By Danielle Dresser
It’s that time of year when romance authors take flight and
gather together over the next few months to meet with readers, industry
professionals, and other authors… yes, it’s conference season! There are so
many different ways for authors to interact and meet readers and others, and
Sourcebooks will be at a bunch this season:
Wednesday, March
12-Friday, March 14 (yes, I’m here RIGHT NOW)
I’m attending my first PLA conference this year, and couldn’t
be more excited. Public Librarians do a great job of getting the word out about
all books, but they are also among the most romance-friendly librarians in the business.
Along with some fabulous marketing and sales colleagues, we’re going to have a
busy booth with signings each day, book giveaways, and a lot of fun.
Friday, April 25-Saturday,
April 26
This is one of my favorite local conferences to attend, and
not just because it’s local to me :) This is a great conference put on every
other year with awesome headlining authors and great opportunities to learn and
network. I’ll be there both days, giving a Sourcebooks Spotlight and
self-promotion workshop.
Saturday, April 26
This fun event gets bigger and bigger every year! Barbara
Vey, one of the romance industry’s biggest advocates, puts on a fabulous
luncheon where readers get to sit at tables with their favorite authors. A
number of Sourcebooks Casablanca authors will be attending, along with some
Sourcebooks employees (sadly, I’ll still be at Spring Fling).
Tuesday, May
13-Sunday, May 18
A completely reader-focused conference, the RT Booklovers
Convention is an awesome time. So many authors come for the sole purpose of
meeting and appreciating their readers. And it’s in NOLA this year! I know I’m
excited. Sourcebooks will be there, and we’re giving a Sourcebooks Spotlight
presentation and a fabulous Bookseller and Librarian Party. We’ll also be party
hopping as much as possible, to visit with everyone! New this year—a fabulous
Mardi Gras-themed kickoff celebration featuring a parade of floats (look for
Dominique and Deb on our float!), great food (rumor has it, we have a very
adventurous item to hand out), and swag giveaways.
Thursday, June
5-Sunday, June 8
Yet another reader appreciation weekend, this time hosted by
NYT bestselling author, Lori Foster. Over 100 authors, who write every type of
romance novel you can think of, get together and hang out with readers—what more
could you ask for? This year is the 10th year4 for this get
together, and I know it will be one to remember. Check the website to see
attending authors—there are a few Sourcebooks authors who will be there!
Wednesday, July
23-Saturday, July 26
Are you ready for 2,000+ aspiring and published romance
authors to take over San Antonio? This is such a wonderful conference that
really showcases the power of romance. A great conference to attend for
networking and meeting with industry professionals, there’s also a huge public
author singing which benefits literacy programs, as well as workshops,
exclusive Q&A’s with bestselling authors, and a lot of fun. Sourcebooks, as
always, will be there, with a Spotlight presentation, sponsored author signing
and a few workshops featuring Sourcebooks employees.
These are just a FEW of the conferences that you’ll find
Sourcebooks employees and Sourcebooks authors at this conference season—there are
more, like Book Expo America, Authors After Dark, RomCon, and more local RWA Chapter
conferences and retreats. . We’re so looking forward to meeting with authors
and readers. Tell us in the comments if
you’re going to any of these conferences this year, or any others that will be
going on!
I wish I could go to all of them. But if I did, I would hate myself! I'm going to RT and RWA and a few other local ones. Hope PLA is fun, Danielle.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, no. I wish I could travel to them. I almost got to one once but my sister bailed out on me at the last minute and she was half my ride (sigh).
ReplyDeleteAt PLA right now and in twenty minutes I'll be starting toward the conference center to sign books. Going to RWA and with my deadlines, that'll have to be it for this year!
ReplyDeleteI go to Emerald City Writer's Conference every year (and volunteer on the committee). It's the largest regional romance-writer's conference in the west. Shameless plug: at $270 for non-members it's also a great deal. Check it out at www.gsrwa.org/conference.php.
ReplyDeleteWhoa, Danielle, you are everywhere. I'm attending RT but hope to add Fresh Fiction's Readers & Ritas event in November. Fingers crossed, next year I'd like to add Barbara Vey's event to the line-up too. Thanks for your hard work on behalf of romance novels, Danielle! :-D
ReplyDeleteI'll be at RWA and RAGT. Hope to see you there!
ReplyDeleteSomehow I missed this post. I'll be at RT in New Orleans! Can't wait!
ReplyDelete