Saturday, April 13, 2013

Bookmarks: Literaries Who Launch

photo by John Sandel

I went to a book launch party Thursday night and didn't think to take pictures because I was excited to be one of the book's authors. Thanks to John, we have this panorama of everyone's backs.

The book we celebrated is Literary Pasadena: The Fiction Edition, published by Prospect Park Books. It's a collection of short stories and excerpts, produced as a companion to LitFest Pasadena, coming to Central Park May 11th.

I hope you'll read it. Everyone in this picture has a piece in it. I don't know who took this photo, but here are everyone's fronts. The shot was sent to us all by the book's editor, Patricia O'Sullivan, who looks happy. She's just in front of me and to my right. (I'm the only one wearing a yellow top. It's spring, right? I can wear yellow.)

I knew some of these people already, met more last night, and hope to meet still more at upcoming events for the book.*

Publisher Colleen Dunn Bates of Prospect Park Books wrote a post about the party here, and there are more pictures. I also wrote a post, comparing taking photos in and about Pasadena to writing stories here.

For me, this party was a milestone of sorts. I've had my works published before, and I've been paid to write before. But I've never had a book launch party where I was involved as a writer. Still hoping to have a launch party for Camelot & Vine. Not sure how I'm going to do it.

* This coming Thursday, 4/18, at 7pm will be the Vroman's launch. This will be a panel, not a group signing.
* There will be signings of Literary Pasadena at noon both Saturday 4/20 and Sunday 4/21 at the Prospect Park Books booth at the LA Times Festival of Books. I'm in the Saturday signing.
* Sunday, 4/28 at 2pm, there will be a group signing at Barnes & Noble in Old Town.
* Then of course there's Litfest May 11th in Central Park, where Prospect Park will of course have a booth, and so will Boz Books!
* On Thursday, June 13th at 7pm, I'll be participating in a panel about "writing Pasadena," at the Pasadena Museum of History.

15 comments:

Dina said...

A happy and exciting milestone it is.
Mazal tov!

Susan Campisi said...

You've got a literary full plate these few weeks! That is very exciting. Yes, you can wear yellow: it's spring, and you have a lot to celebrate. Congrats!

The house is gorgeous. I love the panoramic view of it.

Adele said...

That is big stuff! Congratulations. Going to check out all the links. We read books from front to back, right?

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, everyone. Adele, I still read them that way, but not necessarily all at once.

Bellis said...

Lots of exciting events ahead for you:. Actor, photographer, historian, and now also author. Long live Boz Books.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, Bellis. I wouldn't call myself a pro at everything on that list!

Stefan Jansson said...

Congrats.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thank you, Stefan!

Desiree said...

Whoo hoo! Sorry to have missed this!
(Out of town)

Speedway said...

Congratulations! I remember the first time I designed a book and saw the proofs. There was a little place inside that made me feel proud, to stand a little taller. It must have felt a little like that to find oneself among peers - a quiet smile inside for achieving a goal.

Petrea Burchard said...

It was really lovely.

dive said...

Yay! The Amazonians have just emailed me to tell me my long-ordered copy of Literary Pasadena is winging its way across the Pond and should be here within a week.
I can't wait!

Petrea Burchard said...

Dive, you're so supportive. I can't thank you enough. You may recognize a couple of PDP's guest authors in there, too. I hope you enjoy the book.

dive said...

I'm looking forward to it, Petrea. This evening, however, I've managed to twist my friend Gerry's arm and have just - with the help of lots of wine - obtained a copy of his draft first novel, which I'm about to start proof-reading and … er … criticising. I'm a rubbish writer but I do love editing. Yay!

Petrea Burchard said...

I love editing, too. I wish I had the first draft of my next book written already so I could be editing it.