Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Launch Day Madness: Picture Proof

Dude, holy bar coded cows! Yesterday was amazing. So many blog comments. So many twitter messages. I knew that if I didn't consciously decide to stay offline, I would feel this great need to respond to them all.

So I decided to stay offline for the most part. I appreciate the book birthday wishes and all the comments and everything. I did read them all.

Today, I present you with picture proof of what actually happens on your typical launch day.

Up first: tennis. Bright and early at 7 AM. This is me afterward, in my unshowered condition.

Next: breakfast. My husband with his hot chocolate. He was all like, "Take my picture with my face covered with cream." #keeper

Wha? It's BACON.

Yum.

After eating: the bookstore. In the window, at the local Barnes & Noble.

On the shelf at the local Barnes & Noble. It took a few minutes to find them, and I was seriously getting nervous. But there they are!! I didn't cry, for the record.

Off the shelf at the local Barnes & Noble. I thought, "They have SIX copies! Yay!"

We shopped a bit, and were going up to buy the books, and I stopped short and said, "OH MY HECK, THAT'S MY BOOK." There was a whole display at the front of the store!! We'd walked right by it coming in. (We were focused on the Nook, in our defense.)

The whole family. My husband sold a copy to the girls taking our picture. I signed it. :)

After that, I went to the spa to get a hot stone pedicure. I got blue polish and butterfly decals!

Then: Dinner with writer friends!! Christine Fonseca, me, Jamie Harrington. One word: epic.

And my favorite: A card from my six-year-old daughter. I get a little teary when I see it, and I'm currently using it as a bookmark. <3

Tonight, I'm participating in the launch party of amazingness. There will be prize packages and talking and music and cookies. If you're in the area, please come! It's at The King's English (1511 S. 1500 E. in Salt Lake City). If you're not in the area, mark your calendars for the virtual launch party, which will take place on my fansite (www.insidetheresistance.com) on Thursday, June 16. All day, so be prepared!

Thank you again for all the well-wishes and whatnot. I swear I won't be blogging about my book forever.

Also, planning a release day takes time. What will you do on yours? Because you will have one. Oh, yes, you will.

88 comments:

Joanna said...

Aw--I wish I was in the area! It sounds really fun.
Congrats, Elana! Happy Launch!

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Look at YOU Elana. So proud of you. So excited for you.

I love your photo journal and your pedicure.

T

Anita Saxena said...

Congratulations!
Dude, if it was my release day, I'd be crying like a baby when I saw my book on the shelves at B&N.
Soak up the moment and enjoy every bit.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Congrats. So glad you had an awesome debut day. We're so excited for you.

Heather Kelly said...

Sigh. So. Cool. Did you win at tennis? Because clearly, that's what I should be focusing on. LOL. Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christine Danek said...

How awesome!! Love the pedi. I would probably cry my eyes out and do a happy dance if I ever saw my books on the shelves at B &N. What a feeling that must be. A rush, I should say.
A huge party would be thrown, definitely.
Congrats again!!

Jessica Nelson said...

Oh my goodness, Elana. Maybe you didn't cry but I'm about to cry for you! *sniffle*
How completely and AWESOMELY exciting!!!! Thanks for sharing about this. :-)

Oh, and I don't know what I'll do on my day. I need to do some research, LOL, and figure out what I should do.

Christina Lee said...

*sniff* I'm tearing up over the whole thing. Sososo happy and excited for you! I can't believe you passed up that table--ha!!!

Liz P said...

Can I just say - I would have literally fallen over with joy if I came across a whole table at B&N with my book on it! That is so awesome!

Looks like you had a really great day! Bacon, pedicure, book release, family and friends - what more do you need. :) I'm so happy for you!

Matthew MacNish said...

I'm speechless. Rare, I know.

Miranda Hardy said...

It sounds like your day was fantastic and I smiled at all the pictures. Yes, my day will come, and I plan it to be just as great as yours. Love the spa idea!!

