Book Release Party (or, relying on the kindness of strangers)

I just posted some pics from the book launch party I had for The Morgue and Me back on June 26.  (You can see them in that slideshow thingy on the right.)  Amazing, it seemed to go very well.  In the planning process, I discovered that it's quite possible to hold a book party without expending much dough.  Here are my tips:

(1)  Locate a cool venue (in this case, The Darlington House in Washington, DC), tell them you're a first-time author, and see if they'll provide space for free.  If you're lucky enough to run into people as kind as the proprietors of The Darlington House, they'll say yes, enthusiastically.  And then they will offer to provide some finger food.

(2)  Ask your friend who is a liquor distributor whether it's possible to get a wine/beer/liquor manufacturer to sponsor your party.  Then wait a second before he offers, to your amazement, two free cases of wine.

(3)  Ask your friend of a friend who has a great band if he'd like to play your event for a nominal fee.  Cross your fingers he says yes.

(4)  Get a great indie bookstore to set up shop at the event.

(5)  Ask your very kind and supportive friends to show up.

Stir gently.  And presto, a great book party!