#booknetfest

[princessscrivener]

While at BookNet Fest, Angel, Taylor, Kathy and I decided to play some games during our downtime. We saw this one on a panel that originally involved books, but we decided to talk about movie franchises!

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[justabookeater]

one of the books i got back @ #BookNetFest 🌸

[thoughtsontomes]

How was book net fest bb? We know you love it but what were your favorite moments? ❤️

For BookNet Fest, it was just a joy and an honor to see it being successful after all of our hard work and to hear others say how much they loved it. Mari and I did not have a lot of time to enjoy the event ourselves, as we were running around through the whole thing, but seeing it succeed was a dream. Seeing people get to meet each other and make connections as well as have important conversations on the panels and surrounding the event was what we aimed for, and seeing that happen was awesome. It gave us renewed energy to dive back in and start planning next year, which will be even better.

[tatithetinybooktuber]

New Video! I had an amazing time @booknetfest 📚💻

[tatithetinybooktuber]

Check out @BookNetFest's Tweet:

[thoughtsontomes]

I live in Florida, I have a AP for Universal, and I want to go to booknet fest, but I have no one to go with and I don't know anyone irl or online who is also going. Is there anywhere beside twitter that people who are attending can connect bc I'd love to go but I'd be too anxious to go by myself

Twitter is probably the easiest place! That’s where people are talking about it the most and coordinating. For events I’ve attended in the past, no other forum has worked to get people talking about it or trying to find people to go with. People just don’t use anything else.

I know it’s easier said than done, but the book community is a really welcoming place. Almost all of us have anxiety of some form or another, so we know how you feel. We do hope you decide to come! You wouldn’t be the only one there who is meeting new people :)

[thoughtsontomes]

I really want to go to BookNet Fest but I'm only a viewer with much anxiety who hasn't traveled on her own and will probably end up watching you happy lot from afar wishing I had the courage to introduce myself.

There is no such thing as “only a viewer!” You guys are an important part of the community as well, not just creators. I understand travel and social anxiety, so I understand if you can’t make it. But I’d hate for you to miss getting to meet like-minded people. Many people in the community have anxiety, so you aren’t alone :) It sounds like you are trying to talk yourself into it, and if that ends up being the case, I’d love to meet you! xo

[thoughtsontomes]

Hi, I was wondering what made you and Marines decide to start your own con? I know that you guys want to create a more inclusive space for specifically booktube people of all walks, but what happened at BEA to give you guys the spark? Just general atmosphere or something specific? I think I missed that, as I am a relatively new follower. I do think it's an awesome idea though, and I am currently trying to see if I can work it into my schedule <3

Not a problem :) We were actually planning this before the BEA stuff happened, but got even more motivation once that fell through. 

This coming year, BEA has decided to severely limit the amount of book reviewers they will allow to attend, and are basing that off of following. No one knows where this magical number of followers sits, but it drastically limits the amount of people who will be allowed to go. In addition, they have implemented an extreme vetting process in which you, as a reviewer, have to detail what you do in a professional capacity every day to promote the book industry and provide references. That also limits a ton of people, including younger reviewers who do so much for promotion but don’t have references. They also had some icky language in articles that came out around this time talking about “millennial girls” in a condescending way as if all reviewers fall into that category and as if they don’t want to turn around and take millennial girls money (which they do… if you even take one look at BookCon’s advertising). Not to mention that BEA is a PAYED event! Reviewers pay the crazy ticket prices to get there, to promote the event, to get the books to promote, etc. The whole thing was a mess and really the last straw for a lot of people. 

We had already been planning to start a con because we wanted more from book events. We were sick of all of the topics pertaining to reviewers spewing the same stuff, appealing to the most beginner level. Yes, beginner advice panels have merit. But not every panel and not at every event. We wanted more. We wanted to see more than the same 10 faces on every panel. We wanted all bookish platforms to be included. We didn’t want just YA reviewers, but everyone and every genre. We wanted time for people to hang out (because that’s the most fun about book events anyway…hanging out with friends you barely get to see, not the running like banshees for arcs). 

We wanted more. And that’s why we started this event. 

We hope you guys are as excited as we are :)