RomantiConn Recap

I’m back from my big reader event and oh my gosh, it was so much fun!

Last year, I made the decision to focus on readers. Seems like a “duh” moment, and maybe it was, but if my books are going to sell, I need to go where the readers are. I looked into large reader events and signed up for several of them. This was a big deal for me. These events are not cheap for authors, and therefore the need to see a return on my investment is key. But, you can’t make money without spending money.

 

This past Saturday was RomantiConn, a reader event hosted by Kitty Berry. She and her volunteers did a phenomenal job! There were more than 100 authors spread across at least four meeting rooms and hallways in the Trumbull Marriott Hotel. Readers began lining up at ten for an event that didn’t start until noon! 

 

In addition to authors signing their books, we gave away mystery books—a book wrapped in brown paper with clues on the front—a trope, heat level, or something that might draw the reader. They chose the book they wanted and then looked for our table so we could sign it for them. I gave away an older copy of A Heart of Little Faith, and I met the nicest woman when I signed it for her.

 

There were also five huge boxes filled with author swag—I donated mugs with my website banner filled with tea—that readers could win. Authors who donated had tickets and our tables were marked with a star. Readers had to do something for each of us in order to get a free ticket. I required readers to sign up for my newsletter. I’m not sure who won the boxes, but I’m pretty sure they needed help carrying them out to their cars—those boxes were filled!

 

I sold books—both to people who had preordered from me and to people who stopped by my table that day. I met lots of readers and had so much fun talking to them. I met a Barnes & Noble manager who wants me to sign at her store. I even talked up my Harlequin Special Edition upcoming release (I wasn’t allowed to sell that book there, but I had a flyer with a QR code so people could preorder directly from the retailers).

 

And I met or reconnected with some fabulous authors—Jodi Payne, Peggy Jaeger, LaQuette, Cheri Allan, Judy Kentrus, Clair Brett, Arell Rivers, Artemis Crow, DV Stone, to name a few. I’m sure I’m missing someone. It was great to see them in person, check out their tables, and just catch up with them or get hugs. 

 

My next in-person event will be Books, Books, Books in Pennsylvania in September. I can’t wait to meet more readers there!