For Google Sheet With Full Panel Listing, Please Click Here
Thursday, Feb 28, 2019
10:00am – 3:00pm – Book Lovers Con: Writers’ Mini Boot Camp
4:00pm – 10:00pm – Check-in / Welcome Bag Pickup
(resumes 9:00am Friday / Saturday)
5:30pm – 6:00pm – Coastal Magic 101 – Q&A with Jennifer about what to expect this weekend, and chance to ask all your questions.
6:00 – 8:00pm – Dinner (on your own)
8:00pm – 11:00pm – MARDI GRAS themed Welcome Mingle. Casual “Icebreaker” for authors and attendees. Come meet up with authors and other readers. Start your weekend with New Orleans Jazz music, “King Cake” cupcakes (with prizes), selfie stations, and more! Cash bar available.
Friday, Mar 1, 2019
9am – 10am
Remaking Myths & Legends – Discussion about our readers and authors favorite legends and myths, and how they keep finding new homes in today’s stories. How do authors recreate and mold the old myths to fit their story and reach new audiences. Nancy Northcott, Macy Blake, Kait Ballenger, Lucienne Diver
We Are Family – Chat with authors about including marriage and children in their stories. How does the family dynamic affect the characters and the overall story? What are the pros and cons of giving lead characters those family obligations, and how do readers like it?
Tawdra Kandle, Tere Michaels, Sonali Dev, Victoria Sue, S. E. Smith
Hear Here! – Our authors talk about their experiences with the audiobook process. Come share your favorite audiobook stories, narrators, and wish list titles!
HD Smith, Z.A. Maxfield, Eric Asher, Lucy Lennox, Vivien Jackson
10:15am – 11:15am
Some Kind of Magic – Magic is such a broad term, when it comes to the options authors have in creating paranormal characters. Come chat about what makes our authors’ stories magical, and which ones “put a spell”on our audience.
Jeanne Adams, Shaila Patel, Nancy Northcott, Dana Marie Bell, April Alieda
Cast & Crew – The “sidekicks” and “scooby gangs” we all know and love. A discussion about some of your favorite supporting characters, why they’re important, and how they impact story in their own ways.
Hank Edwards, Gail Z Martin, Karen Rose, Sierra Dean, Darynda Jones
Trope, Trope, Trope… Goose! – A returning favorite, as we discuss favorite story tropes. Second chance at love? Enemies to lovers? Love triangles? Which tropes are your “go-tos”, and which do you pass on?
Bru Baker. Hildie McQueen. Rene Folsom, Cynthia D’Alba. Amy Lane
11:30am – 12:30pm
Gay Fiction Roundup – Discussion with gay fiction authors about the ever-growing audience for LGBT+ stories. Romance, fantasy, mystery… no matter the genre, there are stories for every reader. Chat with some of your favorite authors about what’s hot, and what’s coming soon.
Tere Michaels, Sarah Nicolas, Amy Lane, Lucy Lennox, Kiernan Kelly
Worldbuilding: Time & Place – A discussion about the importance of location and time period for stories. Castle Rock, Middle Earth, the Highlands of Scotland, etc. How much do setting and time period influence the story?
Alyssa Day, James A Hunter, Shaila Patel, Nancy Northcott, Vivien Jackson
You’re My Inspiration – Another returning favorite… one of the first questions in author interviews… “What inspired you to write ‘insert story title here”. So… bring your questions, and our panel will fill you in on the inspirations for their careers, stories, and characters.
Jeanne Adams, Charlie Cochet, Sonali Dev, Dana Marie Bell
12:30pm – 2:00pm – Lunch (on your own)
2:15pm – 3:15pm
Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance Authors Meet & Greet – Irish Magic (St. Patrick’s Day) Themed – Come play “”Irish Magic”” Bingo with our UF/PNR authors as you get to know a little more about each of them and their books. Each Bingo counts for one entry to win a free registration to next year’s Coastal Magic!
