Orphan Monster Spy Book Launch Party

AKA The One Where We Got Lost and Drunk in London

My day started ridiculously early.

I’m one of those awful people who can’t manage anything more than the basic zombie functions without a cup of coffee, so I had one and felt a touch more human before I left the house to get the coach to London, but I also stopped at Costa for a large latte with an extra shot.

This was probably a mistake.

Not least because, while my friend was catching some zzz’s on the three and a half hour coach journey, I was quite literally jittering in my seat while blasting Halsey, trying not to look at my phone too much in case I caused the dreadful travel sickness sensation, and trying not to fidget or [god help everyone on that bus] to start singing for something to do.

Somehow we survived that arduous journey and found ourselves in London. Deciding it would be a ridiculous risk to wander to a distant corner of the city and not find our way back in time for the party, we chose to stay around the Trafalgar area and wander around, finding the book store first and then getting food and going shopping to kill a bit of time until the actual event. Yes, google maps is a thing that exists on phones. No, we didn’t decide to use it at first. Instead, propelled by a sudden and rather arrogant notion that because I recognized the giant, famous statue, I somehow knew the area despite having never been to it before, we thought we could wing it and find the store.

Heads up, we were wrong about that too.

Finally, the map was whipped out, the store was located and visited, restraint was exercised and thoughts of food were on our minds. We bought teriyaki at Wasabi and ate it on a park bench across the road. It was nice for a while, if a little chilly. But then the pigeons started to descend. Ellie kept getting them to scram, but they were weirdly determined and territorial, and they must have realized we had food, because they wouldn’t leave us alone. Each time we chased one away, another two would take its spot, and by the time we left there was a whole army of persistent pigeons pecking indignantly at the ground and wondering why we didn’t have the good manners to drop a little bit of rice for them. Sorry pigeons, but you have to admit you were being rather rude too.

After a trip to Foyles to get yet another coffee and look at books we didn’t actually buy, it was time to head back to Waterstones and to the book launch party. I admit that I was feeling a little uncertain and excited at this point. I’ve never been to a launch party before, and I wasn’t sure how it was going to work. If it would be an author chat and signing thing, or if it would be that adult thing of wine and mingling.

Full disclosure: it was the wine and mingling.

We were nervous at first, and our first glasses of wine disappeared quickly. Fortunately, the people there, a mix of authors, Usborne people, agents, bloggers and family/friends of Matt Killeen, were all wonderful, and it wasn’t so difficult to side-shuffle into conversations. Meanwhile, copies of Orphan Monster Spy were flying off the shelves, at a blink-and-you’ll-miss-them speed. We managed to talk to the man of the hour for a while, discussing his beard, penchant for dressing up at events [though he turned up in a Hunger Games t-shirt and jacket this time] and the novel itself. Oh, and Allie Brosh, author of the amazing Hyperbole and a Half website. Turns out Matt is a big fan of her blog, so we tried to retell all the funny bits for my friend Ellie, who has somehow missed out on this glorious bit of humour. I also briefly spoke to Terri Terry, author of Contagion [which I’m going to read and review in the next few weeks] and a few other authors of YA and MG fiction.

Three glasses of wine in, and it was time for the speech. Matt read a bit from the book, and opened up an awesome present from Usborne to congratulate him on the book launch. We got our books signed, and then we somehow ended up joining everyone in the pub once Waterstones locked their doors. Although we left pretty soon in to catch the coach back, it was a very nice experience and a fun party, and we met a bunch of incredible people who were all interested in books and writing, and even though we didn’t really know anyone going in, we very quickly forgot to feel awkward and just enjoyed the evening.

And although we didn’t bump into Matt at the pub, since it was quite crowded and there was lots going on, it seemed like the launch was a huge success and there are whispers of the book selling well since its release on March 8th, so I’m sure he’s having a good and potentially hung over time of it right now.

P.S. To that Tube staff person who jokingly told us we were at the wrong station and we’d have to walk 45 minutes to get to the coach station, even though we only had about 30 before the coach left, thanks for that very uncool behaviour. I hope those aforementioned pigeons find you eating food one day and chase you around.

Photos by @ELLSVM