The festival was amazing.
We thought we were well prepared. I brought 175 pieces of vellum, 10 maps, 100 bookmarks, 250 bookplates. I thought we would have to drag some of it back.
We were not well prepared.
So imagine this old library with beautiful marble facade in the middle of a park. In front of it is a small tent city of white canvas filled with vendors. You clear it, walk into the library across a stunning mosaic floor and enter three floors of books. It is airy and spacious, and it looks like it would make amazing film set for a sequel to Relic. Once you make it through to the back, there is another park and more tents. Live music is playing, books and book bling is being sold, and everything is green and gorgeous.
We started the festival in the back with a signing in Steamy Lit Bookstore booth. There was a longish line, the day was very humid, and we signed for about an hour and then moved on to the large tent where our first panel would be.
The interesting thing about the festival is that it offers signings after every event.
So we do the panel with Jeaniene Frost and Shalini Abeysekara. You already know Jeaniene’s new release, but I have to tell you about Shalini’s book because it sounds amazing. It’s a law drama dark romance set in ancient Rome. With magic. I was like, “Yes, please, where do I get a copy?” (She signed a copy for me, hehe.)
This Monster of Mine
She knows the taste of death.
He’ll stoke her hunger for it.
Eighteen-year-old Sarai doesn’t know why someone tried to kill her four years ago, but she does know that her case was closed without justice. Hellbent on vengeance, she returns to the scene of the crime as a Petitor, a prosecutor who can magically detect lies, and is assigned to work with Tetrarch Kadra. Ice-cold and perennially sadistic, Kadra is the most vicious of the four judges who rule the land – and the prime suspect in a string of deaths identical to Sarai’s attempted murder.
Certain of his guilt, Sarai begins a double life: solving cases with Kadra by day and plotting his ruin by night. But Kadra is charming and there’s something alluring about the wrath he wields against the city’s corruption. So when the evidence she finds embroils her in a deadly political battle, Sarai must also fight against her attraction to Kadra – because despite his growing hold on her heart, his voice matches the only memory she has of her assailant…
A dazzling Ancient Rome-inspired romantasy debut, This Monster of Mine is a bloodbath of manipulation, deception, and forbidden love.
The panel was moderated by Kris Hickey, who is a librarian and who did an amazing job.
After the panel, we go to our designated signing on the second floor, except that Gordon and I are intercepted and led to the third floor instead, because we have “a line.” We go up the stairs and I’m thinking that we just had a signing, how big of a line could there possibly be?
Gordon nudges me, and I see people lined up along the wall. Like lined up aaaalll the way back… And then we get to the table. This is the front of that line. It looked just like that for hours.
This was the moment that I realized we did not bring enough stuff. Like, we normally get a line, but this was not a normal line. This was… a lot.
Elisa Stone Leahy, the Programming Chair, gently inquired if we would be willing to stay longer than an hour. We were willing. We started at 2:00 pm and were done by 5:30 pm.
We crawled back to the hotel, semi-coherent, had a great dinner with Jeaniene Frost and her sister, and congratulated ourselves on a job well done. The signing was so massive that we had gotten overwhelming majority of our fans taken care of.
Sunday brought a break in humidity and speed dating panel, where we spent 10 minutes with a small group of readers and then moved to the next table. Everyone was awesome, and then we had another signing. We happily travelled to our table. I had brought knitting, because I thought we would chill and then I saw another massive line.
Me, to Gordon: What is going on? I thought we got everyone yesterday.
Gordon: No clue.
Another two hour signing later, we escaped to the outside for a 30 minute break, where we sat at a table, listened to live music, and tried to get our bearings. Then we went to our next panel, God Complex: World-Building, which was moderated by Andrew, a librarian with an amazing voice, and featured John Chu and K.X. Song.
John’s book is a hard SF, and his website is minimal, so I will send you to his Tor/Macmillan page instead.
The Subtle Art of Folding Space
The Subtle Art of Folding Space is the exhilarating debut science fiction novel from Nebula and Hugo Award-winning author John Chu which channels unhinged physics, generational trauma, and the comfort of really good dim sum. This isn’t your usual jaunt through quantum physics.
Ellie’s universe—and this one—is falling apart. Her ailing mother is in a coma; her sister, Chris, accuses her of being insufficiently Chinese between assassination attempts; and a shadowy cabal of engineers is trying to hijack the skunkworks, the machinery that keeps the physics of each universe working the way it’s supposed to.