Eric R Asher, Kait Ballenger, Dana Marie Bell, Charlie Cochet, Alyssa Day, Macy Blake, Lucienne Diver, Hank Edwards , James A Hunter, Vivien Jackson, Darynda Jones, Kathy Lyons, Gail Z Martin (Morgan Brice), Sarah Nicolas (Aria Kane), Shaila Patel, H D Smith (Sloane Savage), S E Smith, Victoria Sue
The Sweet Stuff – Romance authors and their readers discuss everything that makes the heart go pitter-patter. Happily Ever After, or just happy for now. Find out what’s happening with some of your favorite characters, and how they keep their loves intact (or not!).
Tawdra Kandle, Hildie McQueen, Rene Folsom, April Alieda, Damon Suede
3:30pm – 4:30pm – Improv Flash Fiction – Our annual panel of epic, random nonsense. Authors create a story in real time, round-robin style, based on audience prompts. Always insane, always hilarious.
Damon Suede, Lucienne Diver, Kiernan Kelly, Kathy Lyons, Eric R Asher, Amy Lane
5:00pm – 6:00pm – Alyssa Day presents Bad Boy Bingo:
Damon Suede, Sonali Dev, Karen Rose
6:00pm – 8:00pm – Dinner (on your own)
8:30pm – 11:00am – Cinema Craptastique – Join our evening’s emcee, Damon Suede, in live tweeting an entertaining, yet thoroughly snark worthy movie. A Coastal Magic original, we’ve trended nationally many years on movie night!
Victoria Sue, Gail Z Martin, Alyssa Day, Jeanne Adams, Cynthia D’Alba, Amy Lane, Tere Michaels
Saturday, Mar 2, 2019
9:00am – 10:00am
The Facts of Fiction – Authors have the best research stories!! Chat about what kinds of things will need to be wiped from their search histories, and find out awesome things you never knew you never knew!
Bru Baker, Sierra Dean, Gail Martin, Rene Folsom, Dana Marie Bell
Alpha What? – Discussion about the traditional “alpha male”, and what that character stereotype looks like in today’s stories. How does the focus on “strong female lead” characters change the couple dynamic, or does it?
Jeanne Adams, S. E. Smith, Kait Ballenger, Nancy Northcott
Fur Real Stories – Pets bring so much life, and often funny stories, to our reading and writing communities. Swap tales about the “furbabies” of our authors, readers, and some of our favorite characters.
Hildie McQueen, Darynda Jones, Vivien Jackson, Cynthia D’Alba
10:15am – 11:15am
The Killing Game – Return of reader favorite panel about the many and wondrous ways authors “off” their characters. Also… the processes for deciding who stays and who goes.
Karen Rose, Amy Lane, S. E. Smith, Lucienne Diver, Victoria Sue
Genre Mash – Discussion about writing cross-genre stories. How to create engaging characters and storylines that draw in readers with varying tastes. Readers share what works (and what doesn’t) for them
Kathy Lyons, Hank Edwards, Shaila Patel, Kait Ballenger, James Hunter
Foodie Booklovers – Bakery owners, restaurant critics, Top Chefs… we love characters who love food!! Come talk turkey with our authors, and even share recipes, if you like!
Tawdra Kandle (MOD), Bru Baker, Z.A. Maxfield, April Alieda, Sonali Dev
11:30am – 12:30pm
Timeless Tales: Ageless Appeal of YA – Young Adult stories are enjoyed by an audience that includes everyone from tweens to retirees. How can the same themes resonate for such a wide age gap? Come chat about the universal, timeless appeal.
Hank Edwards, Kiernan Kelly, Shaila Patel, Sarah Nicolas, Lucienne Diver
Love On The Run – A discussion with romantic suspense authors. How do they balance the two elements of their story to satisfy fans of both mystery and romance? Chat theories and maybe a spoiler or two with some of your favorites.
H D Smith, Nancy Northcott, Victoria Sue, Karen Rose, Gail Martin
A Funny Thing Happened… – Our annual discussion of all things bookishly hilarious. Authors chat about comedic timing and inspiration in their stories, and in their writing lives.
