The launch party for the newly released Splinters of Light was exactly that. A launch party.
First of all, my hair did me right last night. It’s amazing what hairspray can do when you buy it for the first time in twenty-five years.
Second, we went to Forbes Island, which is flipping nuts. It’s a floating man-made “island” just off Pier 39 in San Francisco. Old Mr. Forbes lived there for 35 years (while he moored it out in the Bay) before he pulled it up next to the sea lions sixteen years ago and turned it into a restaurant.
It has a special place in my heart when it comes to sisters — my sisters and I went there last year, and we all fell in love with it. I put an important sister scene in that same restaurant in Splinters of Light–Nora feels the roots of her love grow right through the water into the silt below, ready to hold her family in place, no matter what.
So it was natural I wanted to go there to celebrate the book’s release. (I had an involved fantasy about inviting everyone I knew and loved, actually having a real, open-house launch party with a book signing and flowing wine, but dude! I looked up the price! Six friends it is!)
First, we got on the cable car at Powell Street.
I may have strong feelings about the cable car. I mean, I love it. It was a gorgeous evening, the sky was that bright blue of a city night, and the full moon hung low over Coit Tower. Completely perfect.
Sophie and I were thrilled to be hanging off the back.
Me and my girls.
THEN GET THIS PART!
We took the launch to Ye Olde Crazy “Island.” We boarded and went into the dark, romantic, slightly-creepy-in-a-carnival-ride-way restaurant, and the host spoke to me from the gloom:
Grab it Now!
Rachael!! Congratulations! I am so proud to know you and eager to read your latest. It was great seeing you the last time you rolled through town! Hugs–Joy Newman
Congratulations! I am so happy for you. I started reading Splinters last night and couldn’t wait to get up this morning to continue. I love the way you weave a story. You are so excellent at building the scenes and characters so that the reader feels like she’s right there with them. You are so talented. I feel very lucky to have stumbled on your blog many years ago before your first book came out. I have enjoyed every one of them!
Wonderfully exciting, my friend! Congratulations on the launch! I’m looking forward to reading this. I’m about to the end of Pack Up the Moon and it is killing me. You got it so right, about the adopted kid. SO right. PUTM is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, and I think it’s your best work to date… until I read SOL! You just keep getting better and better.
A big congrats to you. I can’t wait to get my copy. I’ve read all of your previous books, and loved them all. Each one is better than the last. Your talent is amazing.
I can’t put this book down! The scene on Alcatraz describing how Nora felt about Ellie was so how I felt about my son when he was little and throughout his childhood. I used to think that I loved him too much. This story is so painful yet so beautiful. As with PUTM, I am crying through the whole thing. You are AMAZING!!!
Gorgeous! Love the pics of the party! You know that’s one of my rules, if someone offers you champagne you always say “of course darling”. Doesn’t matter what time of day or where. Yes. Please.
Can’t wait to read the latest, but how does one get an autograph on a Kindle? xoxo