Laura Pauling said...

and what better way to celebrate a launch then eating breakfast and dinner with writing friends! Enjoy it all!

Christine Murray said...

Congratulations!

Unknown said...

Love the display. That is so cool. So glad to see you had a great release day and that it also involved bacon and a pedicure.

Carrie said...

Congrats! I can't imagine how exciting this all is. I will be at the launch tonight! Can't wait to say congrats in person!!

Carrie (NewUTMommy)

Kelly Lyman said...

What a wonderful day for you-- and so awesome that you could spend it with your whole family! I love the picture of your hubby with his hot chocolate! And of course, the picture of you with all the books. I teared up for you!! Congrats again! So happy for you!

Carolyn Abiad said...

Awesome stuff, Elana! I'm so excited for you!

Suzie F. said...

Loved reading about your big day! And how wonderful that you got to share it with your beautiful family and friends.

I wish you much success!

Aurora Smith said...

#1 THANKYOU FOR MAKING IT SO I CAN NOW COMMENT

#2 Ahhhhhh congrats! I dream of this! amazing!

Kristi said...

Aw, what a GREAT day! I love photos and feeling like we could enjoy it with you...your family is precious!

Enjoy the rest of your week, you deserve it!

B.E. Sanderson said...

Congratulations! Looks like an awesome release day. If I ever have a release day, it'll probably involve a lot of driving or a hotel stay - since I live in the middle of nowhere and celebrating here would be anti-climactic.

Sarah Ahiers said...

Yay!! Looks like a great day! And your family is ADORABLE! Totally squee-worthy

Anonymous said...

Wow!!!! Love this. I'm so glad you shared photos! Exciting.

I'm actually planning mine now since my book releases in September 2011...so I'm absorbing all the suggestions I can find!! It's scary, exciting all rolled up into awesome!

Sophia said...

Congrats, Elana! On my release day I'd go down to London overnight and drop by some bookstores to check out my book on the shelves and eat some lovely meals and generally enjoy the city in whatever way seemed best depending on my mood.
- Sophia.

Unknown said...

I'm so sad that I can't be there!!!

I love all the pictures. You had me day-dreaming about what I would do whenever I get the chance to experience the awesome.

You are too cool for words.

Melanie said...

wow! so, so exciting!! love all the pics. You must be on such a whirlwind high!

Liza said...

This post made me smile. Yay!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful pics, Elana! May you sell a zillion copies! :-)

Kristine Asselin said...

Just wanted to add my congrats to the list! Glad it was a good day and hope there are many more to come.

Christine Fonseca said...

SQUEE!!! SO SO FUN!

Golden Eagle said...

That's so cool. :D

Great pictures!

Jenna Blake Morris said...

Bacon is definitely the right thing to celebrate with. Congrats on your release, and good luck with the next steps!

Also, I wamted to let you know I've awarded you the Irresistably Sweet Blog Award over at www.literally-ya.blogspot.com. Thanks for everything you do here.

Unknown said...

So awesome!! I can't wait to read all the insightful posts on how to market and launch a debut!

Lola Sharp said...

I am SOO happy for you!
LOVE your toesies. :)

And...you daughter's card made me tear up. So sweet.


Love,
Lola

Lydia Kang said...

Aw, wish I lived closer and could come by. And you so deserve to blog about your book!
I'm really happy for you.
:)

Theresa Milstein said...

Bacon and books - what a wonderful way to spend a launch day. I'm so happy for you. Have a wonderful time later.

P.S. People have been saying the nicest things about you and your interview answers on my blog.

Melody said...

I'm pretty sure that's the best launch day ever. :) I love that your toes now match your book! :)

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Chris Phillips said...

Congrats! On my release day I will: Buy a large window and shopping cart and throw the shopping cart through the window in celebration, Drive 15+ mph over the speed limit to see if the cop will take an autographed copy of my book to let me off with a warning, drink long island iced teas.

