Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Launch Party Recap & Pictures (Part 1)

So announcements first:

1. I'm going to be on Blog Talk Radio tonight (1/5) on the "Book and a Chat" program. Click HERE to find out how to listen. And you can call (347237-5398 to ask me your questions. It starts at 5pm MST/ 7pm EST. Come listen so I won't be talking to myself!

2. Late Bloomer Online is hosting a chat tomorrow (1/6) for TDD at 7pm MST/9pm EST. http://l8bloomeronline.blogspot.com/ Come chat with me!

3. I'll be reading and signing at the West Jordan B&N on Jan 16th at 2pm. And signing at the Orem B&N on February 13th at

4. TDD just went into a second printing!! I am so excited.


On to what you've been waiting for: Launch Party recap & pictures!!


The King's English, one of my favorite book stores, was gracious enough to host a launch party for THE DARK DIVINE last Saturday. The even was absolutely amazing, and I was completely blown away by how many people showed up. The staff had me set up in the children's room with about 30 chairs for the audience--but people just kept coming in and coming in until the room was packed. I was nervous enough about the idea of speaking in front of a handful of people--so now I was really feeling green. I spoke for about 25 minutes and managed not to faint when reading out loud to such a big crowd. But it's a good thing that I didn't know until after I was done talking that the rest of the bookstore was filled, standing room only, with people!!! I couldn't see this from where I was standing--and I'm glad I couldn't!

TKE served beautiful purple crescent moon cookies, and my 3 year old insisted on sitting next to me during the signing and very adamantly passed out Dark Divine nail polish to everyone who came through the line. You couldn't even think about not taking a bottle! A lot of the people who came to the launch were friends and family, but I was surprised at how many people I didn't know who came through the line. I go to a lot of other authors' signings so it was really surreal to be the person on the other side of the signing desk!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to TKE for hosting the party, and many many thanks to all of you who came out to celebrate with me.

And huge thanks to BFF Michelle Sallay for taking all these wonderful pictures for me! Blogger won't let me upload as many pics as I'd like, so I'll do another post tomorrow.

Sara Zarr

A.E. Cannon, one of my mentors, who introduced me at the party


I could make a montage of all the pics of me making weird hand gestures--um, but I won't

This was what the room looked like when I started talking--wish I had a pic of when the place got even more filled up!

Douglas Cootey and his daughters--the first in line at the signing


Me and my cousin

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those are great photos! I can't wait to see the rest. Congrats again on the second printing and the awesome turnout for the launch!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! How exciting! Now, we just need you to repeat the process when you come down here to Georgia.

Unknown said...

wow... awesome pics!! love the cookies!! =) Congratulations again!!

Amy said...

It was a great party! You did a wonderful job! And that's coming from one of the non-friend, non-family attendees ;)

Congrats on the 2nd priting!

Michelle said...

I wish I could have gotten a pic of everyone there, but honestly my little lens couldn't fit everyone in the room. It was just too full!

Here's to the 3rd printing, and the 4th, and the 5th.....

Nicole said...

I'm so glad it went well, Michelle took beautiful pictures, and I just love those yellow shoes.

Melissa (i swim for oceans) said...

brilliant pics...I'm even in one them. It was an amazing event, Bree :)

Angela said...

Sounds like it was a huge success! I was sad that the stars weren't lining up properly to make it to TKE, but I'll catch you somewhere else in the state! :) Congrats again! I can only imagine how surreal it would be to be on the author side of the event. Enjoy every minute!

Kay Cassidy said...

YAY! PICTURES!!! :-) This looks absolutely gorgeous, Bree (as do you!). I'm so thrilled for you, honey! Can't wait for part 2!

Melinda said...

I'll just join in with everybody else and say congratulations! What a fun adventure and accomplishment!

Tez Miller said...

That hand gesture was you calling attention to your fabulous hair - nothing weird about that :-)

Monster of Books said...

Aww CONGRAT!! That looks like a fun launch :) The cookies look adorable & of course many people will fill up the room because the dark divine is a-mazing

Btw, the shoes are really cute :)

Olivia Carter said...

Those are cute shoes!

And I had such a good time at the signing! I was stuck in the backroom standing so I only got to hear the reading & the Q&A but what I heard was GREAT!

Donna Gambale said...

What a dream launch party. Gorgeous pictures! TDD definitely deserves that second printing - congrats. What a great start to the new year!

JESSJORDAN said...

1) That's the cutest bookstore ever. Seriously.

2) Sara Zarr? Seriously?

3) I absolutely love that they put some of your books up on the little bitty kiddies wall. Perfection. :)

4) What better thing to use your hands for other than to gesture?

5) I seriously need those shoes.

Congrats, Bree!

V. S said...

Congrats! You must be so happy! Your book was amazing, I loved it! You deserve every bit of success you are receiving!

Anonymous said...

Congrats! Sounds like everyone had fun at the launch! Makes me wish I was there...

Kim Woodruff said...

Congrats on the second printing! That's so exciting. You did a great job at the launch party.

Unknown said...

Hi Bree :)
Thank you for sharing your Launch Party here. It looks like a fabulous time with great people. You looked great!
Here's to a terrific 2010!
Rob

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous photos. Gorgeous you. Gorgeous book.

2nd printing?! WAY TO GO! I didn't enter your bookshelf contest because...I couldn't find it on a bookself anywhere! They were sold out! BUT the good news is that there is a shelf I found it on. Mine. And it's very happy there.

Congratulations!!

Bunny B said...

Congrats!!! Looks like a successful launch! :) Those purple cookies look yum!!

Valynne said...

What a great night! Congrats again!

Bree Biesinger Despain said...

You guys are all so sweet! The party really was better than I could have ever imagined.

Oh and the shoes are from myshoeshoppe.com owned by one of the infamous SIX.

Heather Zundel said...

Gorgeous photos. Who was your photographer? They did a beautiful job. Was the black and white your first book you signed? :)

Mistie said...

Hey Bree- looks like a success! CONGRATS! I would have been there- but i didnt know the details of it!! Put me on your email list (if you have one) of things going on. i am going to try to make it to your signing in W. Jordan. Hope to see you soon.
Mistie