In 2011, I was no one in the author community. I had JUST published my first 2 books. No one. Knew. Me. And then something crazy-new happened.
A woman named Janet Wallace in Nashville, TN, fell in love with this new-fangled wave of indie/self-publishing. She was desperate to meet all of her favorite authors but alas, there was no conference in existence that invited indie authors. Back then, self-published still had a HUGE stigma. She didn't care. She had a vision.
Janet created UtopiaCon (Originally UtopYAcon) out of a love for YA and a desire to meet and connect with the authors of her favorite YA stories. Authors like Amy Bartol, Shelly Crane, Tiffany King, CA Kunz, and Quinn Loftis (to name a few).
Despite my anxiety, I went. And it changed my life.
You have to understand, this was my first public appearance as an author. I hadn't so much as signed a bookmark in my hometown before Utopya that first year. It was terrifying but it was also the most rewarding thing I've ever done.
Fast forward, and we've just wrapped the 4th annual
As we jump into the FIFTH year of the amazing UtopiaCon, we want to give back to the organizers who have given so much inspiration and support to us. A conference of this magnitude--of this level of MAGIC--is not cheap.
Over the past few months, we’ve learned that organizers, friends, and even family have come forward and given from their own personal funds in order to help move Utopia forward another year and we want to pay them back. We want to FIGHT FOR OUR WRITE and do our part to help.
This year especially, we'd like to make sure they go into planning sessions with an extra boost to the bottom line.
So if you've ever been touched by Utopia, or if you love any of the authors, bloggers, or readers who have, please take a moment to give a few dollars. This will insure the inspiration continues.
We hope you'll be led to give from the heart, but to sweeten the deal we have some MAJORLY EPIC incentives! In addition to what you’ll get from the Go Fund Me organizers (see the donation page to read about those), you’ll also get entered to win any one of these amazing raffle prizes listed in the rafflecopter below!
Prizes like this one:
or this...
And in order to help convey the magical sense of community Utopia has instilled in its attendees, I want everyone to know that...
WITHOUT UTOPIA I NEVER WOULD HAVE….
There is no purchase or donation necessary to enter to enter the drawing, but we encourage you to give even just $10 in order to help move us toward our big goal. And don’t forget, every donation of at least $10 earns you free books!
How to enter:
- Go visit #UtopiaLove’s Go Fund Me page and make a small donation (this isn’t necessary, but we would be so jazzed if you did this first! AND this earns you an automatic prize based on your donation level. Check your email to collect.)
- Click through any one of the rafflecopter entry methods. Complete the necessary item and get entered for all of the raffle prizes listed below.
- Click through to the list of other participating authors & bloggers to read how Utopia has changed them!
That’s it! Thanks!
Participating Blogs:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Yay Heather! Just FYI, your video won't show... says it's private...
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for organizing this! It was a pleasure to meet you at the last conference and I can't wait to go next year!