MAIN STAGE
TICKETED EVENT
VIP Cocktail Party
Enjoy a themed cocktail and refreshment hour. Shop the exclusive VIP Book Fair, including signed books from your favorite authors who weren't able to attend this year's Con. (These books may not be available to General Admission-only badge holders.) Attend two exclusive panels with featured headlining authors. Then, join authors for a meet & greet, book sale, and book signing.
Add-on Ticket required to attend for $75 (includes both panels, VIP Book Fair, a cocktail, and Hors d'oeuvres).
Schedule
4:30-5:30 p.m.: Themed Cocktail Hour & VIP Book Fair
5:30-6:15 p.m.: Love in a World on Fire: The Rise of Romantasy
6:15-7:50 p.m.: Romantasy Book Sale & Signing
8-8:30 p.m.: Headlining Author Keynote
8:30-9:30 p.m.: Headliner Book Sale & Signing
Location: Main Stage / Williams on the Lake
Author Lineup
Love in a World on Fire: The Rise of Romantasy
Mai Corland
Verity Guild
Broken Blades series
Melissa K. Roehrich
The Legacy series
Lady of Darkness series
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Paula Lafferty
The Once and Future Queen
Jade Presley
The Never List
The Kings' List
Alyssa Day
Moderator
Nobody's Quest
Headlining Author Keynote
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Sarah Beth Durst
The Spellshop
The Enchanted Greenhouse
The Faraway Inn
TJ Klune
House in the Cerulean Sea
Under the Whispering Door
We Burned So Bright
Jennifer Mandula
Moderator
The Geomagician
PANELS & EVENTS
SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2026
MAIN STAGE
TICKETED PANEL
Spells & Small Towns: The Ultimate Cozy Fiction Panel
Calling all lovers of witchy vibes, warm mugs, and small-town magic! Step into a world of enchanted bookshops, charming familiars, and mysteries by moonlight. This panel brings together your favorite authors who write cozy, magical fiction that feel like a hug. Whether you're into potion-brewing heroines, haunted teahouses, or low-stakes adventures with heart, come celebrate the stories that make magic feel right at home.
10-10:45 a.m.: Panel Discussion on the Main Stage
10:45-11:45 a.m.: Book Sale & Signing
Location: Main Stage / Williams on the Lake
Author Lineup
Sarah Beth Durst
The Spellshop
The Enchanted Greenhouse
The Faraway Inn
Ashley Poston
The Seven Year Slip
A Novel Love Story
Sounds Like Love
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Breanne Randall
The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic
Curses, Keys & Secret Societies
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Erin Sterling
aka Rachel Hawkins
The Ex Hex
The Kiss Curse
The Wedding Witch
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Molly Harper
Moderator
Starfall Point trilogy
A Proposal to Die For
MAIN STAGE
TICKETED PANEL
Beyond the Binary: Writing Authentic LGBTQIA+ Stories
LGBTQIA+ stories are as vast and vibrant as the community itself. Join a panel of authors as they discuss the power of authentic representation, the joy of writing beyond the binary, and how identity shapes story and voice. Whether you're looking to see yourself on the page or discover new perspectives, this conversation is a celebration of love, complexity, and the freedom to write (and read) our truest selves.
11-11:45 a.m.: Panel Discussion on the Main Stage
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.: Book Sale & Signing
Location: Main Stage / Williams on the Lake
Author Lineup
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Andie Burke
Fly with Me
Fall For Him
With Stars in Here Eyes
TJ Klune
House in the Cerulean Sea
Under the Whispering Door
We Burned So Bright
Page Powars
And They Were Roommates
The Borrow a Boyfriend Club
Amy Spalding
On Her Terms
No Boy Summer
We Used to be Friends
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E.M. Anderson
Moderator
The Keeper of Lonely Spirits
The Lord of the Wood
MAIN STAGE
TICKETED PANEL
Fire & Spice: From Slow Burn to Full Blaze
Get ready to turn up the heat! In this sizzling panel, your favorite spicy romance authors dish on all things steamy, from the delicious tension of a slow burn to the all-consuming blaze of passion. Hear behind-the-scenes stories about writing unforgettable chemistry, favorite tropes, steamy scenes that almost didn’t make the cut, and what really goes into crafting those fan-favorite spicy moments. Whether you're Team Anticipation or Team Immediate Spark, this panel is for every reader who loves their romance with a whole lot of fire and just the right amount of spice.
1-1:45 p.m.: Panel Discussion on the Main Stage
1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.: Book Sale & Signing
Author Lineup
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Greer Rivers
Tattered Curtain Series
Frayed Satin Series
Conviction Series
Shain Rose
Kept in Paradise
Hardy Billionaires
Tarnished Empire
Mia Sheridan
Men & Monsters
Where Love Meets Destiny
Acadia Duology
Kris Renee
Moderator
Location: Main Stage / Williams on the Lake
The Brat Pack Series
The Vagabond Vikings Series
The Enchanter Series
MAIN STAGE
TICKETED PANEL
I Didn't See that Coming: Mastering the Art of Twists & Turns
What makes a story truly terrifying? How do authors build suspense, manipulate fear, and craft moments that make readers sleep with the lights on? Join a chilling panel of horror and thriller writers as they pull back the curtain on the techniques, inspirations, and dark delights behind their most unsettling work. Whether it’s slow-burning dread, shocking twists, or the supernatural unknown, this conversation dives deep into the psychology of fear and the thrill of scaring readers senseless.
