February 2024 Virtual Book Festival
We've been hosting virtual book festivals for several years... and each one gets better. Each new event brings together more Indie Authors from more places on the planet. Every time, we try to "one-up" the last and make it more exciting and more fun for everyone, authors and readers alike.
In 2023, we introduced our first Interactive Festival, and it was such a big hit that we're doing it again this year.
This year's theme is "The Seance at The Whitney. For those unfamiliar, The David Whitney Jr. House was built by successful lumber baron David Whitney Jr., one of Michigan’s wealthiest citizens and the wealthiest man in Detroit, at the time. The house was completed in 1894. Whitney was worth more than $15 million when he died in 1900.
The Ghost Bar, known for its "Witching Hour Martini," is located on the house's third floor. This is where our fictional story will take place. For anyone who would like to know more, visit The Whitney's website.
Here's how the Festival works: We gather together each night, from February 1 - February 28, from 7pm EST to 8pm EST. The first twenty minutes or so will be devoted to hearing two authors read excerpts from their work (each author has about 8 minutes to read). Then, we play our Interactive game.
A collection of brave authors who volunteer, will play the role of one of eight personas attending a Seance at the Whitney's Ghost Bar. During the game, we'll discover a mystery (or two) and work each night to solve it. The authors are kept in the dark about who did what and when... they are only given brief character sketches and a thin plot outline. From that, they must answer questions posed by other players and visitors (readers) who join us each night of the festival. Fifteen minutes each night is devoted to probing questions and super-sleuthing skills to ferret out the clues and bring us closer to learning the solution to the mystery. Put a bunch of writers into a room together and give them the chance to do a little Improv, and the result is tremendously entertaining.
Each night is completely spontaneous, and because we make it up as we go along, you never know what might happen and what direction the story and the mystery might take. The evolution is hilariously organic and in the end, everyone is suprised by the solution.
If you're curious about what all this looks like in real life... check out the replays from last year's The Case of the Missing Manuscript and The Murder of A Book Thief.
If you're an Indie or Small Press Author, and you'd like to join us for a month of tremendous fun, scroll down to learn more and sign up. This year's cast of rabble rousers will be chosen from those brave enough to volunteer when they sign up as a participating author. Watch our Facebook page for updates and more details.
In 2023, we introduced our first Interactive Festival, and it was such a big hit that we're doing it again this year.
This year's theme is "The Seance at The Whitney. For those unfamiliar, The David Whitney Jr. House was built by successful lumber baron David Whitney Jr., one of Michigan’s wealthiest citizens and the wealthiest man in Detroit, at the time. The house was completed in 1894. Whitney was worth more than $15 million when he died in 1900.
The Ghost Bar, known for its "Witching Hour Martini," is located on the house's third floor. This is where our fictional story will take place. For anyone who would like to know more, visit The Whitney's website.
Here's how the Festival works: We gather together each night, from February 1 - February 28, from 7pm EST to 8pm EST. The first twenty minutes or so will be devoted to hearing two authors read excerpts from their work (each author has about 8 minutes to read). Then, we play our Interactive game.
A collection of brave authors who volunteer, will play the role of one of eight personas attending a Seance at the Whitney's Ghost Bar. During the game, we'll discover a mystery (or two) and work each night to solve it. The authors are kept in the dark about who did what and when... they are only given brief character sketches and a thin plot outline. From that, they must answer questions posed by other players and visitors (readers) who join us each night of the festival. Fifteen minutes each night is devoted to probing questions and super-sleuthing skills to ferret out the clues and bring us closer to learning the solution to the mystery. Put a bunch of writers into a room together and give them the chance to do a little Improv, and the result is tremendously entertaining.
Each night is completely spontaneous, and because we make it up as we go along, you never know what might happen and what direction the story and the mystery might take. The evolution is hilariously organic and in the end, everyone is suprised by the solution.
If you're curious about what all this looks like in real life... check out the replays from last year's The Case of the Missing Manuscript and The Murder of A Book Thief.
If you're an Indie or Small Press Author, and you'd like to join us for a month of tremendous fun, scroll down to learn more and sign up. This year's cast of rabble rousers will be chosen from those brave enough to volunteer when they sign up as a participating author. Watch our Facebook page for updates and more details.
The plot is murder, but is free of all references to drugs and sex. This mystery adventure is appropriate for all audiences over 13 years old.
