So, I just got back from the RT Booklover’s Convention in Atlanta. This is my second trip to RT. I went two years ago in 2015 in Dallas. If you’ve never been to RT, this is a fun conference where you get to meet authors and other book lovers. This year, you could even meet a ton of narrators, which I loved. You can read more about the Audiobook stuff on Hot Listens. Here, I want to focus on the non-audiobook stuff.
Well, the main thing you hear about going to a book con is the authors. There were around 600 authors at the con (even if they were only at the book signing, but more about that to come). You will get to meet up with many of your favorite authors at parties, panels and the signing. You can even run into authors just in the hallways.
The panels are a lot of fun. You will hear many different stories. I highly recommend that you go to panels, even if they are geared towards authors and you have no intention of writing a book. I have no desire to ever write a book, but if an author I love is at a “craft panel”, I will still go, just because I love that author. You can hear great stories and learn more about that author’s writing process. There are also reader geared panels and small parties. You can win free books and other great freebies from authors. I played several different types of trivia, some about geeky topics, others about books and authors that I love.
There are also events setup by the publishers where you can get free signed books by authors. This is a great time to find new-to-you authors. You can also get some great books from authors that you already love. They are usually pretty busy and you don’t get much time to talk with authors, but you can get some time with them and even a picture.
There are also the larger evening parties. There might be freebies and prizes at these. I went to two of these parties. There was a Romance Rockabilly Street Festival and the Spec Ops, Spies & Speakeasy: Roaring 20’s Costume Party. There is always a costume party at RT, but don’t feel like you have to dress up. There were just as many without costumes as there were with costumes. Everyone is just there for fun. There were also prizes and freebies. Oh, and dancing. The Rockabilly band was really good. For the Roaring 20’s party, they brought in a DJ, who was a lot of fun too.
The big author signing is a fun thing too, albeit very crowded. There are rows and rows of authors there with swag and books for purchase. You can also bring in your own books to have signed. I recommend buying books before the signing (as in bring them with you from home), if you want to ensure that you have all the books you want. Many authors bring books, but which ones are available is not always known ahead of time. Usually it is the first books in a series and the most recently released books. You can also get tons of swag and maybe even free book downloads. This is also a great time to meet up with any authors you’ve missed throughout the week. Pictures are harder because you have a table between you and the author, but it can be done.
While I loved spending time with authors, (narrators too), it was seeing my book friends that I’ve met online that I loved the most. Many of them I had already met at RT15 in Dallas. It was great to see all of them again. I also met a few more people in person.
So I stayed in a room with Lexxie from Unconventional Book Views, Bookworm Brandee and Brandee‘s best friend Denise (somehow I don’t have an image of the four of us). I also got to spend a lot of time with Felicia, The Geeky Blogger and her friend Beth. I can’t forget Mary from The Book Swarm. Anne from The Book Nympho came in for the day on Saturday. I even spent time with Angela and Francesca from Under the Covers Book Blog, though I didn’t realize it at first (we still had a great time before we even realized we knew each other).
I was having so much fun just hanging out with everyone, that I completely forgot to take pictures. I have a few (as you can see), but I missed pictures with a ton of people.
I didn’t get nearly as many free books as some of the other people. I didn’t want to spend all my time in lines (there are several events where the first XX number of people get a bag with swag and/or free books). Some people start to line up hours before the event starts. I decided that I would rather hang out in the bar with my friends than stand in many of the lines. I still got a ton of free books and got to meet a ton of my favorite authors.
I talked to several authors, but completely forgot to take pictures. Authors including Jennifer Estep (She hung out with us at Petticoats & Pistols, which was a social event that included cover models, author signings and giveaways), Diana Rowland, Molly Harper, Chelsea Mueller, Amanda Bonilla (aka Kate Baxter), Darynda Jones and more.
Oh, one thing I recommend attending if you can is Tuesday night Cinema Craptastique. They watch a horrible movie and make fun of it (MST3K or RiffTrax, if you’re familiar). They live tweet the event and even get their hashtag trending worldwide. I came in at the end of it this year (my flight was late Tuesday night). They were watching Glitter with Mariah Carey. Author Damon Suede was hilarious. There were a ton of prizes and laughs. I’m actually sad that I missed this when I was at RT15 (I wasn’t really aware of what it was).
