Of book launches, ‘bitings’ and clueless publishing marketers

Last Friday, I attended the launch of Liz Gitonga-Wanjohi’s The 5th Columnist, a biography of veteran journalist Philip Ochieng. On arrival, I was asked by staff from the publishing company, Longhorn, to sign The Book.

Yes. The Visitors’ Book made an appearance at the launch. I wrote my name. The event took me back to another book launch in Johannesburg in November, 2006.

After I received author’s copies of The Madams, I called my publisher thanking her for the books, then I asked: “So what dates are we looking at for the book launch?”

“We don’t have a budget for a book launch,” she answered.

I was gutted. And incensed at my publisher. How would the world know that I had written a book if there was no book launched? I decided to be pro-active and called the owner of the only black owned bookstore in Johannesburg back then.

I told her my problem.

She promised to take care of everything. A week later, she had aligned a wine sponsor, a caterer and a well-known moderator. The sponsors jumped on board because it gave them a chance to market their wines and catering business to a different audience.

I was overjoyed.

Our programme was simple but had been sent to everyone with the invite and the moderator insisted that we start on time. The bookshop owner, June Josephs-Langa, welcomed the guests. A representative from my publishing company said a few words. I read an excerpt.

And then my moderator, who had read the book in advance, asked me a few questions about the book, how I got writing etcetera before opening up questions to the floor to quiz me about muses, creative process, how long I have been writing and so forth and stuff like that.

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS

Afterwards, people had wine and snacks (which I found out are called ‘bitings’ in Kenya. Pray tell what is the origin of that ‘bitings’ word? Maybe Mr Philip Ochieng will respond in his next column), while I signed books.

Within a week, I had done two TV interviews, three radio interviews and had a full page review in a broad sheet.

By January, I had received my first invite to a literary festival and had become a regular  contributor to Sunday Independent’s literary pages. This was in no small part to the launch that Ms Josephs-Langa had hosted for my book. Despite there being an audience of 50, 30 of whom had come for the free food and drinks, the launch made a big difference.

The 20 people who had come to purchase books got the book known widely. And this was before everyone was on social media.

I have since learnt that perhaps I was lucky not to have my publishers arrange my book launch. Apart from the authors in their stable, most people on marketing teams of publishing companies seem to know very little about readers and I am afraid it may have something to do with their having no interest in books beyond it being a pay cheque.

This seemed to be the case at Mrs Liz Gitonga-Wanjohi’s book launch. On the upside, the ‘bitings’ were five-star quality, although drinking water seemed to have run out at the bar. Mrs Wanjohi read some interesting excerpts from the book, which compelled me to buy it. I look forward to reading this biography of the veteran journalist.

Sarova Stanley as a venue was great as it is central and close to Nation offices, so both Mr Ochieng and Mrs Wanjohi’s colleagues could attend but were cocktail tables the best set-up at an event where the writer would read and there was a fair share of speeches?

At least twice I escaped to the ladies room so I could get relief from standing although I had wanted to hear everyone’s speech.

An influential Kenyan writer with one of the newspapers could not get a review copy of The 5th Columnist. As I listened to him talking to the Longhorn team, I almost wanted to pinch someone’s nose and tell them to ‘know people.’

He eventually bought a copy, but I wonder whether he will feel compelled to review the book. I was also surprised to see that many of the literati were not there. Where was Tom Odhiambo, Joyce Nyairo, the writers from Storymoja, Kwani?, Jalada? For that matter where was Jeff Koinange who famously stated at his book launch that there are not enough Kenyan stories being told? Had they not been invited or did they just choose not to come?

Next time, Longhorn, before launching any writer’s book, ask yourself “What is the purpose of the book launch?”

A book launch without bookies does no favours to either the book being launched or readers who are always looking for new reading material.