Why a virtual book launch still counts
Rosalind Moody talks to two spiritual authors about how they made the most of launching their books virtually during the pandemic
When Covid hit the UK in early 2020, its consequential snowball of chaos destroyed things we didn’t even know were in its wake. Physical book launches, where press attention and pre-orders would be key, were cancelled in a flurry. Even bestselling and celebrity authors Anthony Horowitz and Brian May had to compromise: their respective 2020 releases Nightshade, in April, and Cosmic Clouds 3D, in September, both had to admit defeat and be transferred online, with the latter even billed as ‘the world’s first ever online global book launch of its kind’.
As you might agree, writing is mostly a solitary affair, but publishing is a ‘people’ trade – book fairs, conferences, discussion panels and, of course, launch parties. It’s harder (but not impossible) to network and ‘rub shoulders’ without, um, rubbing shoulders – and knocking elbows just isn’t the same. As the conference halls, bars and restaurants were reluctantly replaced by video conferencing service Zoom, complete with virtual waiting rooms and various ticket options, I fear we may have to stay sat down at our laptops for the foreseeable future.