My Summer of Sun, Books, and Unforgettable Events

As the summer sun warmed the days and the evenings stretched longer, I immersed myself in a world of books and literary events that made this season truly unforgettable. From cozy book signings to lively influencer events, each experience was a wonderful escape into imagination and creativity. Here’s a recap of my bookish adventures this summer.

Macmillan Audio Inaugural Influencer Event

I kicked off the summer by attending the Macmillan Audio inaugural influencer event in early June. It was a fantastic night with merch, audiobook codes, and a special activity to record lines for an upcoming audiobook. I got to meet a couple of awesome book influencers, and it was a fun night.

RomantiConn

One of the highlights of my summer was attending RomantiConn, a romantic book con in Connecticut produced by Kitty Berry Books. I got a Saturday general admission ticket to participate in the book signing portion of the con. I got a round-trip Amtrak ticket for that day, and the commute was not that bad. It was awesome to meet some of my fave authors and some new to me authors. I got to chat with my friend Pip Dolyn, who is a debut author, and I got to meet Giovanna Reaves, Elise Gedicke, AM Johnson, EV Olsen, MA Wardell, and Nora Phoenix. I came back home with an extensive book haul and some bookish goodies. I posted my haul video on TikTok and Instagram. I definitely enjoyed the event, and I plan on attending next year.

A cozy picnic setup with books in a sunny park

Behind The Pen

Another treasure of the summer was Behind The Pen, a black romance author book signing event hosted by Sistah Girls Book Club. When I say that Black women show out for Black Romance, I'm not kidding. The event started at 12, so I thought getting there slightly after that would be fine, and I was severely mistaken. When I got there, the line was down the block, around the corner, and around another corner. I was on the line for almost two hours before I got into the event space. I enjoyed meeting the authors and getting my books signed, but it was really crowded, and they definitely need a bigger space because the lines were long and the event itself was crowded. I ended up just stopping by four authors and leaving. I had the opportunity to meet Natasha Bishop, K.C. Mills, Alexandra Warren, and Danielle Allen. My haul video is on TikTok and Instagram.

Local Book Fair

No summer would be complete without a visit to a book fair, and the local book fair in my neighborhood was a bit disappointing. It was the 7th annual book fair, and there were barely any book vendors there. It felt like they just accepted anyone who wanted to pay the vendor's fee. There was a mobile bookstore there, and the owner was really cool, so I ended up buying Kristina Forest's book series that starts with The Neighbor Favor.

Reflecting on a Summer to Remember

As I look back on my summer filled with sun, books, and unforgettable events, I appreciate how much these experiences enriched my life. Every gathering, whether a book con or book signing, brought me closer to the literary community and deepened my love for reading.

As the days grow shorter and the seasons change, I will carry with me the memories of laughter, discussions, and the joy of discovering new stories. I can’t wait to see what next summer holds, but for now, I will cherish the moments that made this summer truly special.

Here’s to more adventures, more books, and the magic of summer!