Partying on Facebook

Last night, I attended a Facebook Book Launch Party for Michelle Weidenbenner's debut novel, Cache a Predator. I'd never been to an event like this before, and I had no idea what to expect.

Michelle had hired the Release Day Diva to put the party together for her and these two ladies made quite a team. Michelle was the hostess, chatting with her guests and sparking conversation, and Jessi (Release Day Diva) was the party planner who kept things moving.

And move they did! It was a four-hour event, and my circumstances dictated that I pop in and out, but even then it was easy to follow what was going on. During those four hours, Michelle gave away 12 prizes, ranging from gift certificates to a signed copy and an opportunity to be a character in her next book. Guests interacted a la Facebook, answering questions, commenting on posts and liking comments posted by other attendees. It didn't matter in the least that guests didn't all know each other. There was no awkwardness, and the atmosphere was festive and celebratory.

Pretty cool way to launch a book.

As authors, we wear many hats, something I've written about on this blog before. Many of us are introverts and find it anywhere from uncomfortable to downright difficult to blow our own horns and promote our own work. But in this rapid, ever-changing publishing climate, she who does not publicize is lost. Dead in the water, her book adrift in a sea of other works.

That was what I found so intriguing about this Facebook Book Launch. It was a book launch without the BUY MY BOOK! frenzy that can turn off both authors and potential readers. It was fun.

Admittedly, it could have been an entirely different scenario in the hands of a loudly self-promoting author. But in the hands of these two ladies, it was a wonderful experience. So wonderful, in fact, that I contacted Jessi and asked for her information because when my book comes out later this year, you can bet I want her in my corner.

Thanks, ladies. Who says Facebook can't be fun?