The experience of attending New York Comic Con is immersive, educational and thrilling every year that I’ve attended. Since 2019, I’ve had the chance to attend the event as an educator, panelist and press, making the experience different every time.
This year, I moderated a Fierce Reads panel called BookTok’s Next Obsession: Swoony Reads for Romance Lovers!. This panel included four authors, among them was YA author Tricia Levenseller, best known for her Daughter of the Pirate King series, whose discussion of the power of romance and strong women was a highlight of the event.
My second panel, Strong Characters in Fantasy, included YA and middle-grade authors Katie Keridan and Kacy Ritter, who led the conversation toward deep discussions about women in fantasy, the importance of mental health and representation. My husband Sebastian Dominguez co-moderated, aided by his knowledge of English Literature and technology and providing a male perspective on powerful female characters.
There were plenty of moments filled with bookish fangirling as I spent time with some of my favorite authors — like The Cruel Prince series author, Holly Black. I randomly bumped into romance writer Ali Hazelwood (The Love Hypothesis, anyone?!) whom I interviewed earlier this year, and spoke with horror writer Cassandra Khaw, author of Nothing But Blackened Teeth.
For exclusive insight into the event, exciting new releases, the world of publishing and beyond, check out these mini-interviews with some of Comic Con’s guest authors!
V.E. Schwab
Meeting V.E. Schwab felt like meeting a new, or long-lost best friend — we laughed together, compared tattoos, and exchanged cat pictures. Celebrating the release of her new novel, The Fragile Threads of Power, based on her Shades of Magic world, V.E. Schwab stopped by NYCC to chat with readers before she leaves for her UK book tour. (Check out my full interview with the author!)
When asked about her experience at NYCC 2023, Schwab said it was all about finally seeing her fans post-Covid and being excited about how far her stories have come.
“The thing about Comic Con is that you come into the Con expecting one of your titles will lead and take over the room,” she said. “You assume Addie LaRue, or the Shades of Magic, maybe even Vicious. And to see how wide my audience has gotten when it comes to what they love, is amazing. I got as much love as I get for Shades of Magic, as I did for Vicious.”
“It’s just an important reminder that stories don’t expire. And it’s very validating to me to see fans love all these stories, and it’s something that I love reminding other authors as they create their stories,” she concluded.
Lastly, she had some writing advice for aspiring writers.
“Don’t give up. Just start,” she said. “You cannot have a story if you do not start and try. Don’t worry about rejections, because it happens to all of us. Keep going.”
Also, readers, let’s just say she might be coming out with another dark fantasy soon. All we can say is there’ll be vampires. Make a note of it.
Alix E. Harrow
Alix E. Harrow, known for her intense, dramatic and romantic fantasies that mix dark settings and characters spoke with me while signing her brand-new release, Starling House.
“I’m so happy that my publisher had me come here to share my books,” said Harrow. “The vibe at Comic Con is energetic and full of life, and it’s great to finally catch up with readers. As a writer, we tell stories to reach others, and this makes me realize that they do, in a powerful way.”
Kalynn Bayron
It was a first Comic Con experience for Kalynn Bayron, the Cinderella is Dead author who recently released her YA horror novel You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight. She found it overwhelming and exciting, exploring the show floor and taking the time to chat with me. She mentioned that she had attended virtually in the past, but this was her first time being there as an in-person guest.
“I am so excited to be here and to see and chat with other authors in person,” she said. “It’s definitely a highlight for me to see other writers that I admire as well.”
So what’s next for her? As it turns out, there’s a lot to look forward to.
“I have Sleep Like Death coming out next June,” said Bayron. “It’s my Snow White reimagining that is the extended world of Cinderella is Dead. It’s part of this shared fairytale world, so that comes out next year. But later this month in October, I have a Dr. Who novella being released. And Vanquishers 3, the next in my middle-grade series, should be out next year as well.”
Bayron shared how excited she gets when she sees and reads diverse novels that resonate with other cultures. There is where she feels that readers can truly see themselves represented.
“I really hope that publishing continues to explore these types of stories,” she said. “It’s important and life-changing for so many.”
