HEA Reader Event 2023

 

Hello.  Welcome to by blog post about the HEA Reader Event that was held in Indianapolis, Indiana, last weekend.  It has taken a few days for me to get my thoughts organized to tell everyone about this event.  Though a few of the pictures included in this post belong to me, I must credit several of them to Jen Olson, P.A.  She spent many hours last weekend taking pictures of everything going on.

A year ago, my hubby and I were having cocktails in a bar in Oklahoma City with Emily Silver and Tina Snider at the Route 66 author event.  In the course of conversation, Tina and Emily mentioned that they should host a signing event in Indianapolis, where they both live.  The dream was born.  Just over one year later, they pulled off an incredible first year signing event in the heart of America.  They had a phenomenal list of authors sign up and show up.  They included a few extra events in addition to the signing which allowed more time to mingle in a casual setting. They managed to keep events to the perfect size and did not plan so much that it became unmanageable.  All of this is an incredible feat with a first year event.

The venue was about 20 minutes from the airport.  The Sheraton at Keystone Crossing had the additional perk of not only being within walking distance to several restaurants, but also being attached to a mall via a skybridge.  The mall itself was high end with several designer stores, a food court that offered several options, and a few sit down restaurants.  The hotel also had a restaurant on site where I enjoyed breakfast, a coffee shop with grab-and-go that was open in the morning, and a lounge/bar that attendees kept busy in the evening.  Valet and self-parking options were available to guests and attendees.  The smaller event space on the first floor of the hotel was ideal for the intimate atmosphere of the influencer event and the ticketed cocktail hour.  Just up the escalator or the elevator to the second floor, the main event space was easy to find. The room was large with high ceilings, good lighting, excellent ventilation, and carpeted floors.  I especially appreciated the carpet after attending several signings on just concrete floors.  The carpet offers just a little more cushion for tired feet.

Pictured: Top: Influencer swag gifts. Photo credit to Jen Olson.

Bottom: Marika Ray with Me.  

Marika Ray, Phoebe Alexander, and Sylvie Stewart (Photo credit to Jen Olson.)

The influencer event offered a limited number of influencers to meet the authors before things got started.  An open bar was available in addition to sparkling wine that was served to attendees.  The authors were given a list of attendees ahead of time, and I was thrilled that several of them had gone through the list and followed me because of it.  Several authors and the event organizers also provided special swag selections for the influencers.  It was a relaxed space and I finally met Marika Ray!  I have been on her arc team for years, and so that was a special treat for me.  I also met several other authors for the first time, and got hugs from several I was seeing again.  It was also a nice time to connect with other influencers and do a little networking.

Top: Julie, Niki, Michelle, Karen, Janice, and Me. Photo Credit to Michelle Fewer.

Middle: Sponsored drinks for the cocktail hour. Photo Credit  to Jen Olson

Bottom: Readers and authors mingling at the cocktail hour.  

Photo credit to Jen Olson.

Following the influencer event, doors opened for the cocktail hour.  This was a ticketed event so it was intentionally kept small.  In addition to the open bar, fruit, veggie, and cheese trays were set up buffet style for nibbles.  Swati M.H. and Emily Silver both sponsored a designer drink each from their books. Attendees were each given two drink tickets as part of their package to use at the bar for alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks.  This was the perfect time to catch up with reader friends and authors alike.  A few vendors were also set up inside the event for those who wanted to get started shopping a little early.  I felt like a good time was had by all.

Pictured clockwise from the top:  

RoLos in the wild, Karen, Maria, Faith, Emily, Lily, Niki and me.

One of my favorite parts of book signings is catching up with reader friends.  Sometimes, I have met them before and it feels like we have not spent time apart.  I have made some tremendous friends at signings with people I now consider my found family.  Sometimes they are new friends and we click and can't stop talking.  If you have the opportunity to attend a signing, give yourself an extra day to explore the area and get together with reader friends for dinner or a drink.  You won't regret it.

