When Book Bonanza 2021 was cancelled due to Covid, the organizers instead held a raffle to raise money for the chosen charities. One of the prizes up for grabs was two tickets to Book Bonanza 2022 and since these tickets are apparently harder to get than Super Bowl tickets, you can imagine my shock when I actually won them! For a weekend this past July, over 2,000 book lovers descended on Dallas, TX for the book signing and it was the most incredible event.
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| The Gaylord Texan |
Held at the Gaylord Texan (which is itself a destination), Book Bonanza is the brainchild of author Colleen Hoover. This year was the biggest event they have held so far, with well over 100 authors. Thursday was registration for the event as well as the opening festivities. Also held Thursday night was the Smartypants Romance party, hosted by author Penny Reid. This was such a fun event with author interviews, meet and greets, and photos with Penny herself.
Friday and Saturday both started with a few hours of author panels, with topics ranging from Small Town Romance and Writing During Covid to Meet the Narrators and Adaptations of Books to Film. These were all very interesting and another way to interact with the authors. The afternoons were then each devoted to a 5 hour signing block. Despite there being almost 2,000 attendees, the signings actually went incredibly smoothly and lines were not nearly as bad as I worried they would be. I got to meet every author and narrator on my list. My hubby was a great sport, standing in every line with me, taking all the photos and carrying all my swag.
So lucky to have met:
Penny Reid
Melanie Harlow
Adriana Locke
April White
Chris Brinkley (narrator)
Piper Sheldon
Catherine Cowles
Heidi Hutchinson
Staci Hart
KA Tucker
Emma Lee Jayne
Juliette Cross
Karla Sorenson
Susannah Nix
Nora Everly
Devney Perry
Emma Scott
Aly Stiles
Jiffy Kate
Rebecca Yarros
Helena Hunting
Sarina Bowen
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| Penny Reid |
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| KA Tucker |
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| Staci Hart |
I am so grateful I had the opportunity to take part in such a wonderful event – it was so incredible to be surrounded by so many book lovers and the authors were so enthusiastic, gracious, and friendly!
Have you ever been to Book Bonanza or another book signing? Who is your dream author to meet?
I'd love to go to Book Bonanza someday! I've only ever went to a few signings here in Belgium where I met Cassandra Clare, Holly Black and Lauren Kate.
ReplyDeleteIf you ever get the chance to go, I highly recommend! So well run!
DeleteHow awesome to have won tickets to the event! I'm not ready to return to book conventions, but eventually I'd love to attend Book Bonanza myself. Glad it was such a success for you!
ReplyDeleteI do hope you get the chance to go! It was incredible!
DeleteI can't believe how many authors you got to meet! And the panels sound really fun, I wish there was a way to watch them.
ReplyDeleteOh, I printed all the maps and planned everything out! And despite there being like 2000 people there, it was actually easy to get to everyone. The panels were a nice surprise!
DeleteWhat a great lineup of authors! And looks like a neat place to have an event. I think the Adaptations of Books to Film panel would be super interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe Gaylord was beautiful and yes, they had so many great authors there! The panels were a nice surprise and all of the ones we attended were great.
DeleteThis was a great post that your sister shared! I have not been to Book Bonanza, but I have been to several mystery conferences and had so, so much fun! Meeting favorite authors is really awesome. Tell her thanks for sharing with us. And I'd say to everyone, if you get a chance to go to a book conference, take it. You never know who you might see or meet or get a chance to visit with. :-)
ReplyDeleteI've been to a few book signings now and they are always fun. Authors are super accessible "celebrities" and really enjoy meeting with readers!
DeleteOh wow, such an incredible experience. I would have loved to meet K. A. Tucker.
ReplyDeleteShe was so nice!
DeleteOMG! I was so excited for you when I read the part of you winning the tickets. That's amazing! What an incredible event. It's been so long since my last bookish event. I think it was an in-store for Gemina (great event), but the last big event was BookCon (In 2016 or 2017 -- honestly don't remember). Once the kid graduated, I had no partner in crime.
ReplyDeleteAs a person who never wins anything, I was floored. There were lots of people attending solo - waiting in all those lines leaves lots of time to make friends!
DeleteNice to host your sister on your blog! Great event looks like
ReplyDeleteThis looks like it was a great event and how awesome is it that you won tickets! So many amazing authors here I'd love to meet one day too.
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