Daniel, Ellie’s cousin, has found an illicit device in the skunkworks—one that keeps Ellie’s comatose mother alive while also creating destabilizing bugs in the physics of this universe. It’s not a good day.
If she can confront her mother’s legacy and overcome her family’s generational trauma, she just might find a way to preserve the skunkworks and reconcile with her sister…but digging into her family’s past is thornier than it seems, and the secrets she uncovers will force Ellie to choose between her family and the universe itself.
K.X. Song‘s book has one of the most stunning covers I have seen. It is beautiful. The first book of her duology is inspired by Mulan and features fascinating Chinese mythology. (And I scored a copy as well, haha!)
The Night Ends With Fire
The Instant New York Times and No. 1 Sunday Times Bestseller
Infused with magic and romance, this sweeping fantasy adventure inspired by the legend of Mulan follows a young woman determined to choose her own destiny—even if that means going against everyone she loves.
The Three Kingdoms are at war, but Meilin’s father refuses to answer the imperial draft. Trapped by his opium addiction, he plans to sell Meilin for her dowry. But when Meilin discovers her husband-to-be is another violent, ill-tempered man, she realizes that nothing will change for her unless she takes matters into her own hands.
The very next day, she disguises herself as a boy and enlists in her father’s place.
In the army, Meilin’s relentless hard work brings her recognition, friendship—and a growing closeness with Sky, a prince turned training partner. But has she simply exchanged one prison for another? As her kingdom barrels toward destruction, Meilin begins to have visions of a sea dragon spirit that offers her true power and freedom, but with a deadly price.
With the future of the Three Kingdoms hanging in the balance, Meilin will need to decide whom to trust—Sky, who inspires her loyalty and love; the sea dragon spirit, who has his own murky agenda; or an infuriating enemy prince who makes her question everything she once knew—about her kingdom and about her own heart.
After the panel, there was another signing. We both felt that there was no possible way…
Yes.
There was a line again.
A long one.
I don’t know what the hell happened, but it was strange. There were 4 book stores offering books and we sold out everywhere. Gordon had a surreal moment where one of the booksellers came up to the table and asked if we would be willing to sing bookplates. We had less than 20 left, so he also brought over plain labels, and when Gordon went to drop it off, the book seller commented that although we were around for years, we had “blown up.”
My binder is empty. Like there is nothing in it.
The library invited us over for a us-only focused event, and we would love to come back for that next year. I have to say, the event was spectacularly well ran, especially considering the sheer number of people present. Highly recommend.
Thank you so much to everyone who came to see us. Despite our insistence on no gifts, we came home with pins, cookies, yarn, beautiful handmade mugs, books, bookmarks… Thank you, guys. This was truly an awesome experience.
A bit of admin: I am hitting up all of your customer service requests. Sorry about Columbus taking precedence. If you haven’t heard from me, don’t panic, I am on it.
The Horde is well…THE HORDE.
Glad you all had a great time, and thank you for the book recommendations!
Tuesday first! 😘
The line is because your writing is amazing! My kids have picked up TKWNKM and have been reading it on repeat. They have strong feelings about shipping characters. I love that we can share this world you created!
awh it sounds so fun- wish I could’ve attended! and am I first?
well it’s not called the devouring horde for nothing
+ 1 LOL
Congratulations! Maybe we should call it the “Maggie Effect”
I am so glad you guys had a wonderdul time! The Horde shows up everytime! I just finished It Ends with Fire last week. It was amazing! I am waiting for Libby to get me part 2!
Thanks for all the book recs as well.
Yay! Congratulations!!!! Well deserved.
Hugs!!!!
You thought that “Horde” was only a metaphor?
Your writing is amazing, all of your books is what I reach for when I need comfort and Columbus is driveable so I will need to come next year.
Wow! I am envious of those who went to this event. Horde love at its best!
It was wonderful to see your panel on Saturday. Alas, I was not able to brave the line for signatures but please know my husband and I were so thrilled to see you and love everything you’ve written!
Thank you so much for being so amazingly patient with us! Other hordelings and I chatted in line and many of us were from places that make getting to some of your usual events difficult.
