CONFERENCE SCENE
1 Coastal Magic Convention
Gain useful insight from dozens of popular authors at this hybrid conference in sunny Daytona Beach.
February 20–23, 2020. Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, Daytona Beach, Fla. $100. It’s a blend of literary fanfare and instructional conference, with opportunities to meet, mingle, and learn from scores of well-published authors. “In 2019 we started partnering with the Book Lovers Con (formerly RT Booklovers Convention) 300. Novelists Jeanne Adams (); Rachel Caine (Stillhouse Lake series); Ashlyn Chase (); Shana Gray (Girls Weekend Away series); Beverly Jenkins (); Gail Z. Martin (The Fallen Kings Cycle series); Hildie McQueen (Laurel Creek series); J.D. Monroe (Dragons of Ascavar series); Sloane Savage (Dangerous Eight series); YA authors Sarah Nicolas (); Shaila Patel (Joining of Souls series); many others. With literally dozens of published writers in attendance, opportunities for aspiring scribes to network and ask questions are numerous. Fun activities include a Welcome Mingle with a Roaring ’20s theme, an Improv Flash Fiction panel, and the popular Cinema Craptastique, during which a handful of featured authors watch and live-tweet a really bad movie. “In addition, Saturday’s Lunch With an Author is a fantastic way for attendees to slow down and really connect,” Morris says. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the famous Daytona International Speedway, available daily from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tours include access to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America and a closeup look at the winning Daytona 500 car.
