by Duffy Brown, @DuffyBrownCozy
All my life I thought launch was what those really smart rocket science people do to get something into space and never in all those years did I expect to be involved. Yet here I am dong a launch of my very own. Not that I’m putting a rocket in space…though right now that seems like a snap…but I’m launching a book.
What do you mean launch, I asked. The book comes out on a specific day, booksellers, B&N and Amazon put it up for sale, end of story. Done.
To launch my Consignment Shop Mystery series I though it would be fun to do something different. I’ll have a mystery party at my house, I decided! I have the house, I like parties. A match made in heaven.
Sixty is a nice number and I can just buy one of those inter-active mystery party things online. Piece of cake.
You can see where this is going, can’t you. Murphy’s Law on steroids.
First off there are no mystery parties online for sixty that has everyone involved all the time. That means I have to write the mystery. And if people are coming to my house I have to feed them and drink them.
Thirty years ago I decided I wanted kids and my husband went along with it. That gave me four waiters and barkeeps for my party. It took me a week to write the party with characters and clues.
A few things I discovered along the way. The most important is the more alcohol, the better the party and my ability to write the mystery. The second is that your friends are there for fun more than finding out who-done-it. And did I mention the alcohol?
The theme was Roaring 20’s and Duffy’s Speakeasy. Lots of decorations online to buy and an easy theme to dress in costume for and did I mention the alcohol? I divided the guests into families…Manicotti family, Ravioli family…you get the picture. I think I did this at night when hungry. Working in families made everyone pull their info and come up with the killer.
I’ve had three parties now and each time it gets better. If you’re a mystery author it’s a great gig…do it. If you’re a mystery reader get invited to one. If I do party four I’ll let you know. I’d love to have one at the Cincinnati conservatory with a Clue theme. You know, Miss Scarlett in the conservatory with the candlestick. That’s my dream. I’ll let you know when the invites go out.
So…what is the best party you’ve been to? What makes a party special? Got any suggestions if we go to the Conservatory? I’ll give away two Pearls and Poison totes from the answers.
Duffy Brown loves anything with a mystery. While others girls dreamed of dating Brad Pitt, Duffy longed to take Sherlock Holmes to the prom. She has two cats, Spooky and Dr. Watson, her license plate is Sherlock and she conjures up who-done-it stories of her very own for Berkley Prime Crime. Duffy’s national bestselling Consignment Shop Mystery series is set in Savannah and the Cyclepath Mysteries are set on Mackinac Island. Duffy writes romance as Dianne Castell and is a USA Today bestselling author.
http://www.amazon.com/Pearls-Poison-Consignment-Shop-Mystery/dp/0425252485
What a fun idea! Kind of reminds me of those mystery trains, where there’s a “murder” and the guests have to find the killer. Secret to a fun party? Mojitos with Malibu Rum. Smooth.
Hi Julie, Wonderful chatting with you. It was a fun party. I need to throw another. Murder Mystery parties are a hoot and when everyone dresses up they really get into the swing of things.
Duffy–Thanks for the guest post…and the smiles! This sounds like so much fun to attend…and I’m not one who enjoys parties. But–you had to write the mystery yourself for the party! Makes sense, though…for a party that size. :) Love this story, thanks for sharing. And best wishes for “Pearls and Poison!”
Hi, Elizabeth! Wonderful being here. What I did was buy one of those mystery party box things then expand on it ’cause I wanted everyone to think they were a suspect and/or victim. ;-)
And everyone was in families so they all made friends fast. It was a lot of fun.
Elizabeth – Thanks for hosting Duffy.
Duffy – What a great idea for a launch! And it sounds like it was so much fun, too. Very creative.
It was fun. I’d like to rent out the local conservatory and host a party there…like Clue…Ms Scarlett in the conservatory with the candlestick etc. What fun that would be.
Hi, Elizabeth.
It sure got a lot of posts on twitter and FB so I think everyone had a really good time…I sure did.
