Vicky Hampton’s Working Lunch book launch: how it was for me
Two weeks ago today was the moment we’d all been waiting for… well, the moment I’d been waiting for, at any rate. For years – literally. It was the culmination of thousands of hours of work (bleeding, sweating, crying) on a project that was the ultimate labour of love: my first cookbook. I’ve never given birth, nor run a marathon, but I imagine the feelings must be similar: exhaustion, frustration, emotion, elation. I’ve written a few times about this project before – the concept, the crowd-funding, the publishing contract – but today’s post is about the grand finale: the book launch.
And yet, like all the most significant moments in a person’s life, it’s weirdly difficult to capture in words. To say that there were 65 guests, who bought 72 books plus more online, makes it sound as small and trivial as it actually was in the grand scheme of things. To say that I made a speech, did a cookery demo, served food from the book and signed a lot of copies, would be factually correct but missing the point. To say that supporters gave me seven bouquets of flowers, 18 bottles of prosecco, five bottles of wine, six congratulations cards, and countless heartfelt hugs and cheek-kisses is to go some way towards describing how it felt to me. To show this feeling in pictures is probably what will come closest…
Photos by Camille Renee Devid
That moment the penny dropped when I’d just been given the first book…
And the bizarre feeling of seeing Giant Vicky and trying not to let my ego get the better of me!
The venue, Pied a Terre travel bookstore, and all eyes on me during my speech…
Followed by a rather amateur cookery show-style demo. I heard they’re looking for a replacement Nigella?!
The book’s fantastic designer and stylist, Andrea Ibargutxi, looking just about as relieved as I was…
And the book’s photographer, Jan-Kees Steenman, seeing his handiwork for the first time.
Book signing! The sweetest cramps your writing hand can ever get…
Thank you to all who came along to support me and this crazy book project – it was magical.
