This is why we do these giant conventions. I get it now.

Cross-posted to Substack.

If you’ve been seeing the social media posts about Romance Con being absolutely magical, I’m here to tell you that it’s all true. It was an incredible weekend, and I’m still glowing from it. I can’t wait to give you my official recap.

But first…

I personally think that the magic of Romance Con weekend was partially due to the amazing weather we had. Sunny, highs in the 60s, a little bit of wind but nothing we couldn’t handle… it truly felt like that enchanting first weekend of fall, and it was gorgeous.

There was also a Starbucks in the hotel lobby. I had so much pumpkin spice, I’m surprised it’s not oozing out of my pores. Actually, maybe it is.

But! I also had a hazelnut latte in honor of Emery, which feels like such a fall drink. I haven’t had one in a while—since the Common Grounds release, actually—and it tasted so good. I’ll probably add this to my fall rotation. Dunkin has a nutty pumpkin drink that’s hazelnut and pumpkin spice… maybe I should try that, too!

I will admit that I was very nervous about Romance Con. With everything that came out about Readers Take Denver earlier this year, and knowing what I know about large-scale events… and never having gone to a book convention as a reader OR an author before, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Top it all off with it being a really hard weekend for me in general, and I’ll be honest about the fact that I almost backed out a few times.

But when my bestie who I haven’t seen in almost EIGHT years said she’d come with me and be my emotional support extrovert, I knew I had to go. I started getting excited. I ordered books! Display stuff! Swag! A sign! And my setup looked pretty good, if I do say so myself. And, while the weekend was about as hard as I thought it was going to be (there was some crying in the hotel room, not gonna lie), it was also wonderful. It was such an amazing thing to be able to say I am so happy and honored to be here as an author, and I’m also sad about this big thing that happened in my past. It’s so wonderful to have space for both, and it was equally wonderful to be surrounded by people who allowed me to hold space for both.

There were other amazing things about this weekend. I met one of my idol authors and had absolutely zero chill about it. (And then went on Instagram and made a post with even less chill, and then she followed me and most assuredly saw it. I’m such a dork.) I met so many wonderful readers who filled my cup and my heart and reminded me why I do this thing. I got to meet two of my street team members! People came up to talk to me about my books that they had already read. Some brought copies for me to sign. So many new readers took a chance on my books and bought them. I met amazing author friends who had previously only been a face on a screen.

But I’ve been thinking about what made this weekend so wonderful aside from all that. I’ve done large-scale events outside of the bookish space before—I’ve even hosted a couple—and even despite all of the wonderful reasons people attend these things, sometimes they just… flop. Or implode. And for sure the people running the event have a lot to do with the direction it takes, I think, for this one, it also came down to who was there and how we all acted.

The other authors—trad, indie, huge names, baby authors—were fantastic people. Not once did I feel like I was in competition with anyone else there, nor did I feel that others were competing with me. Trad authors were curious about indie publishing. Indie authors were asking questions about trad deals and what they looked like. Authors walked around complimenting table setups, giving tips to newbies, and comparing notes. We bought or traded each other’s books. We took pictures and asked for signatures. We were all cheering each other on.

The author space can feel like one giant competition a lot of the time. When people post about their millions of page reads or thousands of pre-orders or their stellar Amazon ranking, it often turns into, “Why can’t I have that, too? I’m doing all the same things!” It’s frustrating and, at times, demoralizing. But there was absolutely none of that at Romance Con in my experience. There was only a sense of camaraderie. It was like we were all just instant friends, and now I feel a deeper connection with not only my readers, but my fellow authors, too. And that, my friends, is what made this weekend so amazing.

10/10 would recommend finding a group or event like this that fills your cup. I can already tell it has energized me about a million different ways.

My biggest update is that I am having a SALE on signed copies! I may have over-ordered for Romance Con, but that’s okay because it’s your gain! All signed copies (including the gorgeous The Write Place hardcover) are on sale on my website! Grab them now, and don’t forget to reply to your email order confirmation if you’d like them personalized.

You can also pre-order Christmas by Design! It’s going global!! I just announced an audio deal with Tantor and an Italian translation on top of the Portuguese translation I had announced earlier. This book is so fun, and you definitely don’t want to miss it!

I saw some draft covers that Lorissa Padilla did for Love Out Loud and… y’all. You’re not ready for this. THEY ARE GORGEOUS and I absolutely cannot wait to show you.

I’ve got TWO new releases you need to check out this week! First, Stefanie Steck’s new cowboy romance releases TODAY. Check it out!

The last thing Kyla Richards needs is a man asking “What’cha Drinkin’” as she starts her life over, but the Cowboy who caught her eye asks just that. As the sparks fly and cue balls roll, Kyla decides that she just needs one night to be free, before the real world summons her back.

Rhett Hartwell has thought of nothing else since he first laid eyes on Kyla, and after their one shared night, he’s not ready to let her go. After learning the reason why she’s starting over, he doesn’t hesitate to offer his home, Hartwell Hills Ranch, as a place to refresh and unwind before starting down her new path.

But when Kyla’s gaslighting ex catches up with her, there’s only one thing she can think of to push him away – getting “married” to Rhett. Happy to tie the knot with Kyla, Rhett is determined to show her just how perfect she is all while Kyla is trying to hide from the threat at his front door.

Kyla wants a reset, but what if all she really needs is somebody like Rhett? The temporary marriage should be just that…temporary. Unless they find themselves being roped down the aisle for real?

***

AND Anna P has a new release coming on September 20! Pre-order here!

He was only supposed to teach her pleasure. Until it turned into so much more.

Clementine Kinney isn’t good with people, but she is fantastic with dessert. With a successful bakery and a small group of friends, she’s thriving. And love? She’s not against it. But too many unrequited crushes have made her wary of her gut feelings.

Oakley West is looking for somewhere to belong. To numb his grief, he spent years under the influence of substances that altered his life. After traveling around the country, settling down in a small town wasn’t the plan. Neither was falling in love.

Brought together by donuts, they find themselves wanting more than just sprinkles. These feelings drive them to make a deal—sexual pleasure for a food guide. Rules are laid out and a mutually agreed upon friends with benefits relationship begins. The more time they spend exploring each other’s bodies, their histories and food, the more their relationship changes.

Until two words remind Clementine that crushes don’t end in happily ever after.

This book contains mature themes and explicit content, and is intended for readers 18+

So many new books! So much pumpkin spice to consume! Enjoy the start of fall, y’all. Grab your favorite beverage and let me know what book you’re cozying up with this weekend!

Happy reading,

Allie