Burnt Snow, my first novel, was released in 2010 by Pan MacMillan Australia. White Rain, the sequel, is due soon. As part of a trilogy about witches, earth magic, curses, love and revenge, this blog archives my research into the world of the witches - as well as my own magical saga as a new author.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

I had a book launch and nice people came! Wheee!

Oh, man: I've never been so tired in my life. Check it out, though - this is the scene as it went down at Shearer's Books in Leichhardt Sydney when we launched Burnt Snow.
Book launch: I'm at the far left, the Nice Bearded Man is playing Where's Wally. Photo courtesy of Alison Lyons. Rock.
It was exhausting. Amazing. Exhilarating. For those of you who haven't thrown a big party with a lot of people at it in a bookstore, I recommend it wholeheartedly. Shearer's is truly an awesome cafe and the catering was excellent, so I'm told - I was way too freaked out to actually eat anything.
For protection, I wore my big, fat turquoise amulet. According to the gemstone dictionary, "a string of turquoise gemstone crystal beads worn around the neck (also) absorbs all negativity from the body and mind and helps you develop your own natural powers". I think that's how I survived a room that contained four exboyfriends, most of my extended family and everyone from my best mate from high school's mum, my lawyer, publishers and the Mayor of Leichhardt, Jamie Parker, who launched the book. The emcee was James Beach, who did a marvellous job of extending a long welcome to the guests while I desperately tried to find the section of the book I'd planned to read.
More lovely shots from Alison Lyons:
That's me in the blue frock, greeting the fantastic Ms Hellen, friends from high school, stars of Sydney's musical theatre community, flatmates from uni, my former university students and EVERYONE I KNOW.
A huge thanks from me to Mum and Dad, who wrangled the launch organisation while I was between continents, the Nice Bearded Man (so nice, so bearded), James Beach and Jamie Parker who did the official business, Barbara and Jessica at Shearer's and all their staff, my publicist Louise and all at Pan Macmillan and, you know, my amazingly hot friends who made me look sexy and popular just by being there. Look how happy I am:
Thanks for these, Alison.
If you missed it, don't worry - two more books in the series means TWO MORE LAUNCHES. Am gonna maintain the mailing list in the right-hand sidebar if you wanna get an invitation.
Right, now I'm gonna sleep. xxx

8 comments:

Tom Wateracre said...

RE: top picture. I found Wally! Uh... I mean... I found the nice bearded man.

Mahri Autumn said...

Hiya,

Congratulations! Looks like loads of fun. Thanks for the invite, the world conspired such that I could not be in 2 places at once and alas.... i was elsewhere. Glad to hear it went swimmingly! Hopefully run into you soon : ) Manthy xo

Van Badham said...

Wateracre, to reward your EXCELLENT EYESIGHT, you win... a Freddo Frog!

Manth: Would have been marvellous to see you, lady, but the world has its plans. There are, though, two more launches for the next two books. Hooray!

Houston Dunleavy said...

Hey there, Van. So glad it went well.

Margaret hasn't been able to put the book down and I've had to pry it from her fingers and am now fighting Laura for the chance to read it. Margaret already wants the sequel!

Looking forward to seeing you this evening too!

Adina West said...

Very glad I could be there.
And may I say you are looking fabulous in these photos, and the launch was equally so. There was a huge buzz happening, and lifelong friendships were made in the queue waiting for that elusive authorial scrawl...

No idea where that nice bearded man was though.

David Molloy said...

WANT THE BOOK ALREADY.

So glad it went well, I was uber sad to miss it. You looked lovely, as well. Shame that can't happen all the time.

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Unknown said...

Hey van, It was good to see you if only for a few minutes. Very very place to be, wish i could have stayed longer.
Good luck with the rest of the trilogy and let me know when you having the next bookstore soiree.

Van Badham said...

Aw, guys, thanks so much for all your encouragement and support - am working hard on the sequel 'White Rain'.

The night was one of the best nights of my life and I'm so grateful to have such amazing friends. Oh, yes, there will be more launches, more parties - it's the least I can do!

To get advance warning of the next launch party, just add your email to the no-traffic list on the right hand side of the main blog pagey bit thing. That would be the technical term.

xxx Van