Alyssa Day, Charlie Cochet, Damon Suede, Eric Asher, Lucy Lennox
12:30pm – 2:00pm – Lunch With An Author
2:15pm – 3:15pm
Contemporary & Romance Authors Meet & Greet: Valentine’s Day Theme – Join our romance authors for some Mad Libs fun times! Authors will help you fill in words, and make hilarious versions of some of their own sweet story passages. Each completed Mad Lib gets readers an entry into a contest for a free registration to next year’s convention!
Jeanne Adams, April Alieda, Bru Baker, Cynthia D’Alba, Sierra Dean, Sonali Dev, Rene Folsom, Amy Lane, Tawdra Kandle, Kiernan Kelly, Lucy Lennox, Z A Maxfield, Hildie McQueen, Tere Michaels, Nancy Northcott, Karen Rose, Damon Suede.
Second Nature – Urban Fantasy authors discuss all things “shifter”. Authors discuss the creation of their shifter mythologies, and what’s coming to keep their readers wanting more.
Kathy Lyons, Charlie Cochet, Kait Ballenger, Macy Blake
3:15pm – 4:00pm – authors prep for book signing
4:00pm – 6:00pm – Public Book Sale / Signing
6:00pm – 8:00pm – Dinner (on your own)
8:00pm – 11:00pm – Game Night
- 8:00 – 9:00pm – Swag Bingo – Fun way to check out all that swag in your welcome bags AND win some awesome prizes!!
Emcee Damon Suede, April Alieda, Tere Michaels, Kathy Lyons - 8:00 – 11:00pm – Hosted Games – Chill out with us for our version of “family game night”. Tables available for both author hosted, and “on your own” board and card games. You can always count on tables of Cards Against Humanity, Uno, coloring pages, and sometimes even a D&D game. Feel free to bring your own, if you have a favorite! Cash bar will be available.
Cynthia D’Alba & more
Sunday, Mar 3, 2019
9:00am – 10:00am – Charity raffle basket winners announced. Winners can pick up baskets until 12:00pm. Alternate winners will be selected for unclaimed baskets from 12:00pm – 1:00pm.
10:15am – 11:15am
Doing The Write Thing – Social responsibility is something many of us feel in our own life. Discuss how that reality is included in our favorite fiction. Diversity, equality, eco-awareness, etc. Do readers want these issues addressed? Who’s doing it, and doing it well?
Jeanne Adams, S. E. Smith, Darynda Jones, Sarah Nicolas
It Takes A Village – Discussion with authors who contribute to anthologies, shared worlds, and other multi-author series. The benefits for authors and readers of collaborative storytelling.
Kiernan Kelly, Rene Folsom, James Hunter, Nancy Northcott, Gail Martin
11:30am – 12:30pm
Words & Music – Another annual “must have” panel. Authors discuss the songs that inspire their writing and their stories. Share book playlists, character theme songs, and more.
Tawdra Kandle, Z.A. Maxfield, Amy Lane, April Alieda
The Devil We Know – Scoundrel, miscreant, villain, low-life, bad guy/girl next door… they’re all names for the thorn in our favorite characters’ sides. Chat with authors about their own evildoers, and others that readers love to hate.
James Hunter, Lucienne Diver, Kathy Lyons, Karen Rose, Damon Suede
12:45pm – 1:45pm
Social Media Fun Times – Super silly way to spend some time getting to know each other. Caption contests, naming generators, sorting hat, and other random shenanigans. A fun way to finish off the weekend.
Kiernan Kelly, Cynthia D’Alba, Sarah Nicolas, Darynda Jones
Swag Crafts & Book Swap: Chance to make something fun and lasting with the awesome swag from this year’s authors. Also… drop off/exchange any books you may have duplicates of, or no interest to read.
1:45pm – 2:00pm – Farewell Chat. Informal get together with Jennifer to discuss what you loved from this year’s con, and share constructive suggestions for Coastal Magic 2020. Authors and readers welcome!
*Schedule and panel authors subject to change, if necessary. Please check back for updates regularly. Thank you.
