Austin Book Launch Party Photos
Author Nancy Knight just published her first novel, Hameln – a modern retelling of the Pied Piper legend. The book is fittingly scheduled to be published on Halloween, and I had the pleasure of photographing her book launch party at Birdhouse Books in Austin this week. In today’s blog post, I’ll take you behind the scenes at the event and give you all the details of the celebration plus a few practical tips if you have your own book waiting in the wings.
Author Nancy Knight
Nancy Knight’s 20-year writing career has spanned the gamut from newspaper editor and book reviewer, to speech writer and marketing consultant. Originally from Maryland, Nancy is now based in Austin. Hameln marks her debut as a novelist.
Hameln, The Book
The book takes place in Hameln, Germany and is a historical fantasy retelling of the Pied Piper tale. It follows a group of teens trying to unravel the mystery of their cursed town. If you’re a fan of authors such as Naomi Novik, then this book will be your perfect cup of tea.
Hameln is published by Murasaki Press, an independently owned publisher based in Austin. To purchase the book, visit this link. You can also go to Nancy‘s website to buy a signed copy of the book from the author herself.
Birdhouse Books
The launch party was held at Birdhouse Books, an independent bookstore off Burnet Road in Austin. Run by the very welcoming owner Abby, the bookstore has been in business one year and is truly focused on bringing the community together with a love of knowledge and reading.
Austin Book Launch Party Photos – The book launch party
The guest count for the party was about 30, and it was an overwhelming show of love for Nancy. Friends, family, and her former writing colleagues all showed up to lend their support for her book.
The party began with a meet and greet in the bookstore where guests browsed the aisles. This was followed by an introduction by Abby, the bookstore owner. Britta, Nancy’s publisher at Murasaki Press then made introductions.
Austin Book Launch Party Photos – Sash Presentation
Britta also presented Nancy with a special sash. Britta grew up in Japan, and presenting someone with a sash is a custom in Japanese culture to mark a new milestone in life. Thus, it was fitting that Britta bestowed upon Nancy a sash marking her debut as a novelist.
Austin Book Launch Party Photos – Q&A Led by Author Erin Cotter
After the presentation, we got to the heart of the evenings festivity: a Q&A led by author, Erin Cotter. Cotter is the author of two historical fiction novels, By Any Other Name and A Traitorous Heart. Both novels are published by Murasaki Press. The Q&A lasted about 30 minutes, and was a lively discussion both of Nancy‘s technique in writing Hameln and her motivations for the concepts behind the novel. There was also discussion of her future work, which will be about Helen of Troy‘s daughter. She definitely got the audience interested in the next book to come.
Afterwards, guest asked several questions. The final question of the evening was what would Nancy be dressing up as for Halloween. The answer?: A rat.
Austin Book Launch Party Photos – Book Signing
Following the discussion, both Erin and Nancy signed their books for guests. It should be noted that guests had pre-purchased books as an RSVP for the book launch party. They received the books at the party, and could then bring these to Nancy to have them signed.
While Nancy and Erin were signing books, guests were free to roam the bookstore to chat and to check out what was on the shelves at Birdhouse Books. It looks like it was a great night for sales at the bookstore.
Tips for a Successful Book Launch Party
Nancy and Britta did a great job getting the word out about Hameln. Another book launch party is also planned on the East Coast later in the year.
If you are an author and are trying to get the word out about your own independently-published book, here are a few tips from a photographers viewpoint for your book launch party.
Pre-Launch Tips
First and foremost, spread the word on social media. And I mean all social media. You need to raise your profile as much as possible, and that means getting a website just for your book and raising your profile as high as possible. In Nancy‘s case, she has a great website, and is constantly promoting her work on Instagram and her own social media accounts. In this day and age, publishers expect that authors will be doing their own self-promotion. So, make sure you have a website and social media accounts ready to go.
Nothing says unprofessional, like unprofessional photos. Nancy knew that for her debut novel, she would need to up her game. And so, she hired a photographer to take professional photos of herself and her book. This is where I got the call and took professional portraits of her and of her book launch party. She’ll be able to use these photos for all of her social media going forward and have a solid portrait for any publications requesting a portrait to accompany reviews.
Post-Launch Tips
Have your logo and signage visible during events. When I am taking event photos, say at a book launch party, the ideal situation is to photograph the event plus the logo in every photo. In Nancy’s case, the Q&A discussion has the Birdhouse Books logo in the background for every shot, and her Hameln logo in the shot for every book signing photo. Event photos and signage go together like peanut butter and jelly, so to speak.
Taking names and kicking —. Don’t forget to collect contact information for everyone who attends your book launch party. You’ll want to follow up and say thank you for everyone who attended, but also keep them in the loop for future publications. Who knows, they may want to buy a second book.
Once the party’s over, the hard work begins. When the guests have left, then you really have to start pushing the book. And that’s where the professional photos come in handy. Using photos and clips and slicing them up in different manners for different social media posts will keep your book fresh in the minds of readers.
Good luck to Nancy, and good luck to all of you authors out there!
As always, enjoy the images, and I’ll have more photo adventures for you next week!
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If you find this article on ‘Austin Book Launch Party Photos’ useful, then check out these articles:
- How to Take Photos in the Austin Central Library – with author, Nancy Knight
- Professional Headshot Tips – with author, Jiordan Castle
- Secret San Antonio Photo Shoot Locations
Looking to book a portrait session or update your website photos in Austin or San Antonio? Drop me a line and let’s chat about how I can help you. I have hourly rates, and all photo shoots include editing and high-resolution files.
To view more images from my photography portfolio, please visit my website – KellyWilliamsPhotographer.com
