Book launch
I was sitting in our writing group on Wednesday, exclaiming how I had no idea when I would be holding the book launch for Ty’s Roller Coaster Ride - the main reason being, that Sarah, who illustrated the book, lives on Great Barrier Island and I had no idea when we would both be together.
The following day Sarah messaged me to say she was coming up to Northland for a funeral and would carry on up and visit me, staying Saturday night till early Monday morning. The idea didn’t dawn on me until Friday afternoon. Why not have the book launch Sunday? There was only one catch. With Renee due to fly out on Sunday afternoon, the launch would have to be either in the morning, cutting short at 11.15 or the afternoon, from 3pm onwards. I started putting it tentatively to our writing group, whether our members would be available and what suited best, morning or afternoon, when I made up my mind. I would have it in the morning from 10 until 11.15am so that Renee, who hasn’t been to any of these events, could attend.
Friday night I stressed, only getting a few hours sleep. I think I lay awake from about 2am to 5am, worrying about the house being too small, not enough parking and generally panicking. I was so tired Saturday, that the jobs I had planned became a momentous chore and the big event in Mangonui I had been hoping to attend, now in the too-hard basket. I plodded away throughout the day and was surprised at just how roomy the house was when I removed the excess furniture and decluttered, even if it was a cheat decluttering, putting the excess things into the bedroom and shutting the door behind them. But it worked.
I made the pizzas, half cooking them and the fudge slices, leaving only the sausage rolls, fish bites and platters for the next day.
I wasn’t stressed when I awoke at 3am, but somehow sleep still eluded me. Once again, I was extra tired as I pulled myself out of bed to start the final preparations. I had only notified people on the Saturday, giving them a few hours’ notice, so was not sure how many would attend and with the big festival the day before I knew that many would be recovering from that. I only put my own post on Facebook on Saturday night.
The book launch was a success, with 20 adults attending and a handful of kids. I was fortunate in that my son, Levi, offered to take Renee to the airport, so there was no need for me to cut the event short. I felt so relieved when it was all over. The house felt so quiet afterwards. I had had Renee, Michael and Jason all staying on the Friday night and now there was just Stephen and me and Sarah and her little boy.
It is even quieter this morning with just the two of us, and I had another sleepless night. I am very tired this morning but I feel so satisfied that that is all behind me now. I guess it must have been playing on my mind more than I imagined, how would I fit in a book launch when Sarah and I lived so far apart?
But it feels like some kind of completion. One needs to close one door before the next will open. Sarah is now working on my next children’s book, Naughty Nana Rea. She is extremely busy so I am not sure how long that will take. And I am hoping to start a new project or two as well. But this book launch really does feel like some kind of ending, allowing for a new beginning.