Have you ever partied so hard that the next day your head feels like a bowling ball and your energy, the pins it knocked down? I have, a few times. My last round was unlike any other, only partly because I spent the party home alone, sipping cyber cocktails. Who knew a virtual release party could be so A) fun laugh-inducing C) intoxicating or D) draining? Last Thursday’s IN HER SHADOW Thrill-Fest Release Party on Facebook was a rip roarin,’ lutefisk-lovin’ good time.
My non-virutal hangover was beyond worth it. Joy from the party carried over, and lingers still. THANK YOU, all who participated. Whether you were dancing your cyber-butt off with Concepción, gossiping behind my back with Mike and Janelle, feasting on virtual treats, playing trivia with trivia goddess Karina or simply lingering in the background, your positive vibes were felt, and means more to me than lutefisk is stinky.
A few highlights:
Last but not least, who could forget the randy pirate who promised to star in the film version one day, the book-pimping rappers or the...interesting sequel title coined by a Hollywood starlet? Not ringing a bell? Take a look at the video my friend, John Chang, helped me create. We hit the Hollywood streets with an iPad, iPhone, a Kindle and my eager, book-blabbering mouth:
Added thanks to all who entered the Thrill-Fest Giveaway raffle. The winners are…
IN HER SHADOW – signed copy + author interview: Jenny Hansen, Cora Reidenbach and Scott McAllister
FANGS OUT by David Freed – signed advance copy + author interview: Tim O’Brien
RUN TO THE GROUND by D.P. Lyle – signed copy + author interview: Andrea W. Hunt
A HUMAN ELEMENT by Donna Galanti – signed copy + author interview: Gloria Richard
INTO THE DARK by Stacy Green – signed copy + author interview: Ellis Shuman
LOST AND FOUND by Amy Shojai – signed copy + author interview: Kourtney Heintz
THE STRANGER IN THE ROOM by Amanda Kyle Williams – signed copy: Andrea W. Hunt
THE STRANGER YOU SEEK by Amanda Kyle Williams – signed copy: Lynn Kelley
IN HER SHADOW – signed book cover print: Kristine Parker—the trivia tackling queen!
Congrats, winners! Keep an eye out for an email from the author or me, standing in as his/her virtual assistant.
For more party shenanigans, visit IN HER SHADOW Thrill-Fest Release Party on Facebook. I’ll leave it open until the paperback releases, by February 1st. Thanks again, all!
I’d love to hear from you. If you attended the party, what stood out most? What other virtual events have you enjoyed the heck out of? Any highlights from one you’ve thrown? How do you feel about lutefisk???
I have my own lefse maker and a special lefse rolling pin! My mom is Norwegian (via North Dakota and Manitoba). Lutefisk, however, is an acquired taste…
Ooh! Can I come over, NOW? That’s so rad, Leanne. My grandmother is from South Dakota. She could have left the “liquid fish” there.
“Please open the lutefisk can outside. In fact, please find another continent or better still another planet on which to open it…”
Congrats on the novel release & hope all goes well sales-wise! Great video promo – cool!
Ha. I second that motion.
Thanks for the support, Matthew!
woohoo! I’m excited for my signed copy and interview
Excited to send it to you!
Thanks so much August! This is really cool. Look forward to hearing from you or Amy. I loved the virtual courses and games. Reminded me of a dinner party with friends.
Hi Kourtney! How very kewl, delighted you won the book. I will message you later this evening–just got home from a elementary school presentation (kids were WAY excited!), and meeting with my co-author so playing catch up.
Thanks Amy! You’re email was super prompt and I just want to thank you and August for this super awesome prize!
It was good, I wanted to stay all night, but…. work comes early sometimes.(LOL) One thing stood out was that I think I was invisable to everyone. Why do I think this? Well I tried to answer some of the triva questions and it was skipped over to other people… Maybe I was on the wrong page?? Who, knows…… OH Well….. Things happen and “It is what it is.”
CHEERS
Really? Bummer, Gerry! I believe I saw you at the party… Glad you enjoyed regardless. Cheers!
What stood out most? The 162 emails I found in my in-box the morning after the party! Obviously, it was a success. Mazel tov. You are on my must-read list! (I’m hearing good things!)
