Sherrilyn Kenyon Brought Friends to the Party

At the Westin Savannah Ballroom B/C at 7PM, the “Sherrilyn Kenyon and Friends” panel on Thursday was a party in the making. Sherrilyn Kenyon was her witty and charming self, heading up this costume and book signing gathering. Not only did she bring several of her books, but there were more than two dozen other authors present who brought their wares.

Kenyon, in full costume, was the Mistress of Ceremony. She gave a warm welcome to all of the attendees. People who had never been to an event like this were excited to see so many authors in one place. Others who attend every year loved being a part of this extravaganza. There was so much to see, so many books to buy, and the costumes were inspiring.

The first time this event happened several years ago, it was just Kenyon. This year when attendees entered, they were in awe with the variety. It was hard to decide where to start first. For all that attended, they were handed a raffle ticket for the door prizes. These were not cheap, run-of-the mill prizes; it was obvious that the authors who created these packages took the time to make each one special. With the plethora of prizes to win, it was like Christmas on a Thursday.

Kudos to the people that planned this event, it was obvious they wanted to foster an atmosphere that allowed attendees to sit and enjoy chatting with others and enjoy the evening in a fun and relaxed manner, like you were hanging out with with your friends at their house. People randomly struck up conversations with strangers, and the Dragon Con mentality of meeting new people, especially those that share a same passion, and creating friendships was evident.

Most of the authors had more than just books on their table. There were artifacts to purchase related to characters, locations, and the overall setting of the books. Getting a chance to be like your favorite character is like putting yourself in the book, which tends to lead to a more personal connection. All of the authors were fun and willing to autograph merchandise to take it to the next level of personalization.

Author of the article

Award-winning author Amanda Faith may have been raised in Dayton, but her heart and home is in the South. With a lifelong love of teaching and writing, she had plenty of encouragement from teachers and friends along the way. Loving a good puzzle has always been a fascination, and writing gives her the outlet to put all the pieces together. Being adventurous and loving to try new things, it wasn’t long before her characters found themselves in unusual situations. She loves to put people from two different worlds into new situations and to see how they interact, taking them on journeys they would never have normally experienced. Her current adventure working as a high school English professor turned Media Specialist, writing, and doing paranormal investigations doesn’t slow her down from having a great time with a plethora of hobbies. Her published credits include several short stories, poetry, several journal articles, her doctoral dissertation, and her award-winning book Strength of Spirit. With multiple degrees, she has a passion for learning and exploring new venues. She is a staff writer for The Daily Dragon at Dragon Con. Check out her new website (www.amandafaith.net) or on Instagram (@dramandafaith)