phones, but the questions were multiple choice and true or false. Three people tied for the most correct answers, so we had a playoff and fortunately one person stated the correct answer. I attached the quiz for you to play. (I recommend not using your phone.)
We also ate delicious finger foods and desserts like sugar cookies with edible stickers. I ordered stickers with the my book cover printed on them. Yes, it was different eating the stickers, but they didn’t taste bad. I also made mocha mint fudge that people really enjoyed. Both recipes are in the Good Tidings anthology.
The sugar cookies with edible labels of my book cover and the mocha mint fudge. Both recipes came from Good Tidings, a Lady Lit anthology with our family recipes in the back.
My friend made the party punch, and boy, was it delicious!
But it wasn’t all sweet. The savory experience came through with vegetable spring rolls, jalapeño mango chicken meatballs, and chips, salsa, and guacamole.
Robert is my biggest supporter!
Then we all posed at the photo booth. I was proud that I actually made a balloon arch! I attempted making one for Robert’s 40th birthday party, but I didn’t have the right tape. The tape with the holes is a game changer!
Posing front of the balloon arch!
I bought a golden arch stand with a cream cover that completed the photo “booth” and laminated print outs of my book cover and added popsicle sticks in the back for photo book props.
I appreciate all the people who helped me with the launch!
Book Club
I experienced my first book club! My mother in-law’s Book Club at her church read Christmas at Sonshine Barn, Book 1 in The Mayo Love series. So, on a Monday night, we meet in the church’s kitchen. The members of the book club asked me intriguing questions, while one read excerpts from the book that either touched her or her husband. Listening to her read from my book was surreal.
You hope passages resonate with readers, but when they tell you it does, I want to celebrate. All those solitary hours writing and editing when you struggle with imposter syndrome, questioning your sentences, scenes, and characters, and editing late into the night, help remind you that you’re not writing for yourself.
My biggest surprise though was having three men read it! Thank goodness Robert reviewed the book to ensure my male character’s voice resonated as a man’s. (Sorry, Robert but some men do know what chiffon is.)
This group was supportive, inquisitive, and intelligent, making my first experience an excellent and memorable one! I hope to participate in more book clubs in the future.
Taste of Claremore:
Karen Grunst and I shared a book table at Taste of Claremore, a food tasting event in a neighboring town. People buy tickets to try different foods and wines. We were at Boardinghouse Books, where there was supposed to be a winery offering samples, but the winery canceled at the last moment.
Guests stopped by the bookstore expecting a wine sample. Some people stayed and talked to us, while others left for the next food station. I enjoyed meeting new people and talking to the bookstore owner. If you’re in Claremore, check out Boardinghouse Books. The owner has a great selection of some new but mostly gently used books (including my two books in the Mayo Love series!)