Launch time – well almost...

Hi again – great to be back.
This time I come to you for advice...
But first, I just thought I’d update you on what’s happening on the other side of the world. ...



Yesterday was our national day – Australia Day. Typically, it’s a day of bbqs and picnics , boating and various public festivals. Sadly, it’s not a day I love because that day always signals the near end of our summer break. This year it was indeed the end. In my state, teachers return today, and school resumes on Monday. It means back to work for me – and as always presents a huge stress as to how I juggle everything - and still keep up my 3k word daily output. I’ll keep you posted on that...

We’re about two thirds through summer, though this year hasn’t been typical. It’s been cool and damp, with the odd scorcher thrown in. We’re more used to lots of scorchers, and I have to say I’ve missed them.

The sun’s peeking in through the slats of my wooden blinds this morning though, so I’m hopeful that after I’ve completed this and my words for the day, I’m going to be able to dive into that much ignored pool.

And no doubt most of you will be hoping to cuddle up by the fire. Isn’t the world an amazing place?

So, as said, this time I come to you all for advice...
You see, my next YA novel, Dead, Actually, will be released here in Oz on March 1st – yes, just a mere 5 weeks or so away. And I’m still planning the launch.
Here’s the blurb:

Willow's having a bad week. A dead body, a funeral and now she's being haunted by the star of it all, the dead queen of Ruth Throsby High herself, JoJo Grayson.
Being dead hasn't made JoJo any nicer. She's still venomous and vacuous and, unfortunately, determined to stick around unless Willow finds out what happened.
But the mysteries keep multiplying. There's a missing phone. An anonymous blackmailer. Dirty secrets that won't stay buried. And the blame is being cleverly pointed right at Willow.
The only good thing? The gorgeous Seth Pentecost. He's got his own agenda but it looks like he's going to help Willow out. Could JoJo's death be what it takes to finally bring Seth into Willow's life?

Sadly, at this stage, it’s not available in The States, but that’s something my agent is working on, so who knows and fingers crossed.

This book is special to me because, believe it or not, despite having over 60 books in print, I’ve never really had a big, proper glitzy launch. My other YA’s were released in the States and not out here, so while I celebrated, it seemed a bit pointless to host a launch for a book that wouldn’t be available for sale here.

And then the ones that were released here were smaller books and while we had small celebrations to send them off into the world, the timing was never right. I wasn’t here at release time, the dog needed de-fleaing - or I was having my hair washed that day... The excuses go on and on – but this time, I’m in the right place at the right time and we’re making the most of it.

The book is being published by Allen & Unwin, one of the biggest publishers here in Australia – and I couldn’t be more excited. They have been my dream publisher for eons and so far I haven’t been disappointed. So, how can I make the most of it?

I’m going to share the short synop so you know what it’s about – roughly – and I’m hoping you might be able to help me come up with some fabbo ideas.

The great thing is that I feel no guilt in coming to you because most of you won’t even be able to purchase it – so it’s not even remotely a sales pitch. It’s just what it is... A plea for your ideas on what you think:

A) makes a great launch
B) makes a disastrous launch
C) would be a fun thing to add
D) or maybe share the best launch you’ve ever been to
E) even share the worst

I’m not heaping all the responsibility on you. I ‘have’ done some research. My clever writer friend Angela Sunde, had a launch for her YA novel, Pond Magic (when you click the link above, go to her 2010 entries for some great pics) that featured a French theme. So she had all things French, of course. Food, music, girls dressed in berets. That was great fun. My theme? Dead....

Um Houston? I’m sensing a problem...

Another, Aleesah Darlison had a book set in Hawaii. It was for a series of books aimed at the 7-10 group, and at her launch the attendees came dressed in tropical garb. Very cool. Very colourful and very fun.

Yet another had the police commissioner launch her crime book. Call me unadventurous, but I can’t see a funeral director having the same wow factor or audience pull...

So, I’m throwing myself on your mercy. What would you do?