I may be done with literary conferences for the year, but not with literary events in general. Two are on my radar for this fall, and I thought I’d spread the word in case anyone lives near or is planning to be in the Boston area soon. Plus, both events are free! So there’s no need to worry about the cost of admission. 🙂
Boston Teen Author Festival – Saturday, September 26th @ Cambridge Public Library (Cambridge, MA)
I had no idea this event existed until I checked out Leigh Bardugo’s tour schedule for her upcoming book, Six of Crows. My reaction? Um, I MUST GO! 😀
The fourth annual Boston Teen Authors Festival features a wide range of YA authors on four different panels (two held during each time slot) discussing story inspirations, writing groups and critique partners, and how each author approaches their craft. Besides Leigh Bardugo, this year’s guests include Renee Ahdieh (The Wrath and the Dawn), Mackenzi Lee (This Monstrous Thing), Sarah Raasch (Ice Like Fire Trilogy), and Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (Den of Shadows series, Maeve’ra Trilogy), among many others. Fans of all ages are encouraged to attend, and – best of all – all authors will be around for a book signing that closes the event. All in all, this seems like a great event to not only meet the authors and buy their books, but also learn more about how they write, which always fascinates me.
Click here to learn more about the Boston Teen Author Festival.
Boston Book Festival – Friday, October 23rd and Saturday, October 24th @ Copley Square (Boston, MA)
Attending this event has become an annual tradition for me and one of my best friends. And now in its sixth year, the Boston Book Festival is a dream come true for bookworms and writers who also love the city itself. The festivities sprawl all over Copley Square – literally! The outdoor garden and walking paths host a live music stage and exhibitor booths for local and regional magazines, literary journals, bookstores, MFA and creative writing programs, and festival sponsors. Sessions are held indoors at the neighboring buildings (Boston Public Library, Old South Church, Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, etc.), and range from author readings and “flash” open mics, to writing workshops and seminars about publishing and literary genres. And that still doesn’t cover everything! The only way to truly know how sweeping BBF is in scope and size is to be there.
As of right now, only the keynote schedules have been announced, with the main schedule to follow soon. (In the past, most of the public events are scheduled on Saturday.) Click here to learn more about the Boston Book Festival.
Are you planning to attend the Boston Teen Authors Festival or the Boston Book Festival? If you don’t live in the Boston area, how about any literary events in your local area this fall?
Sara Letourneau 
Wish I lived closer! These both sound like a lot of fun. Plus, I really want to meet Leigh Bardugo and get a copy of Six of Crows:-) Have fun!
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Thanks! I hope Six of Crows will be available that day. (The event is 3 days before the book’s official release… so, maybe?) But BTAF has said that all of the most recent books by its represented authors (and all books from anyone’s most recently series) should be available for purchase that day, so the rest of the Grisha Trilogy should be there too. 🙂
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It sounds like a great event. I’m hoping to get to Bristolcon, which is a one day conference, though I’ll stay overnight because it’s a lovely, friendly vibe and a bit far to travel there and back in one day. And Himself and me will be travelling to Fantasycon in Nottingham (where Robin Hood and the Sherrif used to rush around shooting bows and arrows at each other) for a 4 day conference…
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Nice! What kinds of events happen at Bristolcon? And Fantasycon…. Ohhhhhhhh I don’t even have to look at the lineup to know I’d love to go there one day! Has a schedule been announced for that one, too?
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Boston has the best book shows! In the summer you also have Readercon for the SFF folks, so jealous. Near where I live there’s the Baltimore Book Festival later this month, but I don’t think I can make it this year. Maybe next year!
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Believe it or not, I hadn’t heard of Readercon until a week or so before it happened – and I was bummed! I’d love to go next year, but that might be tough if I also go to Writer’s Digest again next year too, because the two conferences would only between a couple weeks apart.
I hope you get to go to the Baltimore festival next year!
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Sadly, there aren’t any lit. events that happen around where I’m at
But, fun fact is that I’m planning on moving east come next year, so maybe I’ll be able to stop by some of these eventually! They look like such a blast, I hope you have a good time, Sara!
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Awwww. Well, like you said, maybe you’ll be able to fix that once you move east.
I’ll definitely report on both events after they’ve happened. 😉
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The guests of honour for Fantasycon are Brandon Sanderson and Juliet E. McKenna – both great writers. They tend to publish their events right at the last minute, but if the previous years are anything to go by, there are loads of great panels, a disco on Saturday night, book launches, games, a huge area for book stalls, both new and 2nd-hand (we generally come away staggering under the load of books we buy) and a chance to meet and catch up with friends we’ve made at cons over the years… Oh – and I’m still aiming to launch ‘Running Out of Space’ there this year!
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OK. I need to put Fantasycon on my list of Things I Must Do During My Lifetime. Plus, I’ve always wanted to go to the UK. (Fantasycon is held in the UK, right?)
How is ROoS coming along, btw?
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Yes… there is a World Fantasycon that shifts around – it’s mostly held on your side of the world, but a couple of years ago it was held here. The thing I love about it is that it is all about the BOOKS:)). And of course, you’d have to come and swing by and visit us if you were in the UK, wouldn’t you? Running Out of Space is on its FINAL tranche of edits (phew!). How you getting on with yours?
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Ahhhh, OK. I know there is a U.S. based FantasyCon that’s held in Salt Lake City, Utah. I might have confused World FantasyCon with that one… World FantasyCon is the one that hands out the World Fantasy Awards for writing, correct?
YES. I’ve never been to England, and I would love to go there someday. 😉
Yay! You’re almost there, Sarah! 🙂 TKC is still chugging along. I’m about 39% of the way through Draft 2, and very happy with the past two scenes I revised.
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The Book Festival O_O It sounds amazing! I’ll keep that date in mind; it’d be fun to go if I can make it.
World Fantasycon? Like wow! How do I get there?
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Let me know if you end up deciding to attend either event. 😉
I know, right?? I’d love to go to FantasyCon someday… But not next year, unfortunately. (FYI: Next year’s event is scheduled for June 2nd – 4th in Salt Lake City, Utah.)
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I will let you know! 🙂
Utah, awww, why couldn’t it be New England? Well, I’ll wait until it is. 🙂
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I didn’t realize until after I made that comment that I confused the Fantasycon that Sarah was talking about with the SLC one. Sarah meant World Fantasycon, a more writing-specific fantasy convention. That’s being held in Saratoga Springs, NY in November. *sighs* Another one I’ll have to miss this year…
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There’s Also Boscone 53 in Feb. 🙂 http://www.nesfa.org/boskone/ I didn’t get a chance to go last year since I found out about it the day before. But Garth Nix is a special guest this year!
I’ll be at the Boston Teen Book fest too! Can’t wait 🙂
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I haven’t heard of Boskone before – but it’s totally up my alley because of the SFF focus. 😀 I’ll have to keep this in mind. Thanks for letting me know, Ellie!
You’re going to BTAF too? 🙂 Who are you looking forward to seeing there?
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