More than anything, Saturday's launch party for VAMPIRINA BALLERINA is a blur to me. We had a lovely turnout, with lots of kids, which is really what I wanted. And any number of those little girls came in tutus or other dance wear (or put on the dress-up tutus and capes made by my friend Jessica Wiseman), and as you'll see below, we even had one fully-costumed Vampirina herself!

Some highlights that stand out from the blur:

1. The cupcake table. Isn't it gorgeous? My sister and her family decorated them.



2. Bringing together old and new friends. As you'd expect, friends from the pool and school and church came. But we also had two writers from Verla's come, whom I'd not met before: Jennifer Downey and Rebecca Barnhouse. That was awesome.

3. My photographers seemed to take more pictures of this adorable little ballerina than of any other. I wonder why?



4. Having a real-live Vampirina. I knew this particular little friend would probably dress up, but I had no idea how far she'd take it. Doesn't she look fabulous? And to top it off, she lost a tooth!



When we're talking blurs, the last hour of the party is definitely the blurriest part. I rented a ballet studio and its lobby, and the book signing was in the lobby, but the FUN stuff was in the studio. We had Pin the Spider on the Web, Dance Party, a Photo Booth, Rubber Ducky toss (I had one black vampire and four white mummy rubber ducks, mimicking the dance class in Vampirina, who perform SWAN LAKE). I think it was crazy-fun--BUT I didn't see any of it. I hope someone sends me pictures soon.

You know, I almost didn't have this party. I wasn't sure I could pull it off, and I wasn't sure it was an efficient use of my time. As a mom of four, I try to choose my projects wisely. But sometime in May, I threw up my hands and said, "What the hey!" And I did it. And I'm glad. Vampirina only gets one debut.