Book Launch Wrap Up (and a giveaway)

I had the most wonderful time at my book launch last Sunday so I thought I'd share some photos with you.  Apart from being uncharacteristically nervous before everyone arrived, I soon relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed myself. It was difficult meeting so many new people - not easy for an introvert - and even more difficult when I didn't recognize people. Did you know that no-one looks anything like their Facebook profile photos?!  Fortified by Pepsi Max and chocolate I managed to smile and meet and greet nearly 80 people who turned out for the event. It exceeded my expectations and I was blown away by the love and support of the people in the room - some family, some friends and some strangers. One highlight (there were so many) was meeting a gorgeous woman in her 80's. She bowled up to me and announced I had looked after her in the emergency department a few months earlier. I remembered her then - she was reading a rural romance book and we had a lovely discussion about books and I told her I was an author. She told me she found out my name and asked her son to track me down. It turns out he is an avid reader and had one of my books on his Kindle which he had read and enjoyed. He heard about the book launch (no idea how) and brought his Mum along. Even better, she won a book in the door prize! I've already decided she's also 'won' a part as a minor character in my next book! (Her name is Fleur, so look out for her!) Of course the other highlight was having Andrea Grigg play such a large part in the day. I was so blessed she flew down from Queensland to share the occasion with me. I know many others were with me in spirit. After my husband welcomed everyone, Andrea asked me some questions about my book and the inspiration for my characters then hit me with twenty "off the top of my head" questions. I thought I'd share them with you. Who is your favourite female character from your books so far? Mackenzie Kennedy-Jones (Intensive Care) Favourite male character? Matt Robertson (The Peppercorn Project) Which genre do you enjoy reading apart from romance? Legal thrillers ED or ICU? Tough call - love them both - Emergency Department. Name three authors you'd love to meet. Jodi Picoult, Lee Child, John Grisham What household chore do you hate the most? ALL! Favourite take away. Fish and chips. Favourite movie. The Notebook. How did you meet Tim? At school. Was it love at first sight? Definitely not! Name 3 people from history you'd like to have dinner with. Princess Diana, Florence Nightingale, Michelle Obama What kind of music do you listen to? Worship and Classical Hobbies apart from writing. None! Tea or coffee? Neither - haven't tasted either. Sweet or Savoury? Definitely sweet. Coke or Pepsi? Pepsi Max Would you like to do more study? If so, what? Yes. Education. Worst part of your job. Not knowing how a patient is after they've left ICU or ED and hoping their recovery  went well. Would you ever get a tattoo? Definitely not!! After it was all over, although I felt like I could sleep for a week, we went out to dinner and celebrated with my gorgeous family. On Monday Andrea and I went out to search for my book on the shelves in store. Friends had already been sharing their "shelfies" including this one of my friend Cindy's daughter Ruby who apparently squealed so loudly when she saw my book that she could be heard across the other side of the store!    I don't look quite as excited as Ruby, but I assure you, I was dancing on the inside! How gorgeous does it look on the shelves at K-Mart?  Even more exciting was this photo sent to me by Jeff Townsend who found it in the Number 1 spot at Big W in Orange! But the highlight of the entire release of The Peppercorn Project was this photo sent to me by my friend Jane. This is her beautiful Mum on the eve of her 94th birthday sitting up in bed with her hair all done ready for her big day. She's already caught up in the story!  It doesn't get better than this, and that's why I write. Although I already have three books and a novella out in e-book and print on demand format, the buzz of seeing my book on the shelves is incomparable - it somehow makes it feel more 'real'. The promotion journey continues with magazine articles ('Yours' and 'Take 5') and newspaper features ('Melbourne Herald Sun' on 18th June and 'The Weekly Review') plus more guest blog posts scheduled for the next few weeks. It's a busy time. And then of course I need to do the edits for Critical Condition which comes out in September and edits for Operation Mistletoe Magic which comes out in November and then Leah needs a story of her own too. Who agrees? I'd love to give away a copy of The Peppercorn Project (paperback) to bless someone. To enter, you need to tell me who is your favourite hero and heroine from one of my books or novella! Easy! Please head to my website www.nickiedwards.com.au to sign up to my newsletter.  Purchase links to all my books can be found below: Amazon (Australia): http://bit.ly/1RhhTSX Amazon (US): http://amzn.to/1T4Tm8p Amazon (Uk): http://amzn.to/1S2jC1e iBooks: http://apple.co/1XxhQad Kobo: http://bit.ly/20e996e