Is Publication Day fun?

I often send authors ‘Happy Publication day!’ messages on Facebook, Twitter or via forums. Until last week I’d done it without thinking, because a publication day is a day for celebration for me so I assumed it was for them.

I like publication day more than I like a birthday! On publication day for Dream a Little Dream I even went out for lunch with my gym bunny friends and we toasted the success of the book. I received champagne from Choc Lit, my publisher, and, just for good measure, went out to eat in the evening with family, too. (And I didn’t get a year added to my age – hence enjoying it more than a birthday.)

It was a surprise, then, when a successful author friend said that she felt anxious about publication day, about how the book would do and whether she’d repay her publisher’s faith in her. So I asked one or two others how they feel.

Elizabeth Chadwick:

For me it’s just an ordinary day. The books have usually been on sale for a couple of weeks before anyway, and the Americans will already have a blog tour going. I’m not the sort of person who does big days anyway. My ‘whoop de do’ moment on a new novel is when I’ve handed it in and received glowing feedback from my agent and editor. (Best case scenario!) It’s the best feeling in the world at that moment, especially when they tell you the bits they like best!

Anita Burgh:
Thinking about it the word mortification Is paramount. My first book launch was in the House of Lords. Publicity were beside themselves with happiness since it was the first time a book launch had been permitted there. The car which had been arranged to pick us up didn’t turn up and we were very late. My publishers weren’t allowed in until the Lord sponsoring us turned up and he was late too. I did not witness the scene between the porters and said publisher but I was told handbags swung. Said, Lord, trimming his beard with an electric strimmer sort of thing got carried away and cut a path through his hair; there was nothing for it to strim the lot making him look like an ex-con from the Scrubs! One photographer turned up and one journalist who didn’t speak to me but the canapes and champagne were lovely.

The next day the fact that the launch was of a commercial novel in such a hallowed place was duly reported and disapproved of, my book was not mentioned by name.

Jan Jones:

My next serial starts in Woman’s Weekly on Wednesday and I shall run around Waitrose beaming joyfully and thrusting it underneath people’s noses!

So, mixed associations! I’m just glad I’m one of those who enjoy it and I’ll continue to ensure that I do by doing very little work on that day and arranging lunches and dinners.