Finding Your People: 6 Types of Bookish Events 💖⚙️📚
Plus BTS TeslaCon Prep + A Request for Help
Hello!
I hope you’re having a wonderful week! I’m deep into preparations for TeslaCon, one of the longest running steampunk conventions in the US. You can find my full schedule of panels and Vendor Room hours in last week’s newsletter or by visiting the Events page of my website here.
With the upcoming release of The Clockwork Coffin, I needed a new sign for my table and bookmarks. Both of these arrived and I love how they turned out! Willow was more than happy to help unbox the new sign:
Testing out the sign in my office:
The signs for Monsters and Machines and Forsaken Beauty and the Etherbeast are still packed away from the Author Fair, but it'll be fun to see them all together. 💖
I love how my new bookmarks turned out! I’ll have plenty to give away at my table. If you’re attending TeslaCon, come say hi!
Types of Bookish Events
Since I was recently asked about the events I’ve attended as an author (or considered attending), I thought it’d be fun to do a quick rundown of different types of conventions and bookish events.
Author Signings
One or more author has a table to sign up for a few hours, usually at a bookstore, library, or coffee shop. You can either purchase books directly from the author or the bookstore, or bring your own copies in. I had a wonderful time signing at Barnes and Noble last March!
Author Fairs
These are fun local events that can be a fantastic introduction to bookish events, especially in smaller towns if you’re nervous about crowds. Author Fairs are usually hosted by a library or bookstore and tend to only be a few hours long. I love these kinds of events because it gives me more time to talk one-on-one with readers and other authors.
Fantasy Balls
Fantasy balls are typically one day events centered around a masquerade or costumed dance themed around a book series or trope. Sometimes, there’s a book market with authors and vendors selling bookish goodies either before or during the ball. I personally haven’t attended one yet, but I know of two coming to my area next spring: the Iowa Starfall Ball and the Flame & Fantasy Ball. Unfortunately, I have a conflict during the weekend, but I’m looking forward to seeing pics!
Book Conventions
Book conventions are multi-day events focused on panels and book signings. Well-known authors sometimes require tickets for their signings in order to keep lines down for safety reasons. If you plan on attending a book convention, keep in mind that some authors require pre-orders of their books for their signings (this varies from author to author and depends on the event.) It’s a good idea to check ahead of time! My first experience with a book convention was Romance Con last September. It was fun seeing so many readers and authors under one roof!
For more on what to bring to a book con, read this post.
Comic Cons
Once upon a time, before I was an author, I worked in a comic book shop and loved getting to talk about all the different series I was reading. (Astro City, Fables, Gotham City Sirens, Hatter M, The Nice House on the Lake, Court of Owls, and the new Universal Monsters miniseries are a few of my favorites!) With that, I attended several Comic Cons both as a fan and to sell comics for the shop.
The very first con I attended was San Diego Comic Con (SDCC), which is one of the largest ones in the US. I had a chaotically amazing time, but I don’t recommend starting with that one if you are brand new to conventions because tickets are difficult to obtain and the crowds are HUGE. Unless you’re like me and don’t mind jumping straight into the deep end of adventure.
Though comic cons are best known for comic book, movie, and tv news, you can find authors at these events, too! I’ve been reading about New York Comic Con and admiring Tor’s booth for author signings (and all the Gideon the Ninth cosplayer pics!)
If the idea of crowds sounds intimidating, check for local comic cons. I attended DemiCon, a sci-fi, fantasy, and gaming convention, last May as a Pro Guest and loved the atmosphere! It was three days of panels, vending, gaming, and cosplayers. I hope to return next year!
Steampunk Conventions
I’ve already written about reasons to attend a steampunk convention, but with TeslaCon coming up November 7th-10th, I needed to include them on my list. Steampunk conventions are some of my favorite events because I get to meet readers, makers, authors, fire performers, dancers, musicians, gamers, and cosplayers!
Two steampunk conventions I regularly attend are TeslaCon and The Chicago Steampunk Expo. For more steampunk events and news, check out The Steampunk Explorer.
If you have any questions about events or have a favorite one, let me know in the comments!
After reading through my list, if the idea of events still sounds intimidating, you can always look for book clubs either in-person at libraries and bookstores or virtually. Even though I can't always attend, I really like this one!
A Request for Help
I’m trying to tackle an ever-growing TBR stack, which isn’t a problem, but I thought I’d give audiobooks a try to help with my list. I listen to Doctor Who audio dramas without issues, but so far, audiobooks have not worked out for me, at least not for my first attempts when I was catching up on chores. I would get distracted and have to go back to earlier in the story. It’s not a reflection on the authors or narrators. (I know several narrators with wonderful voices.) It’s a focus issue on my end of things.
I have a walking pad that I start my day with (otherwise, I’m a pacer between writing sprints and my office isn’t big enough for that! 😂) I usually listen to music or put a YouTube video on the background (the Walking Through Skyrim videos are some of my favorite!) if I need to think, but I’m considering listening to audiobooks sometimes during my walks. I’d love your suggestions for favorite audio books on Hoopla, please. Not Audible, because I’m not sure that I’d personally use it enough. I’d appreciate any suggestions!
Happy reading!
Kelsey