Chloe Gong
When I met Chloe Gong, she was all smiles, signing my book and offering so many thanks to me and other readers for their support throughout the years. Her debut novel, These Violent Delights, was an instant best-seller that has truly propelled her career. (Here’s my recent interview with Chloe Gong!)
“It’s so wild to be in attendance,” she told me. “I feel like I spent my teenage years online living vicariously through people’s vlogs at NYCC and other cons and festivals wishing I could be there too, and now it’s somehow a reality! NYCC is such a large event that it’s surreal beyond just seeing it but also contributing to it by doing panels and signings.”
She also said that as a reader herself, she gets it and feels it when fans get excited to meet their favorite authors. She appreciates every interaction.
“Because I’ve experienced what it’s like to be on the reader side of these interactions, I really feel every gesture because I know the effort it takes to become a part of a book’s fandom, to keep updated with appearances, and then to attend a signing or an event,” she said. “I don’t take any of this for granted! Every interaction with a reader who tells me how much my books meant to them is so special to me.”
Lastly, she mentioned that readers can expect the next book in her adult series Immortal Longings. As for the YA genre, she wants readers to know that there is something in store in the genre that she’s been wanting to explore for a long time.
Amélie Wen Zhao
When I met Amélie Wen Zhao, she was about to sign her upcoming novel, Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White, releasing in early 2024.
“It’s great to see so many fantasy worlds represented in literature and at the Con.”
When asked what readers can expect from the Song of the Last Kingdom series and her upcoming sequel, she mentioned it’ll be faithful to the story that she’s trying to tell.
“Readers can expect a lot of Chinese mythology, “said Zhao. “An epic fantasy where readers can expect folklore, destiny and fates intertwined. A real adventure. And, some star-crossed romance, of course.”
Shelby Mahurin
When I sat down with Shelby Mahurin, she seemed to be eagerly taking in the whole event and was excited for her panel.
When asked about her current release, The Scarlet Veil, and what urged her to tell the story of this character introduced in the Serpent and Dove series, she had some interesting things to say.
“I never intended to write this girl and her story next, “she said. “At the time, Gods & Monsters was the end of my trilogy, and all these things were at play where I said, ‘I’m done with this world.’ I was ready to write new characters, new places and new stories. I was adamantly done. I even sold a Greek duology about sirens.”
But, as Mahurin’s story continued, it was the best representation of the phrase “never say never.”
“When Gods & Monsters came out, I was driving away from my local indie where I signed books, and the song Lover by Taylor Swift came on the radio,” she said. “I started crying and realized, I can’t be done with these characters. I had spent over three or four years with them in my head already.”
After calling her critique partner and crying to her, she realized she needed to write The Scarlet Veil and tell Célie’s story.
“It’s amazing how it happened,” she added. “I’m happy that the book is out there and that I continued writing characters in this world.”
Alexis Daria
Alexis Daria, author of You Had Me at Hola, met with me before her romance panel.
“The best part is hearing about the emotional connections readers have to my stories,” she said. “Whether it’s that one of my books helped someone through a tough time or allowed a Latine reader to see themselves within the characters, these interactions fuel me as a writer.”
“I’ve been attending comic book conventions since I was seven years old — over 30 years! — so I’m thrilled to be at NYCC as a panelist,” she told me.
“It’s been great to see the interest in fan culture grow and change over the decades, to see what amounts to a love of story (through comics, books, movies, shows, animation, games and more) be celebrated by so many people in a place where they can all come together to share in that excitement. My favorite part of NYCC — aside from running into friends — is attending panels and seeing all the creative costumes.”
David Levithan
No one can deny that David Levithan is a literary force, and being at NYCC 2023 and seeing him was exciting for long-time fans and readers like myself.
“It’s not my first time here, for sure,” he said. “The highlight for me so far was when the title of Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was announced by opening a banner in the Main Hall in 2019. It was fun chaos.”
Levithan added that he was excited to attend again and to see some of his favorite authors out and about, promoting their books. And, he gave us the scoop on what to expect from him next.
“I have a reimagining of an old book of mine called Wide Awake Now coming out next April. Just in time for election season,” he confessed.
I can’t wait, and I’m sure you are all as excited as I am. Now, the long wait until NYCC 2024, which I hope will be bigger and better than ever!
