The Book Launch

Join the celebration to find out where I got the inspiration for the book and why I chose a bookmark to play a starring role!

The Location

McCarthy’s Red Stag Pub in Bethlehem, PA

McCarthy’s pub was the perfect place to hold my book launch because it is situated on the site of the Boeckel family home where my main character, Liesl Boeckel, would have lived with her father, stepmother, and little stepbrother. A historical marker outside McCarthy’s confirms this and also notes that Lafayette recovered from his battle wound on this site.

On top of all that historical significance, the pub is said to be haunted. According to numerous reports, the pub is haunted by a female ghost who many believe to be our very own Liesl!

When I related this ghost story at the book launch, my husband flicked the lights on and off., and the audience went wild! I only hope that if Liesl was hovering somewhere in the room, she thinks my story did her justice.

The Format

I had no idea how to structure a book launch, so I did what felt right to me and divided the event into three segments. After recognizing the many people who helped to make this day possible, I gave a presentation covering the basic plot, the history behind the book, and how I got this crazy idea in the first place. All of that was interspersed with readings of excerpts from the book. The second segment was devoted to a question-and-answer session, and then I wrapped it all up with the actual book signing.

Lafayette and Liesl

I started my presentation with someone who needs no introduction, the Marquis de Lafayette. I displayed a photo of Lafayette given to me by a neighbor (the same photo I used in a previous article) that I’ve had propped above me at my writing desk for several years. Most of the time, I felt as if Lafayette were looking over me and being supportive. But, as I told the group at the book launch, during the last year, he has often looked like he was scowling at me—as if he were saying, “For God’s sake woman, get this book done!”

I explained how Lafayette ended up in the Moravian community of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and read an excerpt from the book describing Lafayette’s initial impression of the town. I also gave Liesl's side of the story by reading her reaction to the new patient she described as an “overblown peacock of a man.”

The Painting that Inspired the Book

Photo of the painting of Lafayette, Mrs. Boeckel, and Liesl by Eleanor Barba, 1934

People often ask me where I got the idea for this book. The truth is, I owe it all to a painting. As you can see in the photo, the subjects of the painting are Lafayette, Mrs. Boeckel and our very own Liesl. The artist is Eleanor Barba and the painting dates to 1934, which demonstrates how the fascination with Liesl and Lafayette has continued over the years.

I am a volunteer docent at the Moravian Museum, and one day, I arrived for work and discovered a new exhibit with this painting. For me, the painting was a shock. I hadn’t even known Lafayette spent time in Bethlehem, much less that a Moravian woman had been his nurse. Please understand I’m a total Francophile and Lafayette has always been my favorite Frenchman, so seeing this painting and learning of the connection between Lafayette and the Moravians was incredible—like worlds colliding! At that moment, I knew I had found the story I was meant to tell.

Why a Bookmark?

Another question people have asked me is why I chose a bookmark to play such an important role in the book. The answer is that I love bookmarks! I have a bookmark collection, and I’ve collected them from all over the world. For me, bookmarks are special treasures, and I believe Liesl’s bookmark provided a perfect way to link my two heroines.

Never before seen picture of a part of the Anne Supsic bookmark collection!

The Q & A Session and the Book Signing

The Q & A session elicited lots of good questions and discussion. My favorite question came from a dear friend who wondered how much I drew from my own life experience when I wrote the book. I had to confess I incorporated my personal knowledge of topics like travel—and wine and beer drinking!

The book signing was extremely rewarding and lots of fun (as you can see). I can’t begin to express my gratitude to everyone who shared in this unforgettable celebration. Honestly, this day alone made all the years of hard work worthwhile!