updates
OCT 2025
accepting / formalising the end of this venture.
This update has been a long time coming.
For anyone who has followed BCA from the get go of an idea back in 2018-ish when I ran Novel Scents & Co, thank you.
Since this began my life has changed a lot and I went from having so much free time (and a lot more discretionary funds) to having very little time to actually read let alone get this off the ground in a way I'd find satisfactory.
Since 2019 I have moved 6 times, picked up a second job and a few third and fourth ones here and there because I'm a workaholic and wanted to connect with people face to face and build some community in the area I've moved to.
At this stage I am currently still working two jobs FT 8:30 to 4:30pm and then 3-6 nights a week from 5-10pm or later. With a heavy heart I (finally) admit I no longer have the time (or funds) to give this project the attention it needs and deserves. So, firstly I want to apologies, it's hard as a person to recognise when it's time to move on from something you had put a lot of hopes and dreams into, and there is a layer of guilt for not bringing something so wanted to life. I had such big plans on where Book Con Australia could go. From the amazing authors we could have come to our country for a weekend and maximise the opportunities across the country for them to meet fans n other states with individual independent events or little micro-book cons. I had aspirations for publishers to get down with readers and aspiring writers and having space for librarians to also do some professional development and networking events. I also hoped for you the readers to spend time together discovering new books and having this big beautiful place to meet one another.
While I'm devastated that I couldn't bring this all to fruition due to the circumstances of life I want to encourage you to check out and hopefully support another venture that while I have no part of will hopefully become something like what I'd always envisioned for Australia and New Zealand - Book Fair Australia. They've been around now a few years and have run events since 2022 and from what I've seen with their next one is in Melbourne. If you haven't yet, please check them out and show your support.
I'm slowly closing down anything Book Con Australia related. But wanted to give time for this to be seen for those who ever showed an interest or came across this as it ends.
With all the love and best wishes to you all,
Zoe.
May you keep reading the books that bring you joy, empathy, thrills and tears.
april 2020
taking that next step & emailing some publishers
At the end of the February 2020 update, I said the next step was to contact some publishers in Australia to find out if they were interested in being a part of a Book Con Australia event (publishers = authors and books).
It is currently 10:57 pm Wednesday, April 15th and I've just put together a draft letter of what I intend to send to some publishers (hopefully tomorrow afternoon). While writing the letter I came with something that I've been trying to express from the get-go about the purpose/vision of Book Con Australia" an event for like-minded individuals to immerse themselves in their favourite adventures, with the opportunity to meet those responsible for their many lived experiences of joy, heartbreak, hope, and love ".
This passion project started because I like many others keep seeing the wonderful Book Con America/Book Expo America and get a little (or a lot) jelly over the wonderful experiences available to those who are able to attend. Unfortunately like most of the responses I've received from those of you who've expressed your interest, NY is just not a feasible option for us, it is too expensive to go anywhere overseas including the USA. So those of us in Australia/New Zealand miss out.
So wish me luck, continue sharing Book Con Australia with your friends and fellow book lovers because if we get positive interest from the publishers there is a chance this will happen! But we need to continue gathering interest and interest if we want Book Con Australia to have a chance at being a successful and appropriately profitable venture for both the events then future ability and so those involved would want to come back again. I will update as soon as I've sent the email and let ya'll know which publishers I sent it to as well as any responses we (fingers crossed) get.
Once again, please stay home and stay safe. Continue escaping some reality by working your way through your TBR pile while isolation may be limiting your chances to add to it.
March 2020
COVID-19
While we've not yet established a date or show venue, we want to acknowledge the heartbreaking pandemic that have taken over the world the past few months. To those who have loved ones who are sick, I hope they get the right treatment and recover. If you've lost someone, I am sorry.
If you or a loved one is in need of help please don't feel self-conscious about reaching out to friends and family, right now we need to build connections with people to get through isolation and social distancing. Why not arrange a weekly video call, google hangout or messenger call. If you're feeling lonely or afraid, chances are those you know are also feeling it too.
Best wishes to you all, stay home, stay well and read some of those books on that growing TBR pile beside your bed.
February 2020
Is book con australia still happening?
We are still working on Book Con Australia. We are currently still in the planning and gathering interest from possible attendees, guests and *hopefully* some sponsors stage. It has been a much slower trajectory since September 2018 due to a member of the team moving on to pursue other interests and I am currently a one-woman team (I work full-time and am currently studying 2 degrees). However, I have slowly been getting back into working on ways to approach ideas about this event. A lot of you who follow us on Instagram recommended doing a Kickstarter or GoFundMe to raise the funds we need to really get off the ground. I will address this more below in 'Why not crowdsource'.
who is part of the book con australia team?
The team currently consists of myself, Zoe.
what can we do to help?
Let people know about this project! That is the biggest thing the more people we have interested and the more people who know there are a lot of people interested, the more likely that publishers and the authors might want to attend to meet fans, sign books and host panel discussions!
why not crowdsource?
Crowdsourcing is an option but it was always something I wanted to stay away from if possible. I don't know if it was fear of commitment or the fear of going full throttle and then failing to put together something everyone was happy with. I know that statistically, you can never please everyone but I want to do the best I can to make something that is enjoyable to the greater majority but also something that can grow down the track and continue adapting.
So basically, crowdsourcing is something that I am looking into and will have to start soon if we want to get this off the ground in the next year or two. If you have any suggestions on what we could offer as an incentive that is exclusive just to those who make donations please let us know. (I've been thinking perhaps commission a design that would be available to those who donate in a range of merchandise items at discounted costs? (t-shirts, mugs, posters, lanyards, playing cards etc)
Basically, this is potentially our only option in relation to building the funds we will need to book a venue and get things in motion. At a minimum, we will probably need at least $15,000 - $25,000 to be able to book a venue (ranges from $10,000-$15,000), pay the required venue staff add-ons for security, cleaners, and cafe staff and lastly arrange furniture for the venue space and some of the basic marketing/advertising materials.
what now?
The biggest thing moving forward is determining IF publishers and authors are interested in attending this kind of event in Australia. As the cost to bring Authors, set up a booth and any additional individual promotions would mostly be on them - not on us. For the kind of event we would love to have with Australian and International Authors it would cost us too much to bring more than one or two to any given show which takes away from the event. The aim would be to have a mix of authors and books featured (children, YA, adult). It would be amazing to have at least 15-30 authors to spread out the autographing and potential panels but I don't know how likely it is to happen.
This is where you all come in. We need interest. We need noise. We need more people to register their interest because, in the end, it comes down to 'is the event going to benefit the authors, publishers, and potential stallholders/exhibitors' if they come and for it to be beneficial we will need to have a LOT of interest and people who buy tickets to attend.
So get sharing, chatting and tagging (respectfully)!