Misha Gerrick said...

Hehehe sounds like you had an awesome day!

I'm so happy for you.

As for my release day, I'm keeping things in steps. First I want to finish edits.

:-)

Jonathon Arntson said...

This gave me lots of smiles!

Carol Riggs said...

What do you mean--what?? You honestly didn't cry? LOL How GREAT to see that stack of your books in a real live bookstore! Whee! Big continued congrats, Elana!!!

Anonymous said...

Love the hot chocolate pic and your toes look so FAB!!! What's a hot stone pedicure? I must be so out of the loop here.

Donea Lee said...

What a FUN release day for you!! Adorable fam and friends ~ Love the pics, thanks so much for sharing!! :)

I would definitely spend my release day with family, dinner with friends and a trip to the spa is a MUST!

See you tonight!

Unknown said...

Congratulations! <3 I'm so happy for you!!! Really!! :D

Stephanie McGee said...

Sounds like a very nice way of celebrating such a huge day!

Anonymous said...

What a perfect day!! Congrats again!

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Elana, I am so happy for you! After watching for the past 2 1/2 years as your dream slowly came true, I teared up just reading this. Thank you SO MUCH for sharing the pictures--SO COOL!!!!! :-)

Unknown said...

SO FREAKING HAPPY FOR YOU.

Mickey said...

Congratulations!! Those pictures gave me goosebumps. The feeling must be surreal and amazing :o) Enjoy!! I will try to read your book soon!

Mickey @ imabookshark

Patti said...

Really wish I lived closer. Have a great time tonight.

Chelsey said...

Congrats again, Elana! As for my release day, well, all I know if that if I'm still in Boston at the time it will be very hard not to leg it to every one of the eleventy million bookstores to see if they're carrying it.

Unknown said...

In case you like that sort of thing, I took a pic of your book on the shelf at my local B&N yesterday (when I was picking up my copy). It's on my blog: http://bit.ly/mG5gNS . Congrats!!

N. R. Williams said...

Way cool! Congratulations.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium

kah said...

All of you gusy are too flippin' cute. What a great day. Congrats!

I can't fathom a book release day, but I would like some of that hot chocolate!

Kazzy said...

Wow, congratulations! That is a cool payoff day.

Buffy Andrews said...

Awesome stuff Elana. You give us all hope. My fave thing is the note your daughter wrote. Cherish it always. And I wish you tons of success.

Angie said...

That is the sweetest card! Looks like it was one terrific day. I haven't planned mine yet. I'd better get on that. ;) Have fun tonight. I'll see you Saturday!

Stacy Henrie said...

Love the pictures, but I think the best is the card! So sweet. See you tonight.

Candyland said...

Now thewe pics and that sweet card made ME teary-eyed. I'm so happy for you!!!

Krispy said...

Aww, that's awesome! I hope you have an amazing time at your launch party tonight!

Lacie Myers said...

Elana, it was so fun to share your day with you! I almost cried and Ive only known about your blog for a few weeks!

Katie Dodge said...

So very HAPPY for you! Congrats! :D

Amber said...

What an awesome day! Congratulations. And it really is a beautiful book.

Marsha Sigman said...

This is awesome!!! I am so happy for you too!!!

On my release day I am pretty sure I will be holed up in my house watching Buffy reruns and biting my fingernails.

Either that or I will be asked to leave my local Barnes and Noble because I will be all crying over my book and talking to every customer that comes in the door.

Yeah, either way I see drama.lol

Jennie Bailey said...

Congratulations Elana!! I can't wait to read it. And I love love love your blue toenails with your butterflies. A hot stone pedicure, though? I'm in L.A. and I have NEVER heard of one. Oh, must have! Must. Have.

My launch day will be a bagel and cream cheese and cucumber and tomato breakfast followed by Starbucks...and I'm not sure what else. Congrats again!!

Eric said...