2-2:45 p.m.: Panel Discussion on the Main Stage
2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.: Book Sale & Signing
Location: Main Stage / Williams on the Lake
Author Lineup
Charlie Donlea
Guess Again
Long Time Gone
The Girl Who Was Taken
Noelle W. Ihli
Run on Red
Ask for Andrea
Gray After Dark
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Jason Rekulak
The Last One at the Wedding
Hidden Pictures
Look What the Cat Dragged In
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Carter Wilson
Tell Me What You Did
Mister Tender's Girl
The Dead Girl in 2A
KL Griffiths
Moderator
Bookworm
Spiked
MAIN STAGE
TICKETED PANEL
From Fairytale to Fear: A Descent into Dark Fantasy
Magic, monsters, and quests are familiar elements of fantasy. But let's twist them through a darker lens. This panel explores the strange and unsettling side of the genre, where classic tropes meet the uncanny, and the fantastical becomes just a little… off. These authors blend wonder with unease, drawing on horror, surrealism, and the bizarre to reshape what fantasy can be. Expect eerie landscapes, haunted heroes, and narratives that defy expectations. If you like your dragons with a touch of dread, your magic laced with menace, and your worldbuilding just this side of nightmarish, this is your portal to the dark.
3-3:45 p.m.: Panel Discussion on the Main Stage
3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.: Book Sale & Signing
Location: Main Stage / Williams on the Lake
Author Lineup
Maddie Martinez
The Maiden and Her Monster
Seanan McGuire
aka Mira Grant
Inkpot Gods/Alchemical Journeys Series
Wayward Children Series
Tara Sim
The Dark Gods Series
The Timekeeper Trilogy
We Shall Be Monsters
Shannon J. Spann
A Stage Set for Villains
Kalie Cassidy
Moderator
In the Veins of the Drowning
In the Wake of the Ruined
MAIN STAGE
TICKETED PANEL
Past as Prologue: Horror’s Historical Lens
History is full of shadows: unsettling truths, forgotten tragedies, and stories that refuse to stay buried. In this chilling and insightful panel, historical horror authors explore how real events, ancient beliefs, and bygone eras shape not only the fears of the past but the anxieties we face today. Discover how writers transform historical injustices, cultural upheavals, and generational scars into haunting narratives that illuminate the ways the past still echoes through our current world. From gothic ruins to wartime terrors, from folklore origins to the haunting parallels of modern events, see how historical horror reveals the dark threads connecting then and now. Come for the ghosts of the past, stay for the truths they reveal.
4-4:45 p.m.: Panel Discussion on the Main Stage
4:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.: Book Sale & Signing
Location: Main Stage / Williams on the Lake
Author Lineup
A. Rae Dunlap
The Dreadfuls
The Resurrectionist
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Markus Redmond
Blood Slaves
The Blood Saga
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Maria Tureaud
This House Will Feed
The Last Hope in Hopetown
Neena Viel
Listen to Your Sister
I'll Watch Your Baby
Kalynn Applewhite
Moderator
Awakening Anne
The White Crow series
MAIN STAGE
TICKETED PANEL
In Conversation with Leigh Bardugo & Liz Climo
Join #1 New York Times-bestselling author Leigh Bardugo and internationally bestselling illustrator Liz Climo as they discuss their delightful new picture book about finding the perfect pet. In this moderated discussion perfect for all ages, they will chat about creative collaboration, their favorite animals, and the journey behind bringing this laugh-out-loud story to life.
5-5:30 p.m.: Panel Discussion on the Main Stage
5:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.: Book Sale & Signing
Location: Main Stage / Williams on the Lake
Author Lineup
Leigh Bardugo
Better Pets
Ninth House
Six of Crows
Shadow & Bone
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Liz Climo
Better Pets
Life in the Present
Lobster is the Best Medicine
Please Don't Eat Me
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Alicia Frazier
Moderator
Owner
Black Cat Books & Oddities
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.
Main Stage
FAQ
Can I bring in outside books to be signed after the Main Stage panels?
You may bring in one outside book per panel to be signed. Authors' backlist and current books will be available for purchase to be signed. You are also given the option of one free BOBC-branded bookplate per panel author with your ticket. Extra bookplates also will be available for purchase for a small fee.
If I don't have a Main Stage panel ticket add-on, will I still be able to meet headlining authors?
Maybe! Some headlining authors will choose to head over to the General Admission venue next door to meet readers, and sell and sign books.
Some headlining authors may not be able to join the General Admission area due to scheduling conflicts and travel plans.
I want to attend back-to-back Main Stage panels, but I'm nervous I won't have time to get my books signed.
If you purchase tickets for back-to-back panels, your badge will include a special stamp that lets you get into the Priority Line for signings after the panel. The Priority Line will be allowed to enter the signing lines first to give you enough time to make it to your next panel.
We recommend purchasing any books you want signed BEFORE panels begin to give you enough time. Books from headliners will be available for purchase at Williams on the Lake and the General Admission Convention Center starting when doors open at 9 a.m.