Thanks, Renee! Sorry for the email cloggage.
August, this was root-tootin’ fun! My fave was the on the street video! Thanks for including me in your special giveaway too. Wishing you a blizzard of starred success
Loved having you there, Donna! Thanks for joining in, and for the great prize.
That rap was awesome, August! You are so good at mixing! Way to rock a release party.
Aw. Thanks, Catherine! I was grateful to have access to such characters.
The street video was hysterical. But my favorite video was your song, just because your voice is so angelic.
So sweet, Jami. Thank you!
Ah, lutefisk! It goes well with peanut butter and jelly. It also works well as grout.
I am still in awe over you taking your book to the streets in that video. So beyond cool August. And that pirate, maybe I needed my glasses on, but he looked so much like Depp!
He really does, Coleen! He’s known as the only impersonator people actually think is the real Johnny. Hmm… Maybe he is! Thanks for the cheers, lady!
So freaking cute! I love your video and your party sounds amazing! I can tell you’re having a ball!
Thanks, Jess! Really was a blast.
Still bummed to have missed most of the party, but WOW…what great prizes! I’ll respond to your message in Facebook and redeem both of them. (And yes, I might need a few post-its in the book…)
Thanks for the Amish Erotics tribute! Cracked. Me. Up.
(Consider your book Post It-ified! :))
I’m with Renée a. Schuls-jacobson with the umpteen emails. What a party! I danced my A$$ off August. Loved those snow-tinis too! Boy, oh boy, do you throw a party girl. I can only imagine how tired you were. Have you fully recovered? And btw, I love that Tim O’Brien won a book and interview. Hope you can get him to start blogging again. May the force be with you! And again, congratulations!
It wouldn’t have been the same with you, Karen! I have recovered, but it definitely took a while…
I’m stoked that Tim won David’s book and interview, too!
This was one of the bestest-evah launch parties! You sure know how to be a delightful host. The beverages were awesome.
So glad you enjoyed, Amy! You added mega-sparkle, not surprisingly.
Yahoo! I’m so jazzed that I won a signed copy of The Stranger You Seek plus an author interview! I had a blast at your party, August. You sure know how to throw ’em! I sampled all the virtual drinks, filled up on all the yummy food, except for the lutefisk (too chicken to try it), and pigged out on the desserts. It was fun hanging out with your friends. I know some of them, but it was great to meet the others. I have to say my favorite part was the thread where people shared their secrets. I was laughing my head off at that, and some of the other random comments, too! Congrats on a successful and memorable launch party for your awesome book!
Great party, August! I could only stay long enough for one of those virtual ‘tinis, but it was worth it! I’m getting cloooose to your book on my TBR pile and I’ll be sure to barricade myself in the bedroom when I read it. I’m already getting nervous about it!
Sounds like it was a fun party. I wish I could have been there. So excited for you!
Congrats, August, on the release. So sorry I missed the party!! Your book is on my Kindle and next on my TBR list. Can’t wait to dig into it.
SWEET! I can’t wait to receive and devour A Human Element.
Double sweet? An opportunity to interview Donna.
I can’t speak for all of the Amish Erotics (that was your party that birthed them — er — us, wasn’t it?), but I am watching airfares to California. You may have thought the notion was aimless Twitter chat, but…
I’m practicing my do-whap, do-whap, do-whap moves. Just sayin…
I can’t WAIT for those do-whaps!!!
Congrats on your win! I have a feeling you’re really going to dig Donna’s book.
Congrats to the winners! I hope you enjoy the prizes, and Ellis, I hope you love INTO THE DARK:)
I’m confident he will, Stacy! Thanks so much for participating.
Sorry I missed the party, August!
Check out today’s blog post for a ringing endorsement of your work, August. I’ll try to give you more space in the future, but I’ve been ridiculously busy tending to sick family members…
I appreciate the support! Healthy wishes to you and yours.
I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there August and celebrate with you! You’re such a lucky person to be able to have a release party like yours!
I was there in my heart and I do wish you all the luck in the world with your book! I’m sure I’ll hear more and I’ll read the next of your books as well! – and the next – and the next!!
I’m so happy you enjoyed your party!!
Missed the party, but really considering the book!
Scott