This post was originally published on here
Clearwater author’s interactive book launch a page-turning success
Published 5:00 pm Friday, December 5, 2025
Linda Brierly put on an interactive show for guests at her book launch last month.
The Clearwater author’s debut book, Edge of the Ledge: A Memoir of Adventures Lived and Lessons Learned, was published by Friesen Press on Aug. 28. She held a book launch for the memoir at the Clearwater Library on Nov. 15.
Brierly’s one-line description of the book is that it is “a mosaic of life for anyone who has a heartbeat.”
It tells her life story alongside husband Bill, a life that’s taken them around the world, always out of their comfort zones, always in search of the next adventure, the next ledge of discovery, as it were, to hang from.
Brierly said the book launch event went “beyond expectations.”
She’s been to other book launches where authors simply read excerpts from their books, and found her self twiddling her thumbs.
That’s why she wanted to make her book launch exciting and interactive.
To achieve this, Brierly started out by showing the crowd of 20 or so attendees what she called an “attention-getter.” It was a birthday card her grandmother gave to her many years ago.
The card contained an excerpt from her grandmother’s journal, a quote Brierly said “basically explains my philosophy of life.”
“The journal quote said, ‘Ate out again, it was good,’” Brierly recounted. “It was really funny. Everybody got a kick out of that.”
She explained that the line ‘Ate out again, it was good’ is like a succinct microcosm of her life. It contains an action (heading out to eat) and a positive reaction (it was good).
That line segued into the rest of the book launch, where Brierly had balloons with different numbers of coloured polka dots stuck on them, arranged in vases as balloon flower bouquets. The coloured dots corresponded to one of eight categories in her book. She coupled these balloons with brain-teasing questions, such as: what does a bullet cartridge have to do with a baby? Or, what does a magnet have to do with a four-year-old?
“That generated all kinds of interaction and questions and guessing and kept people really involved,” Brierly said.
Once people started figuring out the questions, Brierly took the opportunity to read a paragraph excerpt that corresponded to the balloon, and the answer to the question was revealed in the excerpt.
Her book launch’s other interactive element was a large poster with eight categories listed. In front of the poster were seemingly random objects — corn cobs, hiking boots, a model helicopter.
“We would pick on different people to go up and grab an object and then tell the rest of the group which category does that object correspond to and why,” Brierly said. “That generated more interaction.”
Brierly has received many positive reviews on her book, and likewise on her book launch.
“I certainly want to tell you how impressed I was with how cleverly you put together your presentation. Most enjoyable!” said Jean N.
“It was a very interactive event. Your use of numbered balloons and your props were a great way to introduce your book. Very well organized,” added Gordon R.
Brierly was delighted to sign copies of her book at her first-ever book launch. She intends to do it again.
She hopes to work with other event hosters to showcase her book in her interactive style. To contact Brierly about having her at an event, email [email protected].
Brierly has launched her author website at lindabrierly.com.
