Are you looking for the ultimate reader experience?
Here's one that will knock your socks off!
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https://www.bookloverscon.com |
MAY 15-19, 2019
Hyatt Regency Hotel New Orleans, La.
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| Director Jo Carol Jones and Peggy McMillan |
I recently caught up with #BLC19 conference director, Jo Carol Jones (NOT an easy task, btw!) and asked her to share a bit about this brand-new conference that is debuting in NOLA!
Jo Carol Jones is no novice at reader/author conferences. For the last several years she was the convention director for the Romantic Times Conventions and has over 18+ years in conference and special occasion events. When, this past year, RT decided to close its doors, it ended one era and ushered in a new direction in reader/author conferences! I have to say on a personal level that working with Jo on events in her conferences is always an exciting journey!
I asked Jo Carol to share a bit about the Booklover's Con--
Amanda: Why have your first conference in New Orleans?
Jo Carol: Mainly because readers asked for it! We've been working with the beautiful Hyatt Regency New Orleans and feel we have a beautiful venue, in a beautiful city, with some of the most wonderful authors slated to attend this conference.
Amanda: I noticed the authors were limited. Why is that and how many authors are attending?
Jo Carol: We wanted to make it a more intimate experience, for the authors as well as the readers. Keeping it on a smaller scale and having an agenda that is very open and interactive between readers and authors is a win-win for everyone! Author registration is now closed with approximately 240-250 authors registered to attend.
Amanda: What can readers expect at #BLC19?
Jo Carol: They can expect to have the chance to meet authors one-on-one and attend events the authors themselves have designed specifically for the readers enjoyment.
Amanda: Can you give us a sneak peek of who is attending? (Besides me, of course;) I heard Charlaine Harris, JR Ward, Sabrina Jeffries, Heather Graham just to name a scant few are attending!
Jo Carol: That's true and besides you, readers can check out the many great authors set to attend the conference #BLC19 AUTHOR PAGE We feel we have a group of incredibly talented authors this year and we're very excited to welcome them to BLC19!
Amanda: So you've been the special events/convention director biz for 18+ years, what is it you like most about what you do?
Jo Carol: I honestly love watching the readers faces when they see their favorite author for the first time, seeing their expressions when they walk into an event and their mouth drops open and they are drawn into the magic of the moment!
Amanda: That "wow" factor. Sort of a visual transformation into the world of imagination and fantasy. (Good segue-way into the next question) What are some of the events on tap for BLC19?
Jo Carol: We have worked with authors, the hotel and special groups in NOLA to create a magical journey that celebrates our common love of books! From a traditional Jazz fest to open up with on Wednesday to two sit down dinners Thursday and Friday hosted by several authors-- Thursday is the Faery & Fantasy Gathering and Friday is the Voodoo Vampire Club. The bookfair of course on Saturday, with a wonderful Saturday night celebration of dance and food New Orleans style and a farewell brunch on Sunday. In-between the big events are a number of intimate author hosted events featuring games, prizes, fun, and more! Lots of swag and goodies bags can be expected! There is a full page of all the events on our AGENDA PAGE.
If you 'd like to learn more about the BOOKLOVERSCON19 coming to NOLA in May 2019, check out the official website.
Hope to see you there!!
