*Before you start tripping, no, this isn't what the Release Party looked like in the above image. I didn't record the party, and those that were there knew I didn't because I told them I didn't.*
Now, where was I? Oh, yeah!
It has been a whole 24 hours later, and I’m still trying to gather my thoughts on hosting my first virtual book release party. It was for my latest creation, Love, Lust & Beautiful Liars, and I guess the first thing that crossed my mind when I created the event was, “What the fuck was I thinking?”
I mean, I’d done in-person release parties, but that was a different energy that was expended to make that work. All the planning of food and drink, making sure others were there to help keep the energy contained, being ready to sign books on cue, all of that came into play in the past. I wasn’t even sure people would want to even bother to show up this time around, even in the COVID-19 pandemic and shelter in place and stay at home orders.
But, to my surprise, folks showed up throughout the three hours that I entertained, read snippets from the book, gave away different prizes throughout the night, and even gave a never-before-seen first look of the next book in my Nubian Underworld series. We had laughs, we had a rolling Q&A, I enjoyed my cigars and liquor while everyone else rocked with what they wanted to rock with, and it was an all-around good time had by all.
And I was completely exhausted by the end of the night. WHEW!
I didn’t realize how much energy it would take for me to pull all of that off, but the more people showed up, the more I did what I needed to do to keep the party going. Being the extrovert that I am, it only fed me as the night went on, but I knew that sooner or later, the adrenaline would subside and the energy would be depleted.
And I can’t wait to do it again!
So, I’m talking my readers and members of my Secret Society into doing a virtual book chat soon, and I think it will be a very interesting chat, once everyone has had the chance to read the book in its entirety. I hope to have the format fine-tuned by then because I was all over the map while trying to keep my own energy in check.
I’m looking forward to it, and I hope you are, too!
Shakir