Amid a snowstorm, Addendum Books in St. Paul, Minn., hosted a gala book launch party on March 5 for Ghoulish Song (McElderry Books), William Alexander’s companion novel to Goblin Secrets, which won the 2012 National Book Award in Children’s Literature this fall. The publication party was held at Dr. Chocolate’s Chocolate Chateau, and featured food, drink, mask-making, live music, and of course, this being winter in Minnesota, a hot chocolate bar. Addendum has sold a total of 120 copies of Ghoulish Song – 60 of them the night of the book launch, the others at local schools.

Addendum’s book display of Ghoulish Song at Dr. Chocolate’s Chocolate Chateau.

William Alexander and Katherine Warde, Addendum’s co-owner.

Guests posing with masks made at the party.

Dreamland Faces, a St. Paul band, performed music during the evening.

William Alexander reads from Ghoulish Song to an appreciative crowd of about 100.

Marcus Mayer, Addendum’s co-owner, selling copies of Ghoulish Song to customers.

William Alexander signing copies of his new book.

All photos by Marcus Mayer and Katherine Warde, co-owners of Addendum Books.