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