This Is What I've Been Doing Wrong

I've never had a book party when my books are published, and now it appears that I never will.

"In the past few years, the book party as buzz-generator has been eclipsed by the elegant prepublication lunch, where publishers invite a few dozen editors and critics to a three-course meal at a swish restaurant to promote one or more titles they're pushing that season. Publishers may also organize small events nationwide to start the chattering classes chattering. "It's more helpful in getting attention city by city with influential people in the book world," said the literary agent Ira Silverberg. "You could take over Yankee Stadium for Salman Rushdie and I don't know if it's going to matter to an independent bookseller in Pasadena.""

I've never had a pre-publication luncheon, either. If I were to have one locally, I can't imagine who I'd invite, since I don't know any influential people in the book world. Plus, I don't know if we have any "swish" restaurants around here.

I am having a book exchange party next month, which is only a coincidence because I started holding them twice a year just last year. I suppose I could quickly switch it to a pre-publication cocktail party and try to guilt my friends into buying my book when it comes out the next week.

I am writing this post in the middle of the day instead of the evening because I love this template so, and I'm trying to avoid working on the new, new new book. If I don't get to work, I won't even have to think about pre-publication luncheons. You don't have to worry about them, if you don't publish.