‘Fyre Fest of BookTok’: Organiser apologises after book ball turns into absolute disaster
People there claimed there was no water, no snacks, and no WiFi
So, what should’ve been a fairytale weekend for fantasy romance lovers ended in frustration and confusion. The A Million Lives Book Festival, held in Baltimore last weekend, promised panels with beloved authors, cosplay meet-ups, a vendor hall and the crown jewel, the “Lavender Romance Ball.” But according to many who attended, the reality was more “forgotten work event” than magical escape. The fantasy BookTok ball turned out to be an absolute disaster.
‘A million lives or a million lies?’
Author Stephanie Combs posted a TikTok of guests in glamorous gowns wandering a near-empty convention centre decorated only with a few silk rose petals. “When you gotta laugh so you don’t cry,” she wrote. “A million lives or a million lies?”
@stephdevourerofbooks When you gotta laugh so you don’t cry. 😂😭 a million lives or a million lies? 😬🫣 I was an attending author…at least we looked fantastic. @Valerie Rivers @Author Sarah Zane🏳️🌈 #baltimore #amillionlivesbookfestival #amillionlies #bookball
Speaking to The Cut, Stephanie said she was told over 500 tickets had been sold but claimed she only saw about 30 people there.
There was no DJ, no food, no Wi-Fi
The $250-tier ball was meant to be a showstopper. Instead, attendees claimed there was no food, no cash bar, no DJ, just a speaker allegedly brought in by a security guard.
@percijay_fantasyauthor #amillionlivesbookfestival #amillionlives #booktok #baltimoreteaparty #percijay #greenscreenvideo #greenscreen
Author Perci Jay, who spent around $2,000 to attend, called it “absolute chaos.” There was no water, no snacks, no Wi-Fi. Swag bags? Didn’t exist. She said, “Every time I thought the event couldn’t get worse, it did.”
via Archer Management
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Many authors said they paid travel, vendor and sponsorship fees expecting a crowd, only to pack up unsold books and take financial hits. “Most attending authors ended up taking a massive loss,” said Perci. “This event ruined budding author careers.”
The organiser finally responded
The festival was run by Archer Management, led by author Grace Willows. The organiser issued an apology on Instagram. “I wholeheartedly apologise for how the event turned out this weekend. We are currently processing refunds as fast as we can,” it read. “All refunds will be processed by May 31st. We thank and appreciate you for your patience!”
Social media reaction was swift and brutal. TikToks from stunned attendees have racked up thousands of views, with many dubbing the event “the Fyre Fest of BookTok.” Or as one user said that at least Fyre Fest had sandwiches, and the Willy Wonka event had props. Here? Just petals. And vibes.
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Featured image via TikTok
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