Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

Do you ever attend local, regional or national book fairs or festivals? These may feature bookstores, authors and other vendors. Have you ever attended a convention for genres such as fantasy or romance?

I attended an outdoor book festival in Toronto before Covid. I did find a couple of books but was disappointed in general. I had different expectations after reading a book set during the Edinburgh book festival.

I am going to a comicon this month with no expectations other than seeing some cool costumes. I looked up some of the authors. Unfortunately, my library does not carry their books.

I attended an outdoor book festival in Toronto before Covid. I did find a couple of books but was disappointed in general. I had different expectations after reading a book set during the Edinburgh book festival.

I am going to a comicon this month with no expectations other than seeing some cool costumes. I looked up some of the authors. Unfortunately, my library does not carry their books.

I attended the National Book Festival several times. I don’t live close to DC anymore so it has been years since I went.

I go to Primadonna (a UK book festival focusing on women writers with a focus on inclusivity so includes writers of colour, queer writers, diabled writers etc.)

I have not but I’d like to try one, I live near LA so there are several to choose from

I live in the boonies, so I'm not even aware of one being anywhere near me, but maybe I can add going to one to my bucket list!

Jennifer W wrote: "I live in the boonies, so I'm not even aware of one being anywhere near me, but maybe I can add going to one to my bucket list!"

Since the Zoom era, some of them have online sessions (though not as many as in the last couple years.)

Sant Fe started an annual literary festival in 2022. I had planned to go both years but didn’t make it. It’s pretty pricey - $50/speaker event ($25 for NM residents). If I went I’d have him choose 1 or 2 events and call it good. I don’t want to blow $500 to listen to a bunch of authors promote their books! In Albuquerque, every year we have a convention that features SF, fantasy, and science in a variety of media, called Bubonicon. It always conflicts with a music festival that I attend so I haven’t gone yet. I might try to go this year, depending on their schedule. It looks like a lot of fun!

Here in Madison we also have a yearly book event with at least a couple well-known authors. But there are also fees for it and I agree, there aren't many authors where I would just sit in an auditorium and listen to them. We have a well-known sci-fi & fantasy convention also, and in conjunction with that sometimes an author will read/speak at a local indie bookstore (for no charge though of course you might buy a book). That I have attended and enjoyed.

Yes! I volunteered at the SC Book Festival years ago. I've been to the Dahlonega book festival. DragonCon several times. I volunteered at ConCarolinas a few years and I still go to LibertyCon every year.

I used to attend the Murder and Mayhem in Milwaukee mystery-thriller-suspense festival each year. We always got several free books, and enjoyed lots of panels with the authors who attended. I got to know a couple of those authors fairly well, and we are still in touch, but the festival ended with COVID. I can't even find their website anymore.

I just saw a notice that George RR Martin is a new addition to to the line up at Bubonicon this weekend. Rebecca Roanhorse, the co-guest of honor, will also be speaking and moderating. There are other author talks, panel discussions, science presentations, an art show, a costume contest, and the Green Slime awards. It sounds really fun and interesting even though I’m not a hard-core Sci-fi fan! I wish I didn’t have to decide between this event and a weekend music festival in Santa Fe! I could do one day at each but, of course, Saturday is the big day for both events.