I SO wish I could make it Elana. You are awesome beyond belief and deserve all of this fanfare. Blog about your book as long as you like. It's a huge accomplishment and EVERYONE should be aware of Possession (and buy their copy immediately). I hope you have an awesome time. So sorry I can't join you.

Miriam Forster said...

Yay for giant pile of books!!

I'm glad you had such a good day. :)

Nicole Zoltack said...

I so wish I could be there! But Pa is just a little too far away. Seriously, why aren't teleporters real yet???

Anyhow, I can't believe you didn't cry. I would have bawled. Seriously.

I am so happy for you! You deserve all of this. And that is one awesome pedi. :)

erica m. chapman said...

Awesome!!! Love the pics! Sounds like an amazing day ;o) I'm so thrilled for you! I bought my copy yesterday and will be reading it tonight!! Enjoy this moment ;o) <3

Deana said...

This post gave me cold chills! What a fantastic day! And your own display....coolness!!!

My day...will be had with family and friends to I think...because you're right it will come:)

Tere Kirkland said...

LOL, I'm going to go to the bookstore and sit around reading my book and tell everyone walking past how awesome it is...

Hmmm, actually, since I write YA, that might come across as creepy. Maybe not.

Best wishes, Elana J!

Valerie Ipson said...

I could cry! SWEETAWESOMEAMAZINGNESS!!
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Caleb said...

This. Is. Awesome!.

Julie Musil said...

OH. MY. GOODNESS. That is soooo awesome! I can't imagine how proud you felt standing there, in a real life bookstore, looking at YOUR BOOK on the shelves! You deserve all this awesomeness. Enjoy the ride.

Renae said...

Looks like you found a great way to spend your launch day.

So excited for you and congrats!!!!

Stephanie Thornton said...

What an awesome launch day extravaganza! I'm excited to read Possession--I'm forcing myself to save it until July for a looong plane ride.

Congratulations and have fun at the party tonight!

Unknown said...

So proud of you! Writers can't help but feel pride when one of their own succeeds. Way to go Elana!

Margo Rowder said...

Congrats, Elana! Well deserved, all of it. I'm so looking forward to hearing more and more about your journey.

Susan said...

Congrats! My Borders store had a bunch of copies - a good thing since I made a special trip there just to get POSSESSION. I've been waiting *patiently* for S & S to send me a copy, but yeah, I got tired of waiting. I HAD to get a copy. Super excited to read it, too!

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

So thrilled for you! You EARNED this, so enjoy every minute of your success!

Melissa Sarno said...

For some reason this post made me want to cry. I'm so happy for you and your family. It sounds like you had an amazing release day. I like your husband's hat!

Myrna Foster said...

I'm thinking, "They only have 6 copies?" But then the display picture made me feel better. Thanks for sharing your day with us. I'm excited to read Possession.

Myrna Foster said...

Oh, and your feet rock.

Liesl Shurtliff said...

What an awesome night! I had so much fun. I LOVED your husband's introduction, really. It made me want to have my husband to the same, even though you advise against it. :)

Even though I'm moving back to Chicago, I have this fantasy that I can have a launch party at TKE, because I love that store.

LynNerdKelley said...

Great description - "Epic" What a wonderful day full of cool memories. Now, passing up that table loaded with your books is somethin' else! The note from your daughter is too precious. Great bookmark. Get it laminated so it will be preserved. What amazing fireworks for the launching of your book. It must seem like a dream. Oh, that bacon looks pretty darn tasty.

What am I gonna do when my book launches? That's in a few days. I guess I'll get out a sparkler. That'll have to do!

Ghenet Myrthil said...

Awesome! I'm glad you had an awesome release day - with bacon and all! :D

Anonymous said...

CONGRATS, Elana! Great pics. Looks like it was a fun day with family and friends. Thanks for sharing.

Jemi Fraser said...

I missed this (busy week!) - love the photos! You have a beautiful family :)

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