There is nothing quite like spending an October afternoon surrounded by books, authors, local vendors, and readers ready to discover their next great story.

Sunbury Press and the Author Event Network (AEN) East Coast Chapter were thrilled to take part in WitchFest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, October 3, for an afternoon filled with books, conversations, and plenty of spooky-season fun. And what an afternoon it was!

Bringing Authors and Readers Together Through AEN

WitchFest was part of the growing lineup of events coordinated through the Author Event Network, an initiative designed to create more opportunities for authors to get out into communities, meet readers face-to-face, and introduce their books to new audiences.

That mission was certainly on display in Bethlehem. From the moment WitchFest got underway, we had the opportunity to meet so many incredible readers who stopped by to browse books, talk about their favorite genres, meet our participating authors, and find something new to add to their reading lists.

Events like WitchFest give authors and publishers something that cannot quite be replicated online: the opportunity to talk directly with readers. We heard about the stories they love, the genres they cannot get enough of, and the kinds of books they were hoping to discover next. From horror and fantasy to mystery, suspense, and everything in between, WitchFest brought together a community that truly loves a good story. 

Celebrating Our Participating Authors

WitchFest gave us the perfect opportunity to showcase fantasy author AnnMarie Fischer, one half of the writing duo R.A. Fischer Authors. AnnMarie joined us for the afternoon with the duo’s fantasy novels, giving readers the chance to meet one of the authors behind the stories and learn more about their work firsthand.

Featured at the event were Arcane Assassin: Path of Annihilation, the first novel in the series, and Mortal Guardian: Into the Inferno, the second. The books were a natural fit for the WitchFest crowd, where fantasy, magic, mystery, and imaginative storytelling were right at home.

Throughout the afternoon, AnnMarie connected with readers, introduced new audiences to the world of R.A. Fischer Authors, and shared more about the books with those stopping by our table. We even saw readers leave with multiple titles, ready to continue the story beyond the first book! 

That is exactly what we hope to create through Author Event Network events: opportunities for authors and their books to find new readers in communities where their stories truly belong.

The Perfect Crowd for Spooky Season

WitchFest proved to be an especially great match for many of the books and genres represented by Sunbury Press and our AEN authors. With Halloween approaching and Bethlehem filled with attendees embracing all things mysterious, magical, spooky, and unusual, our horror, fantasy, mystery, and suspense selections felt right at home. Beyond the books, we brought along giveaways, treats, and plenty of recommendations to make our space a fun stop during the festival.

Most importantly, we left WitchFest having met countless new readers, introduced people to authors and stories they may not have encountered before, and created exactly the kinds of connections the Author Event Network was built to foster.

Thank You, Bethlehem!

A huge thank you goes to everyone who stopped by, purchased a book, met our authors, chatted with us about reading, or simply took a few minutes to see what we had to offer. We are also grateful to the WitchFest organizers, The Wicked Botanist, and fellow vendors who helped create such a welcoming and energetic event in downtown Bethlehem.

WitchFest was an incredibly successful event for Sunbury Press and the Author Event Network, but the best part was not a sales number. It was seeing readers get excited about books, watching new connections form between authors and their audiences, and introducing more people to stories they might never have discovered otherwise.

That is what AEN is all about. We cannot wait to see where the Author Event Network takes us next! Until then, happy reading and happy spooky season from Sunbury Press and AEN!