Posted by: Y.S Lee - Author of The Agency: A Spy in the House

Am I the only one who felt queasy before my first book launch party? For days before, I’d been haunted by a vision of me standing in a room with 5 other people: bookseller, caterer, spouse, son, and one independent witness to my humiliation. So as I walked down to the venue, my hands were actually shaking. What kind of reception would The Agency: A Spy in the House receive?

Fortunately, I am a bad prophet: we packed the house!

But I learned a few things about launch parties that I’ll apply to my next one:

1. Arrive much earlier than you think is necessary. People started trickling in at 7pm for a 7:30 start!

2. Get your camera out right away. I forgot about mine until the 3/4 mark, when the jam-packed crowd began to thin out. Yes, I really regret that.

3. Plan some music. My friend Sarah made a CD (I feared might be the only source of noise in an echoing room). The party turned out to be so loud that no one could hear the music, but I maintain this was a good back-up plan. If worst came to worst, we could have had a rave.

4. Choose an appropriate space. Ours was the beautifully restored limestone building that now houses the Body Now 4 Mums studio in Portsmouth Village, Kingston. It was the perfect setting for a novel set in Victorian London, and it got people talking.

5. Work with an experienced bookseller. Oscar Malan of Novel Idea was enthusiastic and he called me the week before to say he’d ordered “a wackload” of books. I cringed, thinking how grumpy he’d be lugging them all back to the store. In hindsight, he was right and I was wrong. Not that surprising, given our respective years of experience in the world of books.

6. Invite kids (if you like them, obviously). I do, and feel that most parties are improved by nicely behaved children. They relax the adults, ask delightful questions, and make excellent topics of conversation if you’re stuck for small talk.

7. Feed your masses (budget permitting). Oscar chose the wine. Joanna Malan provided fabulous nibbles: garlicky spanakopita! rhubarb compote! pita with za’atar, sumac and vegan-friendly toppings! chocolate-covered marmalade! kid-friendly carrot cake! homemade limeade served in tiny green bottles with straws! and many things I didn’t even get a look at.

8. Ask someone to bring you food & drink at the midway point. If it’s a great party, you’ll be hungry, thirsty, and have no idea of the time.

9. Bring more pens than you think you’ll need.

10. It’s really happening. Smile so hard your face hurts.

Mind you, this probably won’t stop me from nervous foreboding then, either.

[Ed. note Visit www.yslee.com for series updates, and be sure to enter the More Loot contest!]