Take off!

This has been an eventful couple of days, culminating with the event we've been planning since a few months after work on publishing Max and Menna began: the launch party.

For those of you who don't know, my big Irish family has instilled in me the firm belief that big events are not complete until there has been a big celebration... and we had quite a celebration. Friday evening 100 of my closest friends and family gathered in a great venue in Baltimore City for amazing food (courtesy of my very good friends at Joe Squared), drinks, music, company, and books.

Unfortunately, but in true Shauna Kelley style, I managed to sprain by knee on Thursday evening (literally by standing up from a seated position) and did the event on crutches. This might not have been SO bad, except for I most definitely did not have a dress cut for being hunched over, and I was in a lot of pain. It was a bit frustrating to spend so much time preparing for this, and then almost the entire event hobbling around and trying not to grimace.

But the people in your life make it all worth it, right? Despite hurting and being VERY loopy from the medication I was taking for the pain, my friends and family helped make this a banner evening. I signed over 80 books, which was phenomenal, and got to see people I hadn't seen in years. My core group of college friends all assembled-- 15 of us-- for the first time since probably 2002.

Importantly, the evening finally made this sink in: I have a book! Now that I see it in the hands of my friends and family, now that I know at this very moment someone might be reading it, I feel like a real author (I know, recurring theme).

Rather than continuing to blab on about the event and my feelings, I will add some photos and let pictures tell the story of one of the best nights of my life. And again, thanks to EVERYONE who came out, I love you all and I am sorry I was loopy and busy and didn't get to spend enough time with everyone.