Publishers represented were Kerlak Publishing, Meadowhawk Press, and Sams Dot Publishing.
Also attending were CRS Bailey, Tyree Campbell, Debra Parmley, and Kimberly Richardson! Thanks to all who attended and to everyone who helped make this event a success!
Date: August 22, 2009 Location: Davis-Kidd Booksellers in Memphis, TN Occasion: Imagicopter Launch by Herika R. Raymer After much anticipation and preparation, the Imagicopter Launch was finally underway! Meadowhawk Press, Kerlak Publishing, and SamsDot Publishing arrived early to set up their stations; while the Master of Ceremony H. David Blalock and artists Sam Flegal and Ernest Lawson were focused on making a visitor friendly atmosphere for the attendants to the event. While the artists displayed eye-attracting samples of their talent, H. David Blalock oversaw the setting up of the author panel as well as placing information packets on open audience seats. Davis-Kidd had put up some wonderful banners promoting the occasion, and Imagicopter was quite thankful.
As the authors arrived, they were directed to their seats and invited to select what type of format they wanted to employ – a reading of their work or some impromptu interview. Afterwards they were allowed to mingle, sit, or walk off nervous energy before the launch. There was quite a bit of walking and mingling, setting the stage for a very audience-friendly gathering. Then everyone gathered for the main event!
Photos courtesy of Kara Ferguson & Dave Lambert The introductions were a bit late because of waiting for Davis-Kidd to announce the Event on their intercom, but then there was no stopping it! Master of Ceremony H. David Blalock introduced the artists, authors, and publishing houses while he invited guests to listen, ask questions, and even to commission some artwork from the wonderful gentlemen present. There was one absentee (Anne Barringer), but C.R.S. Bailey was able to substitute. In addition, there were three surprise guest authors (Tyree Campbell, Debra Parmley, and Kimberly Richardson) who arrived and were invited to participate. Between the reading and the impromptu interviews, the audience listened, laughed, and enjoyed the show.
The event did run a few minutes beyond the allotted time window due to wanting to give every guest a fair chance to speak, but not too long as to bore the audience. Afterwards the crowd was welcomed to ask questions, purchase books from the nearby publishing houses' stations, and invite the authors to autograph their works. Everyone was friendly, and the cameramen there had ample opportunities to take posed and candid photos.
Given the positive response by the participants, the sponsors, and the audience – it would be safe to surmise that the Imagicopter launch was a success! Some of the authors who will be appearing at the next Waypoint in Hernando, Mississippi are already saying they are sure they will have a good time there as they did in Memphis.
Imagicopter wishes to thank all of those who helped make this Launch Event into a reality! Thanks to Kerlak Publishing, Meadowhawk Press, and SamsDot Publishing for their wonderful support as well as their attendance! Thanks to the authors (CRS Bailey, Jackie Gamber, Alan Gilbreath, Windsong Levitch, David Nora, Debra Parmley, Herika R. Raymer, Kimberly Richardson, M. R. Williamson, and H. David Blalock) for attending the event and bringing laughter to the gathering. Thanks to the artists Sam Flegal and Ernest Lawson for their presence and their wonderful work! Imagicopter looks forward to working with you again. Of course, thanks to the cameramen for supplying the wonderful photos. Last but not least, a very special thanks to Davis-Kidd of Memphis, Tennessee for hosting the event – Imagicopter could not have done it without you!
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Please feel free to read Jennifer Mulvihill's article in the EXAMINER at
http://www.examiner.com/x-17190-Jackson-Literature-Examiner~y2009m8d19-Imagicopter-tour-launch-at-DavisKidd-Booksellers