Day: Sunday September 20th

  • Bruiser Mag At Normals

    A day of authors curated by Mark Wadley and the staff of Bruiser Mag

  • Things That Go Bump in the Night: Horror and the Art of Fear

    Step into the dark with us as our horror authors talk about what makes us scream. Hear how these masters of the macabre build tension, invent terrifying worlds, and turn everyday anxieties into page-turning dread.

    Moderated by Brandon Rashad Butts (@b_rad.books)

  • Monsters, Magic, and Mates, Oh My!: The Allure of Supernatural Romance

    I was working in the lab late one night

    When my eyes beheld an eerie sight

    For my monster from his slab began to rise

    And suddenly, to my surprise

    …I fell in love!

    Why do we love monster romance so much? Join our authors as they discuss our cultural obsession with paranormal, alien, and monster romance narratives. From ‘fated mates’ and ‘touch her and die’ tropes to otherworldly passion and loving the outcast beast, we explore why the brooding magical monster continues to seduce us fragile mortals. 

  • Taking the Leap: Indie to Trad Romance Publishing

    What is the journey of crossing over from independent to traditional publishing really like? In this engaging panel, some of our favorite romance authors discuss the challenges of the transition: from shifting business models, finding literary agents, adapting to new editorial timelines, and maintaining creative control while reaching new readers, we will learn how authors kept their core indie audience happy while building a mainstream readership.

  • Romance and Suspense: Thrilled and Enthralled

    Love is on the line in this panel that highlights high-stakes danger, sizzling chemistry, and the fine art of blending heart-pounding thrills with happily-ever-afters. Authors will discuss how they pace a thriller while building slow-burn or instant chemistry and how they balance the grit of a dark plot with a satisfying ending.

    Moderated by Tiana Williams (@teeturnedthepage)

  • Second Chances in Love and Life

    In this session, romance authors look closely at second-chance tropes. They will share how they write authentic heartbreak, believable growth, and the sweet relief of a hard-won reconciliation. Come listen as they discuss why readers love seeing older, wiser characters rewrite their futures, reclaim their joy, and fall in love all over again.

    Moderated by Morgan Menzies (@prettylittlebookshelf)

  • Robert Isaacs: “IT’S HARD TO BE AN ANIMAL”

    Join us at 4PM with Robert Isaacs to hear about his raucous and heart-full new novel, It’s Hard to Be an Animal!

    For readers of Shark Heart, Remarkably Bright Creatures and Hollow Kingdom, this novel follows a lonely, conflict-averse man whose sudden ability to understand animals sends him on a wild romp around NYC, and ultimately helps him discover his own voice.

  • Alexandra Elle and Maureen Nicol: “THE COMPANY WE KEEP”

    An event with Alexandra Elle in conversation with Maureen Nicol, celebrating Alexandra Elle’s new book, The Company We Keep: Friendship, Connection, and Redefining What It Means to Grow Together!

    This event is hosted in partnership with Our House Baltimore, owned by Maureen Nicol. It’s a vibrant hub where families can enjoy excellent food and coffee, engage in meaningful programming, and connect in a space designed to nurture their whole experience– just down the street from the Book Festival.

    The Company We Keep is a vulnerable exploration of the friendships that shape us, stretch us, and sometimes wound us. With her trademark wisdom and storytelling, Alex invites us not only to celebrate but to examine the relationships in our lives, and to become a better friend to ourselves first.

  • P.C. Verrone and Amani Jackson: “RABBIT, FOX, TAR”

    A conversation about P.C. Verron’s novel RABBIT, FOX, TAR, with The Ivy’s Operations Manager, Amani Jackson!

    Longlisted for The Center for Fiction 2026 First Novel Prize, this is a mesmerizing, fable-like debut novel about a mysterious young Black woman whose arrival in an insular neighborhood threatens to shake its foundations. We think it should be mandatory reading.

  • Louise Marburg and Elizabeth Hazen: “FANCY MEETING YOU”

    A conversation about Louise Marburg’s novel Fancy Meeting You, a Baltimore-based “middle-aged coming-of-age”!

    Fancy Meeting You follows Laura in her home in Baltimore and elsewhere through her fiftieth year. Each chapter marks her encounter with a new character–a family member or two, a potential lover, complete strangers-each offering their own brand of wisdom or judgment or wacky opinion. Somehow, through these entanglements, Laura begins to gather bits and pieces of the self-knowledge she is lacking.