GA PANELS & EVENTS
SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2026
All panels, events, and activities listed on this page are FREE to attend with your General Admission badge. Seating is first-come, first-served.
DOORS OPEN
PRIMARY GA
Doors Open | 9 a.m.
Grab your badge if you haven't yet & get settled in! Need your badge? You can buy one at the door! Explore your surroundings at the Convention Center and discover over 100 authors and bookish vendors!
Location: Primary GA Building
ACTIVITY
PRIMARY GA
Book Swap Mixer | 10-11 a.m.
Do any of the books on your shelf need a new home? Bring them to the Book Swap Mixer! Maybe the one you put down or pick up from the table leads you to your new bookish bestie!
Location: Primary GA Building
BOOKISH SHOPPING
PRIMARY GA & EXTENDED VENDOR HALL
Shop Bookish Vendors | 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Bookish Vendors Galore! Vendors are spread out over two buildings! Find them in the Primary GA Building and the Extended Vendor Hall behind and through Food Truck Alley. You'll also find more bathrooms this way!
Location: Primary GA Building & Extended Vendor Hall
MEET AUTHORS
PRIMARY GA
Meet 100+ Authors | 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
There are over 100 authors selling and signing their books in the Primary GA Building! Headlining & Featured Authors will have dedicated signing lines in the Black Cat Room within the building!
Location: Primary GA Building
ACTIVITY
BREAKOUT BUILDING
Bookish Trivia| 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Think you know books? Prove it! Head over to the Breakout Building and sign in for a session of Bookish Trivia for a chance to win big prizes and show off all your bookish knowledge! Seating is first-come, first served.
Location: Breakout Building
EAT & DRINK
FOOD TRUCK ALLEY
Don't forget lunch!
Stay hydrated, stay fueled. Head over to Food Truck Alley located behind the Primary GA building in between the Breakout Building & Extended Vendor Hall Building and enjoy a bite.
Location: Food Truck Alley
ACTIVITY
BREAKOUT BUILDING
Crow Party|2-3 p.m.
Looking for new bookish friends? Have some trinkets to trade? This is the place you need to be! Bring your trading trinkets and your passion for books to make new friends or reconnect with old ones!
Location: Breakout Building
ACTIVITY
BREAKOUT BUILDING
Bookish Speed Dating|4-5 p.m.
Speed dating, but make it books. Join us as we guide you through a session of rapid "dates" with other book fiends. You'll each have 1 minute to convince the other to add your favorite books to their TBR lists.
Location: Breakout Building
PANELS & EVENTS
SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2026
DOORS OPEN
INCLUDED IN GENERAL ADMISSION
Doors Open | 8:30 a.m.
Grab your badge if you haven't yet & get settled in! Need your badge? You can buy one at the door! Explore your surroundings at the Convention Center and discover over 100 authors and bookish vendors!
Location: General Admission / Medina Convention Center
ACTIVITY
INCLUDED IN GENERAL ADMISSION
Banned Book Swap Mixer | 9-10 a.m.
Bans off our books! Do a little research before you head to the Con. Find your favorite banned book, write a note inside on a reason you discovered it's been banned, and bring it to this special Book Swap!
Location: General Admission / Medina Convention Center
BOOKISH SHOPPING
PRIMARY GA & EXTENDED VENDOR HALL
Shop Bookish Vendors | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Bookish Vendors Galore! Vendors are spread out over two buildings! Find them in the Primary GA Building and the Extended Vendor Hall behind and through Food Truck Alley. You'll also find more bathrooms this way!
Location: Primary GA Building & Extended Vendor Hall
MEET AUTHORS
PRIMARY GA
Meet 100+ Authors | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There are over 100 authors selling and signing their books in the Primary GA Building! Headlining & Featured Authors will have dedicated signing lines in the Black Cat Room within the building!
Location: Primary GA Building
BREAKOUT AREA
INCLUDED IN GENERAL ADMISSION
First-come, First-served seating & Standing Room
Black Cat Chat with Alex Erickson (& Real-Life Black Cats!)
Curl up for a purr-fectly cozy conversation with mystery author Alex Erickson, known for his charming whodunits featuring a clever black cat. But that’s not all! Joining Alex is a local cat rescue bringing real-life black cats looking for their forever homes! Hear how feline friends inspire fiction, get the inside scoop on writing cozy mysteries, and maybe even fall in love with a furry sidekick of your own.
10-10:30 a.m.: Author Discussion
10:30-11 a.m.: Book Sale & Signing
Panel Lineup
Alex Erickson
Cute Cats
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Alicia Frazier
Moderator
Alex Erickson is the author of the Bookstore Cafe Mystery Series, the Furever Pets Mysteries, and the Cat Yoga Mystery Series. He lives in Ohio with his family and resident felines, who provide endless amounts of inspiration. When he's not writing, he enjoys spending his time gaming or playing music. Visit him online at AlexEricksonBoooks.com.
Location: Breakout Building
ACTIVITY
BREAKOUT BUILDING
Bookish Bingo | 11-11:45 a.m.
It's time to win some great bookish prizes! Grab your friends and head over to the Breakout Area to play some Bookish Bingo! Will you win big? Bingo is free to play with your General Admission badge. Seating first-come, first-served.
Location: Breakout Building
EAT & DRINK
FOOD TRUCK ALLEY
Don't forget lunch!
Stay hydrated, stay fueled. Head over to Food Truck Alley located behind the Primary GA building in between the Breakout Building & Extended Vendor Hall Building and enjoy a bite.