And shout out to the Columbus library staff and volunteers-they were all so awesome and helpful! Came home with my signed books and so much book merch 🙂
That sounded like such a fun event. I’m so happy to see that you had a good time and that the horde came in droves. 😀 If I lived closer, I’d be tempted to attend next year.
I’m new to the horde. Haven’t gotten to read my books yet but so thankful for the bookplate!
I was in the massive 2-5:30 line on Saturday and got through at about 5:00.
I can’t express how grateful I am to you and Gordon for the time spent to ensure that the fans are taken care of.
It made my eventual reading (which will probably be next week) so much sweeter.
Here’s hoping we see each other in the future or even just online.
Welcome to the Horde! So glad you had such a lovely experience meeting Ilona and Gordon 🙂
It was AMAZING to meet both of you!! The author speed match was a lot of fun! And thanks for the fantastic Anime recommendations!
You two are great. You aren’t egomaniacs, so you don’t see it.
We fans see it and we want in!
I don’t think you can go anywhere now and be part of the background, especially post-Maggie.
Thank you for being the wonderful people you are and writing the fascinating books you do.
The Horde is mighty and long reaching!
All Hail the Horde!
It was a life changing moment meeting you guys. Thank you for the pictures, signatures, and hug (Ilona). I hope you consider coming back next year. Until we can meet again keep writing and I will keep reading 📚
Congratulations!!! One of these days, I’ll get to a signing. Maybe it’ll be Columbus next year!
You’ve tapped into a whole new fandom.
It’s been kind of fun online to see new readers popping up. For years, most people looking for new reads had already read at least some, if not all, IA books. Now, I’m constantly seeing posts from new readers that loved This Kingdom and are looking for more IA suggestions or joining the horde.
Apex pools must have sneaked in. I was reading it and thought it was a Steve joke that you guys now need security…… made me laugh!!!
Wow, though not too surprised. The Hoard is a beast that will devour all your delicious books and wait patiently for the next (while inside we wishing next year was tomorrow).
Come on scientists invent time travel and teleportation for the Hoard, we will give you cookies and cake and bring you into our generous community.
I am glad it was a wonderful event and now I have new authors to check out. The Horde is awesome
Thank you, Ilona and Gordon, for being such amazing caring humans! Congratulations on extending your readership in such an incredible way! Your creative skills have spawned a whole new hatching of Hordelings!
Hopefully now you can both catch a little down time to refresh and restore….
Sending peace, health and safety to all!
I was there at your first signing at the tent. I didn’t know you were going to be there that early , so I left my books in my car. Gordon was so wonderful when I told him, but I didn’t mind buying another book so that you both could sign it. I was so happy! I have worked at that library for over 15 years and that was my first time going to the book festival, and I went because you were going to be there. I really hope you can come back to do an event with just the two of you. I think the last two days showed you how much our community would love that.
I‘m so happy, all your hard work is paying off. I‘m so grateful for your many books and stories, which have enriched my life for years…must be since around 2010, when I found one of the Kate Daniels books in a train-stop-bookshop here in Germany. Glad to be one of thousands, millions, who appreciate you and your dedication to what‘s important to you. Thank you. I hope, you get to be happy too and enjoy the moment.
Also, shoutout to awesome librarians everywhere. We like you too. You open worlds. You connect us. You inspire.
+1000
If it weren’t for librarians, my life would have been so much duller.
Thank you, Johanna. love your comment
Wow! What fun it must have been to be in line with fellow BDH members!
How awesome that so many readers were able to get there, spend the time, and meet you two. I’m so glad, on behalf of BDH, you were able to take care of everyone.
Columbus was a blast. I was astounded you all had any swag left by the time it was my turn.
Also surprised that you weren’t in the auditorium for all of your sessions, but it sounds like the library staff coordinating the spaces were not members of the BDH, else they would have known…. When I was pointed to the end of the line for the world building session, the library person was genuinely concerned there wasn’t going to be enough space in the room.
A 3.5-hour signing period is competitive with getting William Shatner’s autograph at a Trek convention; you all have definitely arrived.
It was cool to see the Horde grooving to KX Song and John Chu; I’m looking forward to reading their books. And a shout out to my waiting-in-line-for-an-autograph BDH BFF Emily. Hope we cross paths next year too.
Congratulations!!! And thank you for the book recommendations!
Hooray for the Horde!!!