When my first book came out last year, two release parties were part of the fanfare, and I had a ball at each one.  I read a little bit, sold a few books, ate sushi and drank champagne.  My first book signing marked the first occasion I was actually applauded for writing something, and I gotta say: I didn’t hate it.

My brand new book, Crazy Like Fox, is initially being released (from JMS Books this Sunday, August 25th!) only in electronic formats.  I do love my champagne, though, and I want to have a party for this  book, too, so I’m hosting what we’re going to pretend is The World’s First Electronic Book Release Party!  A major benefit of throwing an internet-only party is you can invite as many people as you want and be left with very little next-morning clean-up.  And, if you want it to, it can last a whole week.  So everyone’s invited, and you should totally come.

“How do I come to a party on the internet?” you may ask.  By liking my Author Page on Facebook, is how.  If you “Like” my page between August 25th and September First (or if you have liked it already, all in on the ground floor), you’re “at” the party, where you will enjoy virtual refreshment, like music that inspired Fox as a character and me as a writer, and pictures of hot red-headed twins, and have the chance to win a fabulous prize!  And what do I know about fabulous? Please; my husband’s a drag queen. 

“Home” is a major theme of this story, and Denver is my home, both ancestrally and mailing-address-ly.  And, at thirty-nine, Fox is preparing to embrace the notion that Life Begins (again?) at Forty.  So, The Lucky Winner of the Crazy Like Fox Coming Out Party Prize will be awarded a $40 gift card to Denver’s fun and awesome Book Bar!  Situated on recently-revitalized Tennyson Street in North Denver, Book Bar is everything I love about writing under one (cute) roof: part bookstore, part coffee house, part wine bar, with a clever and tasty menu and cozy spots to sit and pretend you’re talking about literature.  The staff is friendly and the food’s delish, so you might want in on this.  (If you win and don’t live in or ever visit Denver, you can substitute a $40 Amazon gift card if you prefer.  If you live in Denver, you’re gettin’ the Book Bar gift card, and you’ll thank me for it if you do; it’s cute.)  Facebook requires that any Giveaway be hosted by a third-party app, and that the winner be notified some way other than via Facebook, so you do need to provide your email address to enter to win.  Never fear: I am not collecting emails to barrage with Buy My Book spam, and will only use your email address to regale you with the great good news that you won!  Also: Buy My Book!

On the subject of home: as you will learn, Fox leaves his at 17, on the day he graduates from high school.  Through the miracle that is Backstory, he lands on his feet and gets quickly on with The Glamorous Life.  Not all LGBTQ youth who leave unsupportive or dangerous home situations, by choice or by force, are so lucky.  Since I’m saving so much money on champagne (not counting the mimosas I will be drinking all day on Sunday, obviously) by not actually having you over, if I have 100 or more Likes on my page by the end of the party (and I have almost 60 already, so we can make this happen), I will donate $100 to Rainbow Alley, a Denver drop-in youth center that provides health services, counseling and referral, youth-led events and activities, and life resources in a safe and supportive space.

I’ve never thrown an online party before; heck, I don’t even know if there is such a thing.  But you can come and have fun without worrying about if your hair looks cute (not that you ever have to worry about that), and I can host in my jammies, so we’ll give it a whirl.  Like you might not go to a party in Real Life if you knew there were going to be hot twins there?  Right.  See you on Sunday.