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So I think this is only like my 2nd time participating? That’s crazy! But I liked this topic especially because I am a HUGE fan of Book Conventions. Ever since Book Expo America back in 2012 and 2014, I was hooked!
And then the Romantic Times Convention came to Kansas City in between those two in 2013.
Next I found out about one in New Orleans where I could go to meet my favorite author at the time, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and since I had a free place to stay in NOLA at the time, I did that. Getting ready to go to that I started reading/listening to books by some of the other authors going to be there that were new to me, and so then I found a bunch of new authors, some of which became new favorites for me.
Shortly after that, there was a fun convention in Kansas City called Kinky in Kansas City. I got to meet Amy Daws in person! As well as some other fun authors and book models!
Next I went to the Apollycon convention, loved that. Got to meet Anna Todd who I had just devoured her After series, as well as meet so many other authors! And it was in Orlando that year, so I also go to go to the Harry Potter Wizarding World at Universal Studios, which I loved and NEED to go back!
Discovered Colleen Hoover and she decided to start the Book Bonanza conventions, first in Denver, and I got to go to the first three of those. It sucked so bad to miss out on the last two of those.
I could share pages and pages of pictures of me with my favorite authors, cover models, audiobook narrators, etc. That’s why I made scrapbooks with pictures for all my Book Bonanza events. Or you could go find my posts from those events here on the blog.
- BEA 2012
- Romantic Times Convention 2013
- BEA 2014 – I posted 3 days of wrap-up: Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3
- NOLA StoryCon 2016
- Kinky in Kansas City 2017
- Apollycon 2017
- Kinky in Kansas City 2018
- Book Bonanza 2018
- Book Bonanza 2019
- Book Bonanza 2022
I’d love to attend some other big ones. But my finances will keep me from doing that probably for a while, other than helping one of my friends who is a self-published author as she tries to do more of those to get more readers.
How about you? Do you like book conventions? Have you gone to any? Or are there any you really want to go to, or are even planning to go to?
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Wow you’ve attended a lot of conventions! I always like hearing about these conventions. That’s great you got to meet so many authors you like and even some favorites or those who have become favorites. I haven’t gone to any conventions myself. There aren’t as many in Europe, although I’ve been hearing of more of them recently. As I am autistic I think going to one would be very overwhelming for me, so I think I’ll stick with just hearing other people’s stories of them :).
I totally can see that the convention would probably be very overwhelming for you! It is for me and I just have social anxiety, but am used to dealing with it I guess.
I went to NOLA Storycon in 2016. Then RT and Apollycon and DragonCon in 2017. And Book Bonanza in 2019. I’d like to go to another smaller one like NOLA Storycon or some mystery or scifi ones or maybe a RARE event.
I would love to go to another small one that has some bigger authors!
Wow! 😀 You’ve been to so many book conventions! I’ve always wanted to go to one but I haven’t had the chance yet. I hope you’re able to make your finances work so you can go to more in the future. 😀
I am going to need to get out of some debt before I go again.
I went to BEA once years ago when it was in Los Angeles and had so much fun! Now San Diego Comic Con is my go to “book” convention when I can get tickets😁 I love all these photos!
Some day I hope to go to San Diego Comic Con!
There has never been anything really close to me and no one I am close with would have an interest in going so I’ve always missed out. Would love to attend one some day though.
Honestly I’ve gone to ones far away from me by myself because I had no one to go with.
Okay this is impressive! Thank you for sharing some of your favorite pictures! I want to make scrapbooks of my The 100 events too, but I have been saying that since 2020 heh. I went to BEA in… I want to say 2015 and 2016? But then at some point I ended up going to ALA and found that to be SO much more laid back, more my speed I think. I haven’t been to a book event since 2019, which is sad, but ALA is going to be in Philly (only like 1.5 hrs away) next year, so I am going to try to go, even if just for a day!
I do love ALA as a librarian, but have only been once!
I love seeing your convention pictures and stories. I’ve never been to one just local book festivals, but I want to.
Thanks for the fun post!
They are a lot of fun, but I always end up spending more money on books than I tell myself that I can!
Those are some great photos! I attended RWA in NYC before it imploded and it was pretty fun, but I enjoy the smaller events where things are more personable. Thanks for sharing!
Yeah, smaller events can be more fun!
I really miss the days of the huge BEA and Book Expo conventions – those were incredible to go to! I have mostly only been to smaller ones recently. I’m actually attending a two-day kidlit conference near me today and tomorrow called Lit-a-Palooza, and it’s really fun!
BEA was so awesome for all the books you got and all the authors you got to meet! I miss those for sure. Even the ALA ones aren’t as big with all the authors like they used to have. But now as a librarian I have more reasons to go!