Reader Author Get Together 2024

 JENN McKINLAY: Usually when I go to conferences, they are writer centric, meaning there are workshops and panels about craft and the business of publishing, etc and so forth. RAGT - which stands for Reader & Author Get Together - is not that. 

RAGT, founded nineteen years ago by New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster, is exactly what it says it is -- an annual reader and author get together described by Lori as "a fan-friendly event meant for readers, and open to everyone, readers, authors, and industry alike. The event also raises funds for many local causes." 

Lori Foster, founder of RAGT

Run by Lori and an amazing crew of volunteers (truly awesome people) this year the RAGT attendees raised $37,340 for Cancer Free Kids. It's impossible not to feel good about a gathering like this. 

Also, there are SHENANIGANS and for those of you who know my assistant Christie Conlee, you won't be surprised to learn she was the emcee of this year's event and the chief shenaniganator as seen here in her gown and tiara in the fire truck (yes, there was a fire but it was contained quickly and no one missed a step as the party rolled on).

Christie, our emcee and fire department ambassador

There were so many activities, interviews, signings, and parties (so many parties!) there truly was something for everyone in attendance. And for me, personally, it was a chance to reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and meet my readers, which is always a delight. Here are some pics to give you a sense of the event:

Signing with my long time bestie Lori Wilde with help from our
assistant Christie Conlee. (Lori introduced me to Christie years ago).

The crowd! 400+ attendees!

Being interviewed by Lori Foster, just an all around lovely,
funny, big hearted person and a terrific writer.

The Monarch costume party (dress as your favorite monarch)! The outfits were amazing and everyone got a tiara (see below). It's impossible not to smile when you're wearing a tiara - I felt like Mayim Bialik's character on the Big Bang Theory - IYKYK (if you know, you know). 

Meeting readers! So many readers! Delightful!!!

Visitng the hilarious boardroom hosted by Priscilla Olivers, Regina Kyle, Naima Simone, and Sonali Dev (dirty doodles, I'm just saying).

These are just a few of the many, many, many photos - I could go on - but I'll spare you. You're welcome! All of this to say, I hadn't been to a reader centric event before and I have decided I actually prefer it to the author centric ones. The parties were epic and I still had plenty of time to talk business with my author friends. 

So, how about it Reds and Readers, do you prefer writer centric conferences or reader centric ones? Can you think of any that you've attended that had a good mix of both? What do you look for in a conference as a writer or a reader?