It’s two weeks today since the official launch of Louisa, my debut historical novel. The launch took place at Links Seaside by Warrigal in Wollongong. This is the over-55s lifestyle resort in which I live, and the operator Warrigal had stood by me every step of the way for the planning and delivery of this launch. I even had an Event Planner allocated to me. It couldn’t have gone off better. Friends of mine from the Society of Women Writers of New South Wales commented that it was the most professional and entertaining launch that they had ever attended. So that is saying something!

It’s a bit after two in the afternoon as I’m writing this. At this time two weeks ago, the guests were arriving and partaking of nibbles and drinks and buying copies of the books which were already available for sale. A local bookshop, Collins Bookseller of Thirroul, came along to help with all the transactions, and it was just as well, because I was kept very busy signing.

140 people had accepted to attend the launch. As usual, on the day, there were a number who couldn’t make it for one reason or another, but all the same, the room was packed. By 2:30pm, everybody was in place and ready to hear the speakers.

Amanda Archer, Warrigal’s Chief Design and Growth Officer was the MC, and her warm and funny introduction set the tone for the rest of the afternoon. Ms Anna Watson MP, the State member for the next district Shellharbour, gave a short speech. By coincidence, her father and my husband worked together on the waterfront many years ago, so that added another layer of connection.

Ms Watson was followed by the Lord Mayor of Wollongong, Cr Tania Brown, who’d come along with the Deputy Lord Mayor, Cr Linda Campbell. Councillor Brown also had wonderful things to say about me. She and I have met a number of times over the years, and one of the things she reminisced about was my role as a Wollongong ambassador to welcome cruise ship passengers into the port of Port Kembla, which is just down the road from Wollongong. You can imagine I was glowing in the praise being heaped on me by these three women – each very significant in their own right.

Then it was on to the main event: fellow author Suzanne Leal and I perched up on a stage to do a friendly in-conversation.

This is a popular way of doing book launches these days. Audiences respond to the more personal, cozy style of doing an in-conversation, and Suzanne Leal was the perfect person to put me at ease. Suzanne is the author of many books, both for adults and young adults. We agreed in advance that she was not to give me the questions. And let me just say, some of those questions took me into places that I never expected. For example, Suzanne asked me if I was a risk taker. I answered … sort of … I take calculated risks. But of course, anyone who’s been following this blog for the 10 or more years that it’s been going, know that I do tend to do things that a woman of my age might not necessarily choose.

In this case, Suzanne Leal was referring to the time that I did the skydive, and here it is, with two versions up on YouTube for anybody who wants to see how that day went. In terms of risk, being firmly harnessed to a strapping young man falls into the “calculated” risk basket. It was not a hardship.

Anyway, suffice to say, it was a wonderful, wonderful afternoon. The love and support of everyone there came through strongly, and it was great that my buddy and fellow writer, Christine Sykes, was able to squeeze it in before jetting off to London. Not the bestest photo of her – she must have been getting ready for shut-eye on the plane, but wonderful to have the memento of our moment in the sun of Suzanne.

The event concluded with my younger brother presenting me a gorgeous bunch of flowers on behalf of he and my two younger sisters. Then it was back to the sales and signing table. With Suzanne’s guidance I’d managed not to give away too much of what is in the book Louisa, so the sales after the event also clipped along.

Then suddenly, it was all over. It was so nice to have some friends visit from a country area a couple of hours south of Wollongong, so we were able to continue the celebration as they stopped overnight. We went out to dinner – not far, just to our on-site restaurant – and backed up with a home-cooked breakfast the next morning.

The entire celebration was an absolute delight, and I hope Louisa thinks we did her proud.

The photos from the day were taken by various people who have given me permission to use them – including my gorgeous granddaughter “E”, pictured above.

Louisa is available Direct from the Publisher, Amazon worldwide, and many other outlets.