What a clever way to throw a release party. A lot of work, but well worth it, I’m sure.
It sure got people talking. A fun launch. The ambulance bringing dinner was a real show-stopper and we had masked holdup men come and take kidnap my daughter. What a blast.
Right.
So right off in you essay I know you do fantastic narration. You have an author throwing a party with other than family ( the type that hasn’t recognized themselves in print under your name yet…) in attendance. More, it’s an interactive theme fancy-dress affair?
You are that wonderful sort of author who is bubbly and happy and extroverted and able to craft delightful prose. Wonderful. Sounds like a blast. All the best and congrats.
When we meet at conferences, I’ll be with the group hiding behind the lone ficus in the Westin’s lobby. I’ll wave. (I’ll wait until there’s no chance of you seeing before waving).
I’ve fantasized about a book launch party. I’m pretty certain if a party is at the end of the road, I’ll not finish the book.
I love it when the neighbors throw one, though. The foxhound and I love seeing all the cars as we scurry by in the dark! Looks like amazing fun… Just like yours.
Wonderful guest post. Best of luck. Congrats. I’m giving books featured by Elizabeth’s guests as Christmas gifts this year. Congrats on a new reader!
Hi J. Welling. I am basically shy but I have to say the very best part of writing is meeting wonderful readers like you. You all bring out the best and make me fee up-shy. :-) We all like talk books and characters and story lines and it makes for an easy time. I’m really lost in those big loud parties too. All I can think of is when can I go home. LOL But surrounded by readers wanting to have fun is another story. Wish we lived closer and we could get together. Thanks so much for chatting. Hugs.
Its great to meet Duffy and best wishes to her and Pearls of Poison. Which by the way is a great title for a mystery book!
Hi, Stephen . Thanks so much for the kind thoughts on P&P. I love cozy mystery titles. I have a new series coming out set on Mackinac Island. Cyclepath mysteries ’cause the gal owns a bicycle shop and it’s a play on psychopath. :-)
It’s like one of those murder-mystery dinner theaters. Now that’s cool!
Hi, Alex! Yes, that’s just what it’s like. Everyone was involved in trying to solve the mystery. Not many knew each other so this was a great icebreaker and got people up and moving.
I was the murderer at the first party! It was fabulous! !! Duffy knows how to do mystery and parties! And did I mention the alcohol!?
Hi, Morgan!! Wonderful hearing from you. We need to party more. Thanks so much for coming to the party. Hugs.
Since I am a wallflower, I appreciate a party where there are outgoing guests or at least a mix. Alcohol helps sometimes…in limited amounts. Good food, particularly great desserts, is always welcome. Smaller parties may benefit from a fun game.
Hi, Barbara. Thanks for chatting. It was one of those parties where you didn’t stand out and you had instant friends ’cause you were in a “family.” and I didn’t put friends together so everyone had to mix. It worked really well and people made new friends.
Did you offer books for sale at the launch party or was it just to celebrate the book’s publication? It sounds like a great idea. You could do it for a mystery lovers book club group and let them invite friends to spread the word about your book.
No books for sale, just for fun and to let readers know how much I appreciate them. I have such amazing readers and they mean a lot to me. It’s nice to do something fun just for them.
60 is a magic number. Its the only number that can be divided into all integers from 1 to 6, and it was the base of the Babylonian number system. That’s why we still have 60 minutes in an hour.
Enjoy your party >:)
Funny how conducive dinner parties are to murder… Great to see you in another domain, Duffy!
Hi Duffy
What a great idea. I’m glad you mentioned the booze. We play the murder mystery games when we go on holiday with my folks and my brothers and sisters and partners. However, my mother insists we dress up and talk in the right accents which makes the entire affair excruciating. Fun though, in a painful, there must be more alcohol somewhere kind of way. :)
I write science fiction and fantasy, so a costume party might be fun…
cheers
Mike