The Girl From The Savoy: behind the scenes of book launch week

THE GIRL FROM THE SAVOY is now well and truly launched following the official release last week in Ireland, the USA and Canada. Publication day was an exciting flurry of activity on social media with early reviews going online and lots of lovely good wishes from readers and friends in the writing community on both sides of the Atlantic. It was a hectic week, to say the least (!) which included live radio interviews with stations in Minnesota, Seattle and – a little closer to home – Kildare, which my eldest son came along with me to. He really enjoyed the experience!

I did a live Q&A with readers on my Facebook page, which was great fun and brilliantly hosted by the wonderful Liz Felton from Liz & Lisa. It was lovely to interact with readers in ‘real time’.

The Girl From The Savoy also had her first press review here in Ireland in the Sunday Independent, and I was thrilled to see the book listed among RTE Ten’s ’10 summer reading picks’. The book is also an Easons Book of the Month for June and the 1,000 copies I signed at Eason HQ are now in stores around the country. I also have an article on historical research in this week’s Woman’s Way magazine, and I’m writing about our love of period drama in the July issue of Image magazine.

Last Thursday was the book launch party in Dublin which was the most wonderful night with friends, family and fellow writers. My editor, Kate Bradley, flew over from London and the gorgeous Sinead Moriarty spoke so kindly about the book. We had terrific fun in the Liquor Rooms – the perfect theatrical setting for the book – and I am so grateful to everyone who came along and made the night so memorable.

This short video gives just a little taste of the evening!

There have been some lovely reviews for the book (which is always a relief!) and I must say a huge thank you to the book bloggers in America and Ireland who do such an amazing job in supporting authors when a new book is released. I’ve included a few links below to interviews with me about the inspiration for the book, how I write, how I research and more …

Book Club Girl – Discovering the ‘gallery girls’ of the 1920s

USA Today, Happy Ever After –  interview

How I Write – interview

The Gloss: Writer’s Block – interview

Hey, Author – interview

Women Writers feature: Finding ‘The End’ – writing tips and advice

writing.ie feature: I am and I have – writing tips and advice

I also recorded a podcast with Melbourne-based writer and host, Vanessa Carnevale. You can listen to the interview on dealing with rejection, how I write, researching my novels and more at This Creative Life.

There are several great giveaways for the book running at the moment. Check out Bleach House Library, Lady Nicci, Shaz’s Book Blog and Jennifer Tropea O’Regan on Facebook and Twitter .

This week, I’m looking forward to more radio interviews in the USA and Ireland, and a couple of trips to visit the independent bookshops in my area to sign books and to support them.

So, that was the week that was! Totally manic. Very exciting. Lots of surprises. Utterly exhausting. And among all this, I am choosing to ignore the fact that I have a deadline looming for the next book. That’s for next week.

For now, coffee!

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