Last but not least, I have to mention my duckies. Eve Langlais was giving out different duckies at different parties and I was obsessed with collecting them all. Then I saw that Asa Maria Bradley had viking duckies, so I had to go get one at the big author signing.
Don’t forget to check out Hot Listens to learn about all the audiobook stuff in Atlanta.
UPDATED: Lexxie sent me a picture of me with my roommates. 🙂
I’m Melanie and I live in Ohio. I have two horses and a dog. I’m an animal lover, avid book reader and audiobook listener. I like to live vicariously through fictional characters. I enjoy reading and listening to mostly fictional books in the paranormal genre, including Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance and Horror. My favorite paranormal creatures are shifters, doesn’t matter the flavor.
I am going to have to send you a picture of the four roommates, Melanie. It’s a bit blurred, but it’s still possible to see that it’s us 🙂
You did a fantastic recap! I haven’t started thinking about what I want to write in mine yet, but something should be up on the blog next week 🙂
Lexxie recently posted…Weekend Wrap-up #186 – Back Home in the Rain
I updated the post with the picture. I just had so much fun hanging out that I completely forgot pictures. I can’t tell you how many times I talked with Jennifer Estep and never did get a picture.
Melanie recently posted…Fresh Meat: May 14 to 20 — 21 Speculative Fiction Releases
On the one hand, that’s awesome, right? Because it means we just enjoyed the moment… on the other hand, however, it kind of makes me sad I don’t have more pictures to keep with me now that I’m back home.
Lexxie recently posted…Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts #114 – Silver Silence
That’s exactly right. I had so much fun just hanging out with friends. I need to be better about pictures. I’m the same way in everyday life. I have tons of pictures of animals. My mom laughs when she was going through pictures looking for a specific one a while back. You could search through a stack of 100s of pictures and not see a human. Kinda like my books. LOL
Melanie recently posted…Fresh Meat: May 14 to 20 — 21 Speculative Fiction Releases
Great recap, I really want to go to an RT since I have been to BEA, it’s time to try a different one. 🙂 I am hoping for next year but shall have to see how the funds are. 🙂
Stormi recently posted…The Week In Review #141~Class is almost over!
I know exactly how that is. I really want to go to NOLA Storycon later this year, but I don’t think the funds will allow me. That might be where I go next year.
Melanie recently posted…Fresh Meat: May 14 to 20 — 21 Speculative Fiction Releases
I’m so jealous that you got to meet Eve Langlais. Looks like you had a great time and got a great book haul.
Mary Kirkland recently posted…Weird Things Around My Apartment
She is so much fun. I actually met her in 2015 at RAGT in Cincinnati.
Melanie recently posted…Fresh Meat: May 14 to 20 — 21 Speculative Fiction Releases
Oh my gosh, how much fun! I love all the author pics, I’m so excited for you that you got to meet all of them! Thanks so much for sharing this with us!
kindlemom1 recently posted…Review: White Hot by Ilona Andrews
I had so much fun. Meeting and hanging out with authors, narrators and book buddies was a ton of fun. I’m already trying to figure out where to go next.
Melanie recently posted…Fresh Meat: May 14 to 20 — 21 Speculative Fiction Releases
It looks like you had a blast! So much fun! So you were able to get all those beautiful White Trash Zombie covers signed? I know they had a limit of how many books you could bring per author in Dallas, did they have that this year in Atlanta? Did they announce where next year’s RT will be?
I was able to get all of those books signed. They did list that you couldn’t bring more than two, but no one said anything to me. I think the only thing they really hold you to is bringing in 10 at a time. I brought in 8 (I think) and had no issues.
Melanie recently posted…Fresh Meat: May 14 to 20 — 21 Speculative Fiction Releases
Sounds like an amazing time. Someday I hope to get to an RT. I will need you there to help guide me around! haha
Jen Twimom recently posted…Sunday Snippet: Buy Me Love by Julie Tetel Andresen
I would love to go with you sometime. I have had a blast at both of the ones I’ve gone to. I want to try some others too. I know you love Coastal Magic, so it is on my list. I also want to try NOLA Storycon.
