Hometown Book Party

Back in 2005 when Scent of Lilacs, my first inspirational novel was published, I decided to celebrate with a book party for my hometown readers. These friends and family had been so supportive of my writing efforts through the years after my first book was published by Warner Books in 1978. I’d had some ups and downs through the years. After I published thirteen books, two historical romances and eleven books for young adults and middle readers, I walked through rejection valley for several years without finding a publisher for the books I was writing. So, when Scent of Lilacs was published, I was more than ready to celebrate and very happy that my hometown library welcomed me into their meeting room to have a book party with those eager to celebrate with me.

You might be able to tell that some of them weren’t as eager to wave when I asked them to for the picture above in 2012. That same year my granddaughter showed up with her shades on to listen to Grammy talk books. My son and sister-in-law showed up too. Great to have family support.

When I had so much fun and the people who came seemed to have a great time too, I decided why not have a hometown party for every new book. So, in the years after that, whenever I had a new story published, I baked some cookies, bought some door prizes and hauled some books up to the library to see if any readers wanted me to sign one for them to take home with them. A few years while our library was undergoing a major remodel and expansion, I had to move the party to another location. Readers still found me and still smiled at some of my same jokes and stories about my writing. They were and are the best.

A few of them showed up at every Hometown event and smiled while I signed a book for them.

But then COVID came along in 2020 a few weeks before I was planning my who knows what number  (but it was a lot) Hometown Party for An Appalachian Summer.  Everything came to a screeching halt. No gatherings. We all wore masks and stayed six feet apart. My granddaughter didn’t get to have her senior prom or a normal high school graduation. My loss of a book party seemed minor compared to the losses for those kids who missed out on once in a lifetime events that couldn’t be replayed.

Things stayed crazy for over a year. I had another book published, Along a Storied Trail. Then another, When the Meadow Blooms. No book party for those either. I did do book signings for the last two at the wonderful store, Tastefully Delicious, here right on Main Street in my hometown. My reading friends came and carried my books home with them from there. They did that again when I had a great book signing at the store in May for my new book, In the Shadow of the River. I love doing book signings at that wonderful store with all the unique gift items, books, and food items that include delicious baked cakes and pies and things you never thought you would ever see like dill pickle flavored soft drinks. And no, I have never tried one of those.

But I thought this year, with people no longer worried about sitting together in a room without six feet between the chairs that it was time to celebrate again. Besides, I have gotten invitations to several libraries  to do book events. If I was going to be doing a mini-library tour in Kentucky the next few months (check out my News & Events page to see if I’m going to be in your area), that I wanted my hometown library to be on the list. The library was kind enough to sponsor my Hometown Book Event and let me use one of their meeting rooms. So, next Saturday I’m going to celebrate my thirty-eighth published book, In the Shadow of the River, with a Hometown Book Party. I’m baking more cookies this week.

I’m buying more door prizes and I’m rehearsing a few jokes and stories that I hope will bring some smiles and laughs. I’m hunting up some books, only slightly used or not used at all, by other authors to give away and deciding which of my books can be special bargains. Most of all, I’m really hoping some of my hometown readers and friends will come to the library next Saturday afternoon to celebrate with me. If you’re in the area, I’d love it if you can be one of them.

Do you think a book celebration would be fun? If so, what would you like an author to talk about if you went to her book party?