This final year for Authors After Dark is going to be a
little different, and full of fun and great times sure to make lasting
memories. We are back at our favorite Savannah hotel, the Savannah Riverfront
Marriott, and they cannot WAIT for us to return! We will be rocking the hotel for the even August 2-6 2016.
For those that were at the 2013 event, you know the hotel is
amazing, so easy to work with and has the BEST in house staff of any hotel. Its
sad AAD is ending, but we are happy to be ending our run at such a fabulous
hotel.
So a lot of people are asking about author spots, and being
involved. Well since it is our last year, we want it to go out with a bang, but
make it easy for as many to attend and participate as possible. So read on for information.
In the interest of being completely transparent, The
following information is what we have decided, based on space at the hotel,
room block requirements, and of course, location. Everything below has been
worked out to be not only the best for the people attending, but the best
options for the convention in order to fill our contractual obligations.
Authors….
While AAD in the past has only had A Master of Ceremonies
and a list of Featured authors, this year it well be a little different.
We are completely scrapping the Master of Ceremonies, as
times have been changing and we have largely seen that it’s not one author that
largely brings in the masses anymore,
but many who are focusing on the reader, not just their writing. So, We
will have instead of a MoC this year, Many more authors, in order to make the
readers coming happy.
We will have Featured authors, and attending authors, as
well as Debut authors. EVERYONE will be allowed to sign for the 2016 year,
provided they follow the event rules. Everyone will be able to promote, set up banners,
and have sponsorship opportunities (for parties, meals and events) and have an
AUTHOR badge and ribbon. Due to space, however, Panel participation will be
limited.
Featured Authors have already been asked to attend. We have
a large number of authors that are returning to the event for its last year,
and every one of them have been to AAD before, as a featured author. These
authors have been with us largely from the beginning, and have become reader
attendee favorites.
To attend as an ATTENDING or FEATURED or DEBUT author an
author for the convention must agree to the following :
·
Stay at the host hotel a minimum of 4 nights
(wed-Sunday)
·
Pay their OWN registration for the event
·
HELP bring readers in by PROMOTING their
involvement in the convention to their readers via their FB pages, WEBSITE,
blog and Newsletter, allowing for readers to KNOW they will be there and
encouraging them to attend.
While there is no difference in Attending
or Featured author except the fact that Featured authors were given an early
invite and have been to the event before, Debut authors will have a small “meet
and greet” event they will have to buy into if they would like to participate
in it. A Debut author for AAD is an author that’s been published less than 18
months at time of registration, and is looking to grow their readership. There
will be more information on this, and the other opportunities for ALL AUTHORS
after an author registers.
Promotional opportunities include:
·
Mini event Sponsorships
·
Offsite event sponsorships
·
Blogger/ Book club event participation
·
Meal sponsorships
·
Swag sponsorships
·
Book sponsorships
·
Booksigning
·
Audio book party participation
·
Gift baskets
And many more!
Now here’s the kicker. We have room for 150 authors TOTAL.
This will allow for readers to outnumber authors and therefore keep the
integrity of the event. ALL AUTHORS NOT
FEATURED are on a first come first serve basis. Once registration opens, Author
hopefuls will be able to register and lock in their spots.
EVERY AUTHOR THAT REGISTERS WILL BE ABLE TO SIGN. No
lotteries, no waitlists. EVERYONE* (Provided you stay at the hotel)
Registration will open September 9th at 10am EST.
Author list will be updated on the 15th and every 15 days thereafter
till the author spots are filled.
Come and join us for the last AAD on American soil. We can’t
wait to party with you in Savannah!
