Launch Lessons

This weekend I traveled to a lively book event in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, which I considered to be a bit of a dress rehearsal for the upcoming Thin Mint Memories launch party.  How did I end up at the beach on a very cold November weekend in a room full of remarkable authors? Last summer I entered the Rehoboth Reads contest, sponsored by Cat and Mouse Press, for a chance to be published in their 2016 short story anthology. Now in its fourth year, the Rehoboth Reads contest’s goal is “to showcase good writing while creating a great book for summer reading.” Knowing that the bar was set high, I was thrilled when my story, “Senior Dance” was chosen to be included in this year’s anthology.

All of the stories selected for the anthology incorporated the theme “Beach Nights” into their plots and have a strong connection to Rehoboth Beach. My story is about two silver-haired couples who go to the beach for a disco contest and, after a few ups and downs, they end up having the night of their lives. Writing the piece was great fun because it gave me the opportunity to recall the many beach nights I’ve spent in Rehoboth and Dewey Beach with family and friends. For my gang, there are many “must haves” at the beach—including Dolle’s caramel corn, Kohr Brother’s soft serve ice cream, and crepes from Café Papillon. And you best believe I couldn’t leave Rehoboth yesterday without buying a bucket of golden sweet popcorn to go!

The Beach Nights launch and signing party was held at Browseabout Books, which is located on the Rehoboth’s main drag, just two blocks up from the Boardwalk. Browseabout, which has been open since 1975, sponsors the Rehoboth Reads contest, so it was nice to be able to thank them in person for their support.

Beach Nights is comprised of 23 short stories, and more than half of the book’s authors came to the party to meet one another and sign books. We sat around two long tables in the Browseabout’s event room, sipping wine and autographing books for patrons and each other. In between signing sessions, Nancy Day Sakaduski, Cat and Mouse’s publisher, thanked the contest judges, authors, and purchasers; gifted us with numerous raffle prizes; and treated us to a beach-themed cake that featured the beautiful purple anthology cover.

The theme for next year’s contest is “Beach Life, and the contest, which is free to enter, is open to all. For more information about the contest, visit the Cat and Mouse website: www.catandmousepress.com/contest.

So what lessons did I learn about planning a launch party? I’d say that I now realize that you should (1) relax  and enjoy it and (2) invite everyone you know to such an event because (to quote an old proverb) “the more, the merrier.” Although the room was bursting with people, a wonderful time was had by all. And while this was the first time that I had to wear a winter coat to the beach, my time at the Rehoboth Beach was made warm by spending a delightful afternoon in the company of others who love to read and write.