Location: Food Truck Alley
BREAKOUT AREA
INCLUDED IN GENERAL ADMISSION
First-come, First-served seating & Standing Room
In Conversation with Mindy McGinnis
Mindy McGinnis is the author of several young adult novels known for their grit and unflinching look of the world. Join Mindy in conversation with Black Cat Books & Oddities Owner Alicia Frazier to hear about Mindy's writing process, why her books are often banned, why book banning is detrimental, what's on the horizon for the author, and so much more.
1-1:30 p.m.: Author Discussion
1:30-2 p.m.: Book Sale & Signing
Location: Breakout Building
Panel Lineup
Mindy McGinnis
Alicia Frazier
Moderator
Mindy McGinnis is an Edgar Award-winning novelist who writes across multiple genres, including post-apocalyptic, historical, thriller, contemporary, mystery, and fantasy. While her settings may change, you can always count on Mindy’s books to deliver grit, truth, and an unflinching look at humanity and the world around us.
BREAKOUT AREA
INCLUDED IN GENERAL ADMISSION
First-come, First-served seating & Standing Room
In Conversation with Pixie Rella
Let's chat about Pixie Rella's debut Romantasy, BLACKHEART! The walls were built to keep the monsters in. But some monsters are made, not born. Within the Waywards, the condemned live beneath the watch of the seven Witchlords—keepers of order and jailers of the Dark Natured. Elora has endured three long winters behind those obsidian walls, bound to servitude for a crime she did not commit. To survive, Elora minds her own, follows the rules, and never speaks to any of the Witchlords. Until him.
2-2:30 p.m.: Author Discussion
2:30-3 p.m.: Book Sale & Signing
Panel Lineup
Pixie Rella
Alicia Frazier
Moderator
Known for blending gameplay and fantasy storylines, Pixie Rella is a professional gamer turned author with BLACKHEART, her bestselling Romantasy debut.
Location: Breakout Building
BREAKOUT AREA
INCLUDED IN GENERAL ADMISSION
First-come, First-served seating & Standing Room
AMA with Indies
Join a panel of indie authors for an open, no-holds-barred Ask Me Anything session about writing, publishing, and building a sustainable creative career. From drafting and editing to self-publishing, marketing, and more, authors will share real-world experiences, lessons learned, and practical advice. Bring your questions and get honest answers from authors who’ve done it themselves. This interactive discussion is designed to inform, inspire, and demystify the indie author journey.
3-3:30 p.m.: Author Discussion
3:30-4:15 p.m.: Book Sale & Signing
Location: Breakout Building
Panel Lineup
Sarah Forester Davis
D.L. Jennings
E.D. Lee
Kris Renee
Alicia Frazier
Moderator
BOOK LAUNCH CENTRAL
Book Launch Central is located in the Primary GA Building in the Black Cat room. Here you will find authors who are debuting new books during their allotted time. Make sure to stop by to meet them, learn about their new books, and collect any goodies they may have for you!
SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2026
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Sarah Hans
Horror/Monster Romance
Sarah Hans (aka Sarah K. Hans) is a former teacher who now writes full time. Her books are primarily in the horror and monster romance genres, though she loves to play in science fiction and fantasy as well. She lives in Ohio with her husband, a varying number of teenagers, too many pets, and enough books and craft supplies to keep herself busy for the rest of her life. Sign up for her newsletter here.
12:30-1:30 p.m.
L. Wood
Young Adult/Sci-Fi
Author L. Wood juggles her roles as an RVT, writer, and mom, filling her spare moments with family, playing volleyball (short legs and all), hiking, and swimming—all powered by a deep commitment to ice cream and warm, gooey chocolate-chip cookies.
2-3 p.m.
Sarah Forester Davis
Young Adult/Romance
Sarah is the author of nine young adult and new adult romantic suspense books. Her books have been read in over fifteen different countries and she has a fandom of readers all around the world.
SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2026
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Shawn Spencer
Dark Fantasy
Shawn Spencer is a U.S. military veteran, martial artist, and storyteller who currently lives in the Buckeye State with his beloved wife, Amanda, their two amazing children, and a small army of pets—two dogs, a rabbit, and a cat.
12:30-1:30 p.m.
Ed Rollins
Dark Fantasy & Westerns
Edward Rollins writes speculative fiction at the crossroads of American Folklore and the uncanny. Raised on Batman comics and Dungeons & Dragons, he never quite recovered from the thrill of pulp heroics and table-top storytelling.
2-3 p.m.
Kalynn Applewhite
Paranormal Mystery & Romantasy
Kalynn is a writer at heart with a lifetime love of fantasy. Through her books she pursues her passion for exploring feminist themes through fiction. Kalynn loves playing games, taking hikes, and eating super dark chocolate. She lives in Ohio with her husband and their menagerie of children, cats, chickens, and houseplants.
Locations of Events
GENERAL ADMISSION
Medina Convention Center
735 Lafayette Rd
Medina, OH 44256
MAIN STAGE
Williams on the Lake
787 Lafayette Rd
Medina, OH 44256
BLACK CAT BOOKS
420 S Court St
119 Lafayette St
Medina, OH 44256
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A General Admission Badge is Required to Attend Any Part of the Big Ohio Book Con. Park your car at this facility and ride the shuttle to other locations.
Main Stage Panels are Optional Add-Ons to Your Badge. Main Stage ticket holders are guaranteed not to be cut off in post-panel signing lines
Two shuttle buses will take attendees back and forth from all three locations. Must have Big Ohio Book Con badge to ride the shuttle.
