MAKING IT MINE: How I Kept my Virtual Book Launch Fresh

MAKING IT MINE: How I Kept my Virtual Book Launch Fresh

By Caitlin Hamilton Summie

I had originally planned an in-person launch for my first novel, Geographies of the Heart, at my local coffee shop, with my local indie store selling books. The coffee shop is just down the road, and they even serve beer during Happy Hour. But as Omicron took hold, Union Ave Books and I agreed that a virtual launch was best. The day before my Zoom launch, Omicron reached such levels that many schools closed. Zooming instead of gathering had been a smart move.

But facing a Zoom-weary audience loomed. How, after two years, does one make a virtual event worth attending? The question didn’t bother me at first, but as I thought about it further, I realized that even I didn’t even want to do what I now thought of as a traditional Zoom launch. I knew for certain that I didn’t want to be interviewed, at least. I felt that answering questions would be fun, but that was it. 

As a book publicist, I’ve helped authors with Zooms, even participating by hosting the author interviews. Zooms are wonderful and celebratory in many ways, not the least of which is that we get to see each other in some way even in the midst of an on-going pandemic. But virtual events have become a bit stale now. If I sort of dreaded hosting one, how would my audience of friends and family feel about going?

My husband/business partner/publicist, Rick, wanted me to decide how the program would go. My first thought was to remember the store. I offered, since we were going virtual, to print out the store’s logo and place it on the wall behind me during my launch. The store kindly agreed. It was a humble effort—a logo taped up behind me—but it was an important gesture and thank you, and I think attendees took it in that spirit.

Knowing that I didn’t want to be interviewed myself, I had what I call a lightning bolt idea, something that just hit me. I had recently published an interview with my main character, Sarah, on Women Writers Women’s Books. Since I didn’t want to be interviewed and the character interview had been well-received, I decided I would use that during my launch presentation.

But playing both roles felt awkward. I tried it, and I thought it was likely awkward to watch as well. I asked Rachel Michelberg, author of the bestselling and award-winning memoir Crash: How I Became a Reluctant Caregiver, if she would do me a big favor. In addition to her writing, Rachel is an actress, voice teacher, and singer, and I thought she might be game. I knew her performance would be amazing. I asked, would she be willing to the play the part of Sarah? Rachel graciously agreed.

During my launch, I gave a short reading, because after years of being in book publicity, I believe short readings are best, especially virtually. I fear the longer a virtual event goes on, the more restless an audience gets. Then after my reading, Rachel and I performed the character interview. Attendees really enjoyed it. The character interview was different; it informed my reading; and it livened things up, in part because it was unexpected. (And Rachel was indeed amazing. You can see for yourself soon, when we post the video here. We await the final cut now.)

My book launch held another surprise. I decided I didn’t simply want to thank my blurbers and Rachel by name. I wanted to make a larger gesture, something to support these kind writers who had taken time to support me. As I said the authors’ names, I held up their books so everyone could see their titles (in one case, I held up a cover for the book yet to be released). And then I announced a surprise giveaway. At the end of the event, one lucky attendee would receive all the books, the whole stack, all purchased by me from Union Avenue Books: Rachel’s Crash; J. Ryan Stradal’s Kitchens of the Great Midwest; Beth Hoffman’s Saving Cece Honeycutt; and Andrew Krivak’s The Bear. When it publishes, I’ll also send ahead Steve Yarbrough’s Stay Gone Days. Plus, I was throwing in a copy of my first novel, Geographies of the Heart, signed. 

Attendees were genuinely surprised and excited about the giveaway. Six books! I was excited about the giveaway, too. It was the best thank you I could think to give. It made the event feel even more celebratory and happy.

As we turn into our third year of the pandemic, weary of virtual events and eager to see each other face to face, I found a way to make my virtual launch welcoming and fun. I posted the store logo behind me. I didn’t announce my giveaway until the event, which made it more compelling. The character interview was fresh, different. 

We can’t all perform. Or do a giveaway. But as we consider the possibilities, maybe we writers can continue to keep virtual events fresh by considering what makes our books and our writing life special and how we can convert those qualities into our presentations, reinvent our virtual launches a little. We can consider what our audience might enjoy, not simply what we want to share. 

For me, saying thank you by sharing my blurbers books, letting my character come to life in the performance, and keeping the entire program moving swiftly all made it my launch, my big giant “Yahoo, I did it!” and my big giant thank you to the writers, family, and friends who helped me along the path, many of whom were gathered on the Zoom, spread like lights across the country and the world.

You can watch Caitlin’s magical Interview with Sarah, played by Rachel Michelberg here:  https://bit.ly/Caitlin_BookLaunchParty

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Caitlin Hamilton Summie earned an MFA with Distinction from Colorado State University, and her short stories have been published in Beloit Fiction Journal, Wisconsin Review, Puerto del Sol, Mud Season Review, and Long Story, Short, and elsewhere. Her first book, an award-winning short story collection called TO LAY TO REST OUR GHOSTS, was released in August 2017 by Fomite. Her first novel, GEOGRAPHIES OF THE HEART, is due out from Fomite in January 2022. She spent many years in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Colorado before settling with her family in Knoxville, Tennessee. She co-owns the book marketing firm, Caitlin Hamilton Marketing & Publicity, founded in 2003.

She is available to speak or lead workshops about book marketing & publicity or crafting short stories.

Find out more about Caitlin on her website https://caitlinhamiltonsummie.com/

 

GEOGRAPHIES OF THE HEART

Sarah Macmillan always puts family first, but she can’t quite stretch her arms wide enough to hold on to everyone as they all age: her career-minded, inattentive younger sister, Glennie; their grandparents, who are slowly fading; or a pregnancy Sarah desperately wanted. But it’s her tumultuous relationship with Glennie that makes Sarah feel the loneliest. She’d always believed that their relationship was foundational, even unbreakable.

Though blessed with a happy marriage to Al, whose compassion and humor she admires, Sarah shoulders both caregiving and loss largely alone and grows increasingly bitter about Glennie’s absences, until one decision forces them all to decide what family means—and who is family. Narrated by the chorus of their three voices, this elegantly told and deeply moving novel examines the pull of tradition, the power of legacies, the importance of forgiveness, and the fertile but fragile ground that is family, the first geography to shape our hearts.

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