Haze: official launch
Last night we had the official launch of Haze (The Rephaim #2) – and it was a huge amount of fun.
Riverbend Books at Bulimba kindly hosted us again, and the wonderful Marianne de Pierres (who launched Shadows last year) was also on board, this time to lead an ‘in conversation’ session with me.
I was much more relaxed this year than last year – so much so I even did my own reading (in front of 60 plus people who know me!) – and the conversation format with Marianne helped enormously. Just two writers chatting. It was fun and informal and seemed to go down well.
As well as my enthusiastic gang of family and friends, there were also bloggers and reviewers in the crowd: Nomes from Inkcrush (with her friend Amanda), Michelle from Maree’s Musings, Mia K Rose (from the blog of the same name), and Trisha (from Padua College, who is also a Goodreads regular). It was lovely to have them along and to get a chance to chat in person.
During my chat with Marianne, I also announced the working title (which is pretty much final) for book 3: Shimmer.
(Nomes has written a fantastic overview of the topics we covered. Read it here.)
Special thanks again to Text Publishing for putting on the soiree, especially publicist Rachel Shepheard who did a fantastic job bringing it all together (as well as organising some wonderful publicity for Haze). And of course, my business partner Heather Scott (pH creative threw a few extra dollars at the bar later in the night). And thanks to everyone who came along and who continue to share in this adventure of mine.
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- Yes, I love popcorn.
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- Gorgeous window display again at Riverbend.
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- Chatting with Marianne.
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- Reading chapter two (with a teeny bit of censoring for my younger guests)
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- I told you I had fun.
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- Signing for the fabulous Dunlop girls.
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- See Susie, I told you were going to end up on my blog.
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- (Shamelessly borrowed from inkcrush.blogspot.com.au) Michelle, me, Amanda and Nomes.
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- With Michelle, Carly and Heather.
At the start of the night I also acknowledged my friend Michelle Edmonds-Weller, who very sadly passed away on 12 May after a long fight against breast cancer. She was 42. In the days before she passed, Michelle asked me to sign her copy of Haze. It was the toughest signing I’ve ever done, knowing she wouldn’t get a chance to read it. Her husband Teale and sons Riley and Kynan came along to support me for the launch, which I really appreciated. As a way of honouring Michelle – and her family – I reminded women in the audience to get their breasts checked regularly. (I’m booked in at Breastscreen Queensland next week.)
Here’s a photo of Michelle (in the white scarf) at Shadows’ launch last year with her family and the Dunlops.
It was such a lovely night and this post really does it justice. Congratulations again on the launch of Haze. After the reading you did I just had to start it straight away. I just wish I hadn’t eaten such a big meal beforehand – I was too full for popcorn! 🙂
Thanks Michelle. Glad you enjoyed the night. It was lovely to have you there. (And I’m glad you enjoyed Shadows!) 🙂
You write about last night with the same eloquence that you spoke 🙂
The photos look fantastic, too.
X
Thanks Nomes 🙂 (And thanks for letting me pinch your pic!)
Such a great post Paula. Am off to purchase my Haze tomorrow… guess my Saturday… You are an inspiration. x
Thanks Jane. Happy reading!
Looks and sounds like a fabulous evening Paula. You always manage to make me laugh and cry just a bit…like a great read. Can’t wait to share a cone or two (of popcorn) with you one day down the track. Dimity x
Thanks Dimity. Look forward to catching up again soon.
It was a fabulous evening! I may or may not have had four cones of popcorn…
I’m about to start on Shadows (again) so I can flow right on to Haze. 🙂
I know – how good was the popcorn?? 🙂
That’s a beautiful post Paula
Thanks Heather. And thanks for taking photos last night. x