BLAST OFF! by Joy Margetts

 

Last week the SpaceX Starship was launched. I don’t know much about it except that I understand it was an experimental launch, and that the Starship involved will one day take astronauts and passengers to Mars – if all the testing goes to plan. President elect Trump joined Elon Musk and other apparently important people to watch the launch and celebrate its ‘success’. I suspect that the people most engaged with that launch were the people who had worked for months to design and build the starship and its launch gear. And the people in charge of the launch itself – I suspect they were watching more closely than anyone else. Drinks were served, flags were waved, TV coverage was widespread, America cheered. I didn’t. I missed it. I only read about it days after it happened. And I am still not really that bothered or excited about it, or the people behind it!

Last week I also launched. Well, rather my book was launched. Although there were times when I wished I could be transported to Mars – or anywhere else to be honest! It was busy and stressful at times. Trying to remember to do all that I had planned to do, to make sure the people who had agreed to help with the launch were communicated with properly, that enough notices and invitations had gone up on Social Media. Oh and praying that the technology worked. All in a week where there were multiple demands on my time from other probably more important things.

A book launch is basically a celebration of the publication of a book, involving other people. Making sure publication is not a quiet affair, making it something significant. This time I invited a few bloggers to do a blog tour for me in the week leading up to and including publication day. This hopefully raised the profile of the book, and got it in front of potential new readers. My reviewers were wonderful, their words soothing and encouraging. Then on Friday we had an online Launch Event ‘Party’ in the evening.

In my experience a book launch is less about selling copies and more about thanking those who support my writing and celebrating together. So, to compare with the starship launch, I wanted to celebrate with those who surrounded me in prayer, those who believe in my writing, those who already love my books, those who worked on the manuscript, my publishers and beta readers, my family and friends whose loving support is invaluable. Many of them were able to come online with me on Friday and we had a lovely relaxed time. It was fun.

I didn’t invite Trump.

But someone else was invited. Perhaps the person with the most vested interest. I asked Him to be present before we went online, and I had asked others to speak to Him about it too. He came, it was obvious it was there, even though we were on YouTube and He didn’t comment in the live chat. At the end of the evening we thanked Him for being there, for enabling the book to be written, for helping us to publish it. We asked Him to bless the book and those who read it, to get it into the hands of those who need to hear its message. It was the perfect way to end the night.

The launch was a complete success. Not maybe in the world’s eyes. I am not selling millions, I have not made it to #1 in any bestsellers lists, the event wasn’t televised. But after all the hard work it has taken to get the book out, with all it has cost, even in these last few weeks, it was a joy to just breathe and smile and laugh… and metaphorically wave a few flags.

We counted down and had a blast!

 

If you want to see what we did at my launch event, the video recording is now sitting in the Live folder of my YouTube channel at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ScCpYTaqDc&t=990s

The Stranger was published on 22^nd November by Broad Place Publishing and is widely available. Or you can find out more about it, and buy a copy if you want to, via my website at www.joymargetts.com/the-stranger/

Joy Margetts is a published author and blogger. Her books are works of Christian Historical fiction. Set in medieval Wales against the backdrop of Cistercian abbey life, they tell stories of faith, hope and God's redemptive power. Her debut novel 'The Healing' was published by Instant Apostle on 19 March 2021.

'The Pilgrim', her second full length novel, was published by Instant Apostle on 22 July 2022, and her third novel, 'The Bride', published on 20th October 2023. Her first non-fiction book, an Advent Devotional, 'Christ Illuminated' was published in September 2023.

'The Stranger', her fourth full length novel was published 22 November 2024 by Broad Place Publishing.