Melanie recently posted…Fresh Meat: May 14 to 20 — 21 Speculative Fiction Releases
I’ve always wanted to go! It sounds like a ton of fun especially since you’ve met all your favourite authors!
I had so much fun. I love meeting with authors, but it is hanging out with the other reader/bloggers that is the most fun. I love meeting my friends in person. 🙂
Melanie recently posted…Fresh Meat: May 14 to 20 — 21 Speculative Fiction Releases
Ahhh, that does sound fun and neat that you got to meet so many folks and spend time with on-line friends. I’d probably not get around to the pictures as often either with so much to enjoy and experience. Great tips you shared, too. Ducky collection is the coolest. 🙂 Fab re-cap, Melanie!
Sophia Rose recently posted…Review: The Crown Spire by Catherine Curzon #SweetDelight
I love my ducky collection. I have them on my desk at work.
Melanie recently posted…Fresh Meat: May 14 to 20 — 21 Speculative Fiction Releases
Looks like so much fun! I’ll have to live it vicariously through you, Brandee and Lexxie though 🙂
I had so much fun. I love meeting all my reader friends in person. Hanging out with them is the best part.
Melanie recently posted…Fresh Meat: May 14 to 20 — 21 Speculative Fiction Releases
Did you ladies get wild at the parties? 😀 That’s funny movie! I actually want to go to one of these ow. Wonder where the next one will be held.
Christy LoveOfBooks recently posted…White Trash Zombie Gone Wild by Diana Rowland
We got a little wild. Felicia and her friend, Beth, like to dance a lot, which got me and Mary out there too. I never would’ve been on the dance floor with them. The next one will be in Reno. Not sure why they are going back to Nevada since they had it in Vegas last year. Usually they get around the country more.
Melanie recently posted…Fresh Meat: May 14 to 20 — 21 Speculative Fiction Releases
Glad to had such a great time. I was lucky to attend one year when I was already in Vegas on business. Great pics.
sherry fundin recently posted…Sherry’s Shelves #124 – Free Books, New Books & More Books
Glad you were able to attend. I hope you got to meet a lot of book buddies and authors too.
Melanie recently posted…Fresh Meat: May 14 to 20 — 21 Speculative Fiction Releases
Sounds like you had an awesome time. I was thinking about attending next year and bringing hubby. I figure he can have fun in the casino. Are you planning to attend?
kimbacaffeinate recently posted…Death and the Redheaded Woman by Loretta Ross
I don’t know if I will attend next year or not. I was thinking about maybe trying Coastal Magic or NOLA Storycon. I’ve heard really great things about both of those.
Melanie recently posted…Fresh Meat: May 14 to 20 — 21 Speculative Fiction Releases
Thanks for sharing your experiences about RT! It sounds so fun with how you get to meet all those authors and bloggers. I am currently reading my first book by Eve Langais :). I see you got Crazy! That’s the book I am currently reading. And that’s neat they also had narrators you could meet this year. And nice you got a picture with your roommates after all. It sounds awesome how you got to meet so many authors and bloggers.
Lola recently posted…Review: Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus Allies by Lydia Sherrer
YAY! I haven’t read it yet, but I will. I hope you enjoy it.
Melanie recently posted…Fresh Meat: May 14 to 20 — 21 Speculative Fiction Releases
How much fun is that? FLEA! Love her. Only blogger I’ve met in person. So glad you enjoyed yourself and wish I was there. 🙂 Also so many good authors to hang with! I have yet to meet Jennifer Estep, but have briefly met the others. Thanks for sharing!
Melissa (Books and Things) recently posted…Audiobook Review: Eleventh Grave in Moonlight by Darynda Jones
She is so much fun. She has actually gone to every con that I’ve gone too. Jennifer Estep is so sweet. I had so much fun talking with her about stuff, books and everything. The narrators are a lot of fun too.
Melanie recently posted…Fresh Meat: May 14 to 20 — 21 Speculative Fiction Releases