FISH KICKER, the novel, was officially published on March 7, and on March 9 I had a launch party to celebrate the occasion. It was held in Mid Manhattan and was hosted by the National Writers Union. We had beautiful weather. The sun was out, the air was nearly spring like and there was not a cloud in the sky.
- Photo by Susan Sermoneta
There was cheese and crackers, and more than enough wine for everyone. I made a companata, a kind of pickled eggplant relish dish, one of my favorite appetizers, to complement the cheese. Everyone milled around meeting old friends, making new friends and there was room enough for even the few stragglers who showed up at the last minute.
Photo by Susan Sermoneta
Several people who used to live within blocks of each other were reunited after many years of separation. And what was so interesting was that I was able to blend my old neighborhood with my new neighborhood, with friends coming from many locations in New York.
photo by Susan Sermoneta
There were lots of smiles.
Photo by Mike Gass
There was a couple moments of quiet contemplation.
Photo by Susan Sermoneta
And there was some serious conversations between the younger guests, and one kid, a major gamer, who put the Ipad away when I read from FISH KICKER.
Photo by Susan Sermoneta
All right gang, the reading is about to start.
Photo by Mike Gass
Tim Sheard, representing the National Writers Union, gave a short explanation of the Union and its importance to writers and then he introduced me.
Photo by Mike Gass
Fortified with a swallow of white wine, I read from the first nine pages of the novel.
“Sharon sat in a small patch of sunshine outside Willie’s weigh station, resting her back against a scrubby pine tree, her face raised to the warm light. The heat from the afternoon sun dulled her mind like a drug. The end of summer was unseasonably warm this year on the Kenai Peninsula. The Alaskan fireweed had already finished an early bloom, which meant the first snowfall could come any time now. Sharon wondered where she’d go when it turned cold.”
Photo by Mike Gass
“A pick-up truck loaded with a fresh catch of salmon rambled up the road and backed into the weigh station. Open net fishing season, a short run of excess salmon during spawning season, put into play a frenzy of underemployed men and women scrambling for the mother lode of sockeye and reds heading up stream and into the interior. Willie owned a stretch of land on a bluff overlooking Cook Inlet and in the summer he turned an old shed on his property into a weighing station and became a middleman for the fish canneries.”
Photo by Mike Gass
Then the launch party was over. There were still a few chunks of cheese left, a couple spoonfuls of companta on the bottom of the bowl, a bit of wine left in one bottle, but it was time to say goodbye. I hope you can come to my next book launch. Drop me a line and I’ll be sure to put you on my mailing list.
The launch party was lots of fun – and delicious. I love what you have done – as a writer – creating a narrative out of the photographs. Terrific “story.”
And thank you Susan for all the great photos that you contributed. I was so happy to see you there.
Marge, I’m so happy for you and enjoyed the tender way you shared the love circulating throughout the room at your launch party. Felt it here!
Thank you Deb!! It really was a very lovely time!!
Congratulations on your new book, your launch and becoming a member of the National Writers’ Union. Sounds like an excellent organization – and what a benefice to have their quarters for a literary event. May you have many more such happy events in the coming days! T. Jackie Straw in Manhattan
Thanks Thelma!! Yes, the NWU is a great organization to belong to. They will go over a writer’s contract and let the author know if there are any nasty surprises lurking in the small and large print.
Congratulations again on Fish Kicker. You had quite the release party. Fun to see the party on photos and loved your photo captions. Best wishes…Susan Bernhardt
Thanks Susan. Maybe I’ll make it to one of your celebrations some day, or we can hang out and hoist a toast in tribute to mutual triumphs!!!
Great launch party and great photos by Susan Sermoneta (who always takes amazing photos!). Fish Kicker is a beautiful book written by a beautiful person, author, and photographer. You deserve every accolade that’s coming!
Thank you Jeri!! So fun to have you there and to be able to celebrate with such great friends. Yes, Susan and Mike took great photos!!! They certainly helped to tell a tale about the day!!!
So happy for you and your success! Congrats again on this wonderful achievement.
Thanks Sharon!! See you in a couple of months!! Can’t wait to smell that fresh Northwest air!!
What a great book launch you had. I was there in thought and wish I could have been there. See you soon in the Northwest!
Yes, Susan, it was a great day. I wish you were there, too. See you soon!!
Looks like such a lovely time. Congratulations Margaret! I sure wish I could have been there.
Joel, you would have had a great time. Perhaps another time!! Maybe I’ll do a west coast trip with the next novel!!
This is so enjoyable to read and look at,Marge – as was the party! I had a great time and loved those nine pages! Can’t wait to read the rest. I downloaded it from Amazon.
I’m so glad you were there, too, Debby!! Hope you enjoy the other 164 pages!!! See you soon.
It finally came and you succeed in not fainting. LOL Congratulations on your new adventure and success. I too wish I could have been there; it looked exciting and fun. Cannot wait until your next book launch; maybe I can be there. See you soon. All my love to you.
Yes, I survived, Toddi!! Now I’m working on the next novel, editing and getting it ready to be sent off to the publisher. Thanks for virtually being there.
How wondeful this event looks. Wish I could have attended. Congrads! Margre you are one amazing gal!
I wish you could have been there, too, Angela!! I know you are always with me in spirit, if not in person!! Thanks for stopping by and leaving such good thoughts and wishes!!!
Margaret, I am late but how absolutely wonderful it is to follow this, to witness how
someone, you, see your dream coming true, when writing was always what you loved to do.
And the images, the stories about them…delightful.
Thank you for letting me part of your world a bit.
It is a lovely, warm world.
Congratulations and all my best wishes, today and always.
I would have loved to be there, Margaret
Petra
Petra, it would have been wonderful to see you smiling face with us that day. Your words are always so perfect and assuring!! Thank you!! Thank you!!
You are welcome, talented lady. :)))
Congratulations again!! It looks like a really good time was had by all, and we’re only sorry we couldn’t be there. We wish you much continued success – you truly deserve it!!
Thanks, Teri and Jeff!! I’ve got you on my invite list for the next launch!!
Late in replying as usual but doesn’t mean I wasn’t thrilled to be there for your first launch. You inspire me for your persistence and determination and your passion for writing. Looking forward to sharing your next journey wherever that may take you…
So far Pam, you’ve been there with me on many of my “launches” and I with yours. But this one was really quite special and I’m so glad you were there to share it with me.