(Vendor Alley.  Photo Credit to Jen Olson.)

Though a couple of vendors were located inside the signing event, most were lined up outside the room in the wide hallway.  Vendor Alley was a wonderful way to allow readers to shop while waiting in line or taking a break.  In fact, it even opened an hour before the event for just that purpose.  Vendors looked like they had good traffic to their tables and I know I am not the only one who came home with a heavier suitcase and a lighter purse.

(Pre-event photos credit to Jen Olson.)

The first hour of the event was dedicated to the VIP ticket holders.  Roughly half of the attendees had VIP tickets which was a great way to start the signing.  VIPs also were given a different event swag bag with some additional items included.  Before the signing, authors had time to set up, if they still needed it, and to mingle with other authors and assistants.  For this event, I was a volunteer for the first time.  I was given the honor of assisting Swati M.H.  (I will discuss that more a little later.)  What that did mean for me, however, was that I used this time before the event to pick up my preorders and grab a few pictures with authors.

(Pictured: Author group photo.  Photo Credit to Jen Olson.)

I was so impressed with the author and reader turn out for this event.  There are always things that happen at the last minute that prevent a few authors from coming, but despite that, the talent in the room was staggering.  The vibe of empowerment was strong. This was women supporting women at its very best.

(Pictured: Readers and authors during the signing event. 

Photo Credit to Jen Olson.)

Once everyone had entered the main event, the traffic was steady without being overcrowded.  Lines never got more than a few people long so wristbands were not necessary.  I have been to some events where readers behaved badly.  That was not the case with this event.  Everyone was polite and patient.  The overall mood in the room was just happiness and love.  That sounds sappy when I write it, but it really is true.  It felt like everyone was just so happy to be there and be part of this new event.  Then again, maybe that is me projecting. Organizers also offered a book readers could order from Amazon in advance with two pages for each author.  Their names were printed as well as the author's QR Code.  I found this to be the perfect way to capture signatures and add a few stickers to each page.

(Pictured Swati M.H. and me with Swati M.H.  Photo Credit to Jen Olson.)

As I mentioned earlier, I assisted Swati M.H. for this event.  It was my first time in the role of assistant.  When I made a mistake, Swati was very gracious about it.  I learned a lot.  The next time I get to assist an author, I am sure I will have a system down.  I had just read my first book of hers in the week leading up to the event.  I was hooked, and I am excited to read more of her work as soon as I get through the arcs currently waiting for me.  In addition to being an excellent writer, she was a lovely person. I really enjoyed talking with her, and getting to know her a little bit in a few of the quieter moments.  

Pictured left to right:

 Top row- Me with Maria Luis, Janice Whiteaker, Emily Silver, Harlow James. 

Middle- Sylvie Stewart, Julia Connors. 

Bottom row-Kelly Reynolds, Cody Varano, Marika Ray & Cody Varano.

Meeting the authors at a signing is so much fun.  Some, I have met before.  Some I met for the first time at this event.  Marika Ray brought one of her cover models.  Cody Varano is the cover model for her book "Cougar From Hell".  They had special cards with some of his pictures for him to sign, and my card was his very first signature at the event.  (Thanks, Cody.)

(Pictured: Volunteers at registration Friday night. Photo Credit to Jen Olson.)

No event of this magnitude could succeed without an army of volunteers.  Pictured above are just a few of the many who kept the event running smoothly from before it began until well after tear down.  I credit Tina and Emily for being genuinely good people who have made friends with other good people who were willing to volunteer where they were needed.  

This was an amazing event.  It was my final signing that I am attending in 2023.  I attended five altogether this year.  If I had arrived at the HEA event not knowing that it was a first year signing, I never would have guessed.  There are always hiccups in any event, but none were major.  If I hadn't been talking with Emily and Tina, I never would have known about any of them.  The plan is for the HEA event to be every two years.  Knowing that, I know of one signing I will definitely be attending in 2025.

(Pictured Tina Snider and Emily Silver)