Celebrating new author needn’t be complicated

Dear Miss Manners: I have never been invited to a book party like the ones covered in the newspapers for famous authors.

Nevertheless, an acquaintance has just had her first novel published, and I rather rashly offered to throw her a book party.

I am on my own here. What constitutes a successful book party?

Gentle Reader: In flusher times, guests were chosen for their likelihood of boosting sales. When money became tighter, these parties were occasionally replaced by parties given by and for the author’s friends.

But the parties can also just be pleasant ways to congratulate and celebrate the author. Drink, food and a pretty setting are a good start. But the question is — what about the book?

You must ask the author to say a few words about it, but to resist the temptation to read from it. You should supply copies of the book. Ideally, you give them away, hoping that the guests will become so enthralled as to run out and buy copies for everyone on their Christmas lists. Of course, free books would cost you, unless you can convince the publisher that it would be worthwhile.

It is therefore common to have on hand the representative of a bookstore, or at least a signup sheet for buying copies. The guests will feel obliged to do so, especially if you set up a little table with pens for your author to autograph copies — and to see who is quietly departing bookless.

Send questions to Miss Manners’ website: www.missmanners.com; to her email address: dearmiss manners@gmail.com; or through postal mail: Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.