My Heart is Booked Blog

Book events/festivals aren’t something I really knew existed until I joined Bookstagram. Thankfully, my eyes have been opened to the wonderful world of conventions, festivals, signings, meet & greets, and more. I joined Bookstagram in September of 2018 and have since attended BookCon 2019 and numerous author signings and launch events. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, many events have been canceled this year or moved to a virtual platform, which just isn’t the same. I haven’t been able to attend an event since January when I met Breeana Shields and Brigid Kemmerer. I’m hoping we can get back to normal soon, but with so much going on in the bookish community, it can be hard to choose which events to attend. Today, I’ve narrowed down my list to 10 events that I would like to attend.

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a a desire to bring bookish friends together. You can find a schedule of upcoming TTT topics here.

Today’s topic was submitted by Nandini @ Unputdownable Books

Book Events & Festivals

10. Library of Congress National Book Festival, Washington, D.C.

https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-book-festival/about-this-program/

This festival has been on my list since I first learned of it’s existence. While this doesn’t focus on the genres I read most (Fantasy, Romance, YA), it does have the draw of being a huge gathering of book lovers in our capital. It also always features a wide array of presenters, panel discussions, and workshops.

9. Hay Festival of Literature & Arts, Hay-On-Wye, Wales, UK

https://www.hayfestival.com/wales/home

I would love to go to Hay-On-Wye even if it wasn’t during the festival. This idyllic, little town is so incredibly picturesque AND it’s known for being a ‘book town’ with bookshops around every turn. If I wasn’t already infatuated with Wales, this town would seal the deal. The fact that they have their own annual literary festival is just icing on the cake!

8. BookCon, New York, NY

https://www.bookcon.com/

As I mentioned earlier, I have already attended BookCon once. It was ideal for my first book convention being only 2 hours away and featuring books, authors, and merchandise that I were well known to me. While it did feel like most of the day was spent standing in lines, I would love to go back and do it all again (maybe without the hubs).

7. Kiss Con, (Varies), USA

https://info.harpercollins.com/kisscon/

This is a Romance-centered convention run by Avon books (Harper Collins). It was among the many canceled this year, but I’d be interested to attend in the coming years. There are always a bunch of authors that I love in attendance.

6. San Diego Comic Con, San Diego, CA

https://www.comic-con.org/

Honestly, I would just as soon (and far more likely) go to New York Comic Con too, but I picked San Diego for my list because it is the ultimate in the Comic Con lineup. Now, you might be asking yourself what Comic Con has to do with books and I would have been right there with you until last year when all my favorite authors were posting their booths and signings at CC! The truth is many authors attend CC for various reasons such as Leigh Bardugo promoting her Grisha screen adaptation or V.E. Schwab launching her Shades of Magic comic book series. Either way, there is plenty for a book lover to love at Comic Con and that’s why it made my list.

5. Romance Authors & Reader Events (RARE), (Varies), Europe/Aus

https://www.facebook.com/romanceauthorreaderevents/

Honestly, RARE has been on my list since Karen Marie Moning posted that she would be there. Obviously she’s not there every year, but it makes me believe that the event attracts similar authors and readers, so I’m interested. Plus, any excuse to go to Europe is a good one.

4. Book Lovers Con, (Varies), USA

https://www.bookloverscon.com/

This 5 day convention is touted as the ultimate reader experience and, if that isn’t enough to sell you, maybe you’ll be swayed by their full offerings of meet & greets, writer workshops, author panels, and more. This convention has been rescheduled to the end of August in an attempt to maintain a live presence. It is in Nashville this year if anyone wants to go!

3. Apollycon, Arlington, VA

https://apollyconevent.com/

This annual festival is put on by Jennifer L. Armentrout. This is another one that always features a lot of authors/ genres that I read. They offer great panels and even do virtual signings. I’ve gotten quite a few signed books from this festival without ever having attended. I’d love to be able to go one day though, so I can meet all the amazing authors that she brings together.

2. Book Expo, New York, NY

https://www.bookexpoamerica.com/

Book Expo usually occurs in the days leading up to BookCon. I’ve put it higher on my list because I haven’t had the chance to attend yet and I really want to. If ARCs are your thing, Book Expo seems to be where it’s at. I did receive several freebies and ARCs at BookCon, but Book Expo is more geared toward those in the publishing industry. Even if you don’t receive a lot of physical books, you are afforded a glimpse at the future of publishing and what books will be available in the coming year, a little sneak peak if you will. Book Expo also has far fewer attendees. All in all, it just sounds like a better time.

1. YALLFest, Charleston, SC

https://www.yallfest.org/

YALLWest could also have made the list, but YALLFest is closer to me, so I figured I’d be more likely to attend. This is a YA-focused book festival. ‘Nough said. There are tons of signings, panels, workshops, and more. Best of all, I know almost ALL of the authors in attendance.

Have you been to any book events? Which ones are on your bucket list?