On what was probably the grottiest and wettest Dunedin night of the winter, a dedicated and lovely bunch of friends, family and colleagues gathered at The University Book Shop to launch The Ringmaster into the world.
It was a fantastic evening, and I'm still grinning, sigh.
I was fortunate to have Geoff Walker, my publisher at Penguin, there to say lovely things about me and my book (a girl could listen to that all night) and The Ringmaster was launched with a hilarious and very flattering speech by my dear friend Tania Roxborogh.
I love The University Book Shop, and their fabulous staff did a great job, including the necessities of life - wine, antipasto and a big bowl of Toffee Pops. (And yes, for those of you who are wondering, me + wine + book shop = addition to new bookshelf.) They even made a Toffee Pop Bouquet! Sam Shephard would have been in her element.
I would have had more pics of people, but my little camera didn't cope very well, so you will just have to imagine the happy, chatty crowd and put up with me posing before an impressive book mountain. The author coped better than the camera, and I managed to get through the launch without crying.
Apparently I took my children to the launch, but I didn't see them as Mr Eight-year old sat in the children's section and devoured several books, and Mr Six-year-old entertained his little mates, emerging only for another strategic strike at the toffee-pop bowl.
The evening was topped off with dinner at my favourite eaterie, Plato.
So there you go, my new baby is out there in the big wide world. Now, I wait with anticipation and a touch of trepidation for the reviews, comments and Vanda, how could yous.
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3 comments:
Congratulations Vanda! The launch was magnificent and I can confirm the presence of a happy chatty crowd - we're so lucky to have such a supportive & friendly books & writing community in Dunners.
I'm so looking forward to the weekend & reading your new book. I was too scared to start it last night because I knew there was a high probability if I did I wouldn't be getting any sleep - just like last time...
Thanks! And I love to hear that folk can't put the flaming thing down. So I shall be selfish and mean and hope you have a sleepless night...
I can't believe I missed all this! My daughter's birthday is the same as The Ringmaster's so we were out at .... Valentine's. Then we had visitors to stay (none of them vomiting thank god)and I had to do a talk on Sunday and the computer screen got rained on so finishing off the power-point presentation was a mad scramble...
But I'm here now, Vanda, with bells on. Well done you. Very proud of you my fellow penguin author.
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