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All Indie Authors and Small Press Authors, of nearly every genre*, everywhere in the world, are welcome to participate. We will host Live Author Readings, Interviews, Games, Contests and Giveaways Every Night in February on Zoom and Social Media, with replays on the Indie Reads Aloud podcast and YourTube channel.
All fees are non-refundable, unless the Festival is cancelled by Pages Promotions. Please read the tiny print below, and reach out to [email protected] with questions. 
Click The Banner To Learn More About This Year's Mystery Game!
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AUTHORS PLEASE NOTE:
The 2024 Winter Virtual Book Festival Registration is a TWO STEP PROCESS. After completing each step, please return to finish the process. Authors who do not complete BOTH steps will not be registered for the Festival. Space is limited to just 54 authors, due to reading time restrictions.
Early reservations will be given priority.
The 2024 Winter Virtual Book Festival Registration is a TWO STEP PROCESS. After completing each step, please return to finish the process. Authors who do not complete BOTH steps will not be registered for the Festival. Space is limited to just 54 authors, due to reading time restrictions.
Early reservations will be given priority.
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STEP ONE:
2024 Winter Virtual Book Festival AUTHOR REGISTRATION FEE Early Bird Registration: $30 Deadline: December 31, 2023 Last Minute Registration: $60 Deadline: January 30, 2024 |
*This is a one-time registration fee, regardless of how many books an author presents during the festival.
**Due to the expectations of Family-Friendly readings, discussions, and book covers, books in the Erotica genre will not be accepted into this event.
- This is a Virtual Book Festival, with components broadcast and promoted on Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, and Zoom, with the goal to promote Indie and Small Press Books and Authors ONLY, Trad authors have their own marketing venues. Indie Authors are defined as either Hybrid or Self-Published Authors. A Small Press is defined as a publishing house that publishes fewer than 50 titles per year.
- The date for this Virtual Book Festival is February, 2024. The Festival will run the entire month of February, a full 29 days (except Valentine's Day, February 14, 224). Authors of all genres, except erotica, are invited to join the Festival, no matter their Country, Providence, or State of residence.
- All Live Zoom events are held in USA Eastern Time. Authors and Readers may participate from ANYWHERE in the world. Nightly events will be recorded and posted to our Facebook and Spotify channels for future viewing and entertainment purposes.
- There is a required author participation Fee of $30 (early bird) or $60 (last minute), plus at least one signed copy of a book written by the author, in print format. Once the Fee (Step One) and Registration Form (Step Two) have been received, the author's name will be added to the Facebook and Instagram 'Participating Author Notification', and this will serve as validation of the author's participation in the Virtual Book Festival.
- All fees are non-refundable, even in the instance of an author's expulsion from the Festival due to non-compliance of the Rules of Participation, unless the event is cancelled by Pages Promotions. In such a case, refunds will be sent to authors within 30 days of the date of cancellation
- A fee is not required for Readers and Visitors to attend the Festival.
- All attendees, including participating authors, must pre-register at least 15 minutes prior to any Zoom event start time to be included in any live event giveaways. Late comers will not be eligible for giveaways.
- We must have a minimum of ten (10) authors registered to participate by the Last Minute deadline date, or the Festival will be cancelled. In the event of a cancellation, fees will be refunded (less PayPal processing fees) within 30 days of the date of cancellation. If the Festival is cancelled, authors will be notified with a posting to our Facebook page, and via email.
- Readers and Visitors are not required to purchase books to attend and enjoy the Festival... but authors would love the support!
- Participating Authors may reside anywhere in the world. Authors are responsible for shipping donated books used as Give Away Prizes to the event winners at their own expense, by the required deadline of March 30, 2024. We don't know what the mail service will look like in 2024... so PLAN AHEAD!
- Indie Authors and their families ARE eligible to receive randomly drawn prizes.
- Readers/Visitors may reside anywhere in the world.
- Prize winners will be announced on Facebook and Instagram, as contests occur. Winners must acknowledge their win and send their shipping address in an email to [email protected] within 24 hours of an event in order to collect their prizes.
- Prizes will be shipped to winners no later than April 30, 2024.
- All participating Authors and Readers who attend Zoom events acknowledge that their names and/or still and video images and voice may be used during the replay of the event to the Indie Reads Aloud podcast on Spotify, and YouTube channel, without expectation of compensation.
- All audio and video replays remain the property of Pages Promotions, LLC and may not be shared, imbedded, or reproduced without written permission.