January 19, 2008 | One Night Stand
I would like to say that I was all Zen-like clam on the day of my launch party, but to tell you the truth I was as hyped up as a speed freak. I was up at 5 am with the Fecklet, and pretty much paced around the house until about eleven when Waterstone’s called to say my books had arrived, after which Fecklet and I danced like wild things all over the living room.
After that I relaxed a bit (though by that time my post on Romancing the Blog about being a neurotic fool had already been published). I went out and bought a bunch of wine, picked up the seven dozen glasses I was borrowing, bought crisps and orange juice and dropped it all off at the shop by 2 pm. That gave me a whole five hours left to…well, let’s put me in a good light, shall we, and say I relaxed? 
Husband took care of the baby while I performed the rituals of putting on makeup and doing my hair and nails, rituals to which I have become a stranger in the past thirteen months. Oh, hello, foundation, where have you been? And you, lipliner, wow, is that what you look like? Then I tripped happily down to Waterstone’s, where my lovely agent had already arrived and the staff had already set up everything for me.
Then, the party started!
My editor Cat Cobain, agent Teresa Chris, me, and Headline editor Claire Baldwin
I’d made name tags, each one describing a different character from One Night Stand, and everyone had to choose the one that best suited him/her. For example, Gets Drunk, Gets Horny, Gets Angry. Or Former Geek, Now Babe Magnet. Or Pregnant By Mistake.
My guests were a great mix of people. I had my mates, of course. Then there were members of Reading Writers, and Thames Valley Writers’ Circle, and the RNA. Several local authors dropped by, including crime writer Patrick Lennon, children’s author Lee Weatherly (aka Titania Woods), Roisin McAuley, and Tania Crosse, as well as booksellers and my local councillor. I was happily surprised to see my MP, Rob Wilson–and promptly made him wear a name tag saying Throbbing Member of Parliament. And of course, there was David Tennant, and his date.
No, wait. I tell a lie. David didn’t show up, though I did invite him. But here are some more photos of the people who did.
After much drinking and chatting (and, I hear, networking), my Fantastic Editor, Darling, Cat, tapped on a bottle of champagne with a pen, immediately sending the contents frothing everywhere. Having grabbed everyone’s attention with flying booze, she said a few very embarrassingly nice things about me. Then Teresa (Fabulous Agent, Darling) announced that I’d been shortlisted for the Romance prize (hooray!).
Me listening to people saying nice things about me
Then Teresa poured me a very large glass of bubbly and I toasted Teresa, Cat, my husband Dave, and the Fecklet and no doubt would have continued toasting everyone had I not been required to read a bit from One Night Stand, with silly voices and everything.
I think I was talking about Cat giving me lots of revisions–ahh sweet revenge! Note killer boots which still don’t make me as tall as my editor.
I’m not sure what happened next in the room because happily, I was deluged with people wanting books signed. Signing books is what every writer dreams about before they are published. The idea that someone could want something you’ve written, with your scrappy signature on it, is quite incredible. The reality, of course, is that you can never think of anything witty to write.
What the heck do you write!?!?
Then we went to the pub.
Today, I am washing seven dozen glasses!
(PS Photos provided by Brigid Coady)
(PPS If you lost a glasses case at the launch, or alternatively if you are David Tennant wanting to apologise for not making it, please email me!)
Biddy says:
Don’t you look glam?!?!?
It was a fantastic night, dahhlink!
Sally Lawton says:
Love the boots! Sounds like you had a fantastic evening
jude says:
Julie - you look AMAZING. The evening looked fantastic and I am so so so pleased for you re the nomination. GO you yummy talented mummy you! jx
jude says:
p.s. David missed out, nuff said.
Nell Dixon says:
Looks like a fab time was had by all!
Mom and Dad says:
Congratulations! You look great and SO happy. We are very proud of you.
Ray-Anne says:
Far too modest as usual - your reading with the ’silly voices’ was brilliant, and embarrassingly professional.
Anna Louise Lucia says:
Hey, babe, you’re looking hot! Great boots, sexy jeans… wow!
Congrats on the great time!
MichelleStyles says:
You look utterly fantastic! Hooray for you!!! And the killer boots!
David Tennant’s loss, not yours.
Congratulations again.
Fran says:
congratulations….boots are fantastic!
Kris Starr says:
I suffer from boot envy.
Congratulations, darling! Well done!
Julie says:
Thanks Bids, Sally, Jude, Nell, Ray-Anne, Anna, Michelle, Fran, Kris, and Mom and Dad.
I must admit the boots are very good.
amanda ashby says:
I almost splurted diet coke over my monitor at the ‘throbbing member of parliment’ badge. Pure genius!!!
Julie says:
Ah, well you see ,the heroine of ONS is an erotica writer and she’s writing a book called The Throbbing Member of Parliament, all about kinky nookie in Westminster.
mary beth says:
Congratulations, Julie! Sounds like the launch was quite a success. Woo Hoo on making the short list, too!
liz says:
Look the boots! Sounds like a brilliant night
Jessica Raymond says:
Looks like great fun
And great boots! David definitely owes you one.
Christina Phillips says:
Looks like a brilliant night, and really how rude was David not to turn up? (it had nothing to do with me, honest…!)
And huge congrats on being shortlisted for the RNA romance prize!
Kate Walker says:
I’m not David Tennant but I AM sorry I couldn’t make it. I’m sorry David couldn’t make it either.
Those two sentences are not connected in any way
Wish I could have been there
love
Kate
Tammy says:
These are great pictures, thanks for sharing them! It looks like everyone had a really good time. I can’t believe David Tennant didn’t show up. Congratulations on a successful launch!
Chris Wing says:
Wow! You look great in your killer boots.
I’m glad the books arrived
Good luck with the prize, busy girl
Julie says:
Yay, thanks Mary Beth, Liz, Jess, Christina, Kate, Tammy, and Chris!
I am beginning to be suspicious of my friends and David Tennant…
Carol says:
Congratulations, looks like a fantastic night with a fantastic author. David Tennants loss!
Keira Soleore says:
Julie, de-lurking to comment… Congratulations on the nomination and the launch party. You look AMAZING! And those boots–killer! Perhaps you have a close-up?
Julie says:
Thanks Carol, and Keira! I must get a close-up of the boots, you’re right.