Do you "inaugurate"or "launch" or "open" a new book?

My friend is going to publish a new book and the opening ceremony is tomorrow. However, do I say that she is "launching" a new book?

Is there a better or more accurate way of saying this?

Solution 1:

Books, like ships, are 'launched'.

OED has:

book launch n.

1964 Guardian 25 Aug. 4 (headline) Book-launch at the Sycamore.

2000 J. Pemberton Forever & Ever Amen 4 If someone's stupid enough to publish the damn thing then there's..book launches, readings and other such nonsense. Knowing my luck, I say, it'll become a bestseller.

"book, n." OED Online. Oxford University Press, September 2014. Web. 21 November 2014.

Solution 2:

First choice is "Book Launch".

To launch something is to propel it or get it going, usually from a standing position. You can launch a rocket, a career, a product or even a watermelon. Either way, you're getting it off the ground.

To inaugurate means to start something, to give it a kick off.

        A new book was launched by me.
        The book was inaugurated by you.

While inaugurate (AmE) has long been used in formal contexts, such as the swearing-in ceremony that inaugurates a President's term in office, inaugurate is now also used casually.

You might inaugurate your marathon training with a long run.