Book launch in lockdown

drawing of woman thinking of a book, book in a coronavirus, and book flying away like an insect

A book launch in lockdown will be different from the conventional gathering

A book launch in lockdown is likely. The printers are back at work. My publisher is checking final details this week. Publication date is still as originally scheduled, in mid or late June. But what will a virtual book launch be like?

It’s a very, very, very long time since a mainstream publisher presented a collection of my poems to the public. Mallinson Rendel published my Selected Poems in (wait for it) 1988. How old were you then? I was 48. That was my 7th book of poems and my 13th book, as I was also writing plays, novels, and books about writing.

Shortly after that, I got distracted by the ever-changing challenges of writing in a digital environment and for the Web. The publishing environment puzzled and taunted me and kept me on the move professionally. But I never stopped being a poet, and now and then I casually self-published various  poetry booklets. Now, 32 years later, my two working worlds—poetry and the internet—will merge again, this time with a book launch in lockdown.

20 thoughts on “Book launch in lockdown

  1. catconnor says:

    It’s an interesting landscape for launching books. Best of luck! I’m looking at a Nov launch and even that far out we’re not sure what the launch will look like. Planning for a physical launch anyway and crossing fingers!

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      Good luck with the physical launch plan: it’s surely possible, we hope. But a virtual one has some advantages, maybe.

      1. catconnor says:

        Perhaps a combination of the two, will be the way of the future?

      2. Rachel McAlpine says:

        We have plenty of time to consider creative options as it may be July when its launched. This blog will be involved somehow for sure,

      3. catconnor says:

        I look forward to seeing how your launch plays out! 🙂

  2. Sadje says:

    Congratulations Rachel on the upcoming book. Hope it all goes well.

  3. Congratulations, dear Rachel.

  4. Fantastic 🙂

  5. Cathy Cade says:

    Best of luck with your book launch. 🙂

  6. Congratulations on a book launch in lockdown! That sounds muffled to me, but I hope your book will burst on the world to much acclaim. Please let us know how it goes.

    I enjoyed your drawing with your book encased in the virus. Surely the virus can’t hold it hostage forever! Good luck!

  7. prue11 says:

    Such good news Rachel!

  8. Mick Canning says:

    Good luck, Rachel!

  9. Congratulations, Rachel!

  10. Congratulations. Hope everything goes to plan.

  11. Good Luck!!!

  12. Elizabeth says:

    You are keeping us informed aren’t you? Will Ursula be reviewing your book?

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      Is that nepotism?

      1. Elizabeth says:

        I think nepotism has come into fashion in the Trump era!

  13. Anonymous says:

    Congratulations on the launch Rachel, Hope everything goes well. As for me, I am on the finishing-up point on a 70,000 word novel which i was planning on releasing as my 10th on amazon but I’ve been thinking lately that I should probably consider pursuing a traditional route, since I am terrible at marketing, Any ideas anyone?

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      I’m the last person to ask. Good luck though.

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