Are you feeling overwhelmed by the thought of attending a book convention or author signing? Do you want to meet your favorite authors but feel anxious about how to prepare or what to do? On We Read Smut, we're tackling the anxiety of attending bookish events with our special guest, Ricki of Ricki Reads. Ricki and I share our personal strategies for everything from finding the right events to attend, to what to pack, and how to interact with authors without spiraling afterwards.
Ricki is a 24-year-old fat queer biracial romance reader. She focuses on reading and uplifting romances that feature BIPOC, queer, fat, and disabled leads.
In this episode, we're discussing:
- The Importance of Intentionality: Choose events that reflect your values by looking for diverse author lists and attendees.
- Prep and Pack Strategically: Use a book cart to make transporting your books easier, and don't forget to pack comfortable shoes, snacks, and noise-canceling headphones or earplugs to manage overstimulation.
- Respect Boundaries: Always get consent before touching authors or cosplayers, and refrain from sharing intimate details about your personal life with authors. They are not props.
- Manage Your Social Battery: Recognize that it's okay to feel overwhelmed. Plan for a mix of big and smaller events, and allow yourself to take breaks and recharge when you need to.
Whether you're a seasoned event-goer or a first-timer, preparing for bookish events is key to having a positive and fun experience.
CONNECT WITH RICKI:
BOOKS/AUTHORS MENTIONED:
Running list of books mentioned (Doc)
Thank you for listening to the We Read Smut Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag @WeReadSmut. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast.
Connect with Alesia:
Storygraph
This podcast was produced by Galati Media.
Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com