Las Vegas is famous for its bright lights and vibrant energy, but it also proved to be the perfect backdrop for literary growth and meaningful connections at the inaugural Author Nation conference in November.
As a first-time attendee of a weeklong writing conference of this kind, I was curious to see if the conference lived up to the hype. The newly branded Author Nation—formerly 20Books Vegas—is an event designed to inspire and empower indie authors. Hosted from November 11–15 at the Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, the 2024 event, led by Joe Solari, founder of Author Ventures LLC, welcomed nearly fifteen hundred in-person attendees and featured over one hundred exhibitors. With 222 speakers and 260 in-person sessions—many also broadcast virtually—Author Nation continued the gold standard for indie author education, networking, and celebration set by its predecessor.
Joe Solari, director of Author Nation, delivers opening remarks at the inaugural event November 11 at the Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The 2024 theme, “Unite Your Nation,” reflected a focus on community, offering curated tracks to support authors of all levels. Tracks included craft; marketing; advertising; business and finance; transmedia; production and workflow; and mindset, wellness, and productivity, which allowed attendees to tailor their experience to fit their specific needs and aspirations. Author Nation also brought back beloved traditions like Hawaiian Shirt Day, Tiara Day, and Cosplay Day from the previous conference. There was even a memorial for Papa Martelle, father of 20BooksTo50K® co-founder Craig Martelle, at which attendees, family members, and friends gathered to honor his memory.
Attendees of the 20Books Vegas conference expressed appreciation for the curated tracks, which offered structured learning paths tailored to various author needs. Returning attendee and signing author Saharra K. Sandhu also praised the conference’s integrated technology features. “We had the Author Nation Eventee app to find our sessions, connect with other attendees, and stay informed about event updates,” Sandhu says. “This app was a game changer—every conference needs one!” However, some have noted that adapting to new elements—such as pre-event communication methods, the updated book uploading process for RAVE participants, and the integration of Discord for community interactions—required time and adjustment. These changes aim to enhance the conference experience, but they also introduce new systems for attendees to become familiar with.
Chelle Honiker, IAM publisher and program director for Author Nation, presents at the opening ceremony for the event November 11. The conference, which took place for the first time this past year, welcomed more than fifteen hundred attendees.
Day 1: Vendor Day
The conference kicked off with Author Nation Vendor Day, where attendees engaged directly with one hundred industry-leading companies, including Lulu, IngramSpark, Amazon, BookFunnel, and ProWritingAid. Attendees were offered a close look at tools and services designed to help authors expand their careers, from publishing platforms to cutting-edge technologies.
Day 2: Workshops and Variety Show
Andrew Davis, bestselling author, marketing guru, and keynote speaker with a larger-than-life personality, opened day 2 with an electrifying keynote on the monumental shift, mixing humor, music, and tips for refining the author marketing strategy. His focus on mastering the curiosity gap to keep audiences engaged, and his second talk on forward-thinking exploration of AI as a creative partner, set the tone for a day full of pushing ourselves to new heights. Davis’s dynamic presentation was a memorable moment, celebrating both the art and science of authorship in today’s world.
The in-person demonstrations and workshops that followed explored the essential skills and elements of the industry, including book formatting with Vellum, writing tools like Sudowrite and Atticus, and audio publishing with Podium. Topics spanned writing craft, genre-specific techniques, marketing, editing, and building an author platform, equipping authors with practical tools to advance their careers.
From left, authors Willow Winters, Lula White, Lisa Wells, and Melanie Rachel present on the Love and Romance panel at Author Nation.
The day concluded with A Bookish Variety Show, hosted by Jeff Hays and sponsored by Soundbooth Theater. Community-penned scripts came alive, performed by Soundbooth Theater’s voice actors, creating a vibrant celebration of storytelling.
Day 3: Story Wars
After a host of incredible workshops and author meetups, including an array of cosplay participants dressing up as characters from their favorite books and their own works, the evening festivities took the conference to a new and exciting level. The evening highlight showcased the conference’s newest addition: Story Wars, a thrilling live storytelling competition founded by Cleveland-based duo Kelly Lytle and Gabby Valentine. Combining comedy, spontaneity, and creativity, Author Nation community writers competed in a three-round, rapid-fire tournament based on a writing prompt, with just five minutes to craft their masterpieces. Regional winners, who competed virtually over the summer, gathered for the championship event in Las Vegas. Carla Dupont’s wit and creativity earned her the 2024 Story Wars Author Nation Champion title, thrilling the live audience.
Carla Dupont wins the champion title at the Story Wars competition held at Author Nation in November.
Day 4: An Evening With Kevin Smith
By Thursday evening, we were all excited for the exclusive Readers and Authors Vegas Event (RAVE) keynote from filmmaker and writer Kevin Smith. This was the first year a keynote was held for the RAVE event, and Smith’s colorfully raw, inspiring, and hilarious outline of his life story energized the crowd. There were even some impromptu moments involving the crowd that will go down in Author Nation history, such as RAVE signing author Kevin Tumlinson being invited to sniff Smith after making a comment from the audience.
Day 5: Readers and Authors Connect
RAVE, another tradition carried over from the 20Books Vegas events, united readers and authors for a full interactive day of book sales and promotions on Friday. Featuring fifteen expert-led panels and a mass book signing that included over two hundred authors from various genres—Romance, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Mystery, and more—the event center was alive with awe, laughter, and newfound connections. Readers could preorder books, meet their favorite authors, and discover new favorites. The event also featured free autographed books, dramatic readings by Soundbooth Theater voice actors, and book readings by signing authors. Premium ticket holders received even more perks, including extra books from authors like W. Winters and A.G. Riddle. The lively atmosphere, filled with book lovers and storytellers, made RAVE the perfect end to a memorable week.
What Attendees are Saying
Whether authors were returning to Vegas after having attended 20Books Vegas events or marked their first conference experience with Author Nation, guests celebrated the resources and information provided in sessions and the ability to connect with other professionals. “I had an amazing time at Author Nation,” Sandhu says. “My author village has expanded in so many wonderful ways.”
From left, authors Zariah L. Banks, Zariah L. Banks, Saharra K. Sandhu, Morgan Richard Olivier, David Brown, and Pierre Jeanty attend RAVE on day 5 of Author Nation.
First-time attendee Sandra Elaine Scott, a children’s book author, agreed with Sandhu. “I had a blast! It was amazing to connect and network with colleagues, friends and other children’s book authors,” Scott says. “There was something for everyone at every stage of their publishing journey. I walked away with action items that have already set me up for my 2025 goal planning.”
Scott, who presented at the conference on hosting virtual live events, also enjoyed participating in Author Nation beyond the scheduled sessions. “I absolutely loved RAVE—nothing beats the energy of in-person selling,” she says. “Lastly, I got to be a fairy! Wearing a tiara and spreading kindness in my costume made me feel like I was truly among my tribe.”
Bethany Rosa, an author of Steamy Contemporary Romance, also participated in RAVE, hosting a book signing. Along with the sessions and connections she made with other authors, as a first-time attendee, she says the trade show “was another highlight” of Author Nation.
“I loved seeing new companies and resources that could help advance my career,” Rosa says. “I even found my new writing platform, Autocrit, which I’m thrilled to try out. I especially appreciated the one-on-one opportunities with vendors who stayed throughout the week.
A Unified Vision for the Future
The rebranding to Author Nation, coupled with the spirit of finding your new author tribe, marked a significant shift in focus—toward building an even stronger community of writers, readers, and industry experts. With dynamic speakers and additions like curated tracks and the high-energy Story Wars competition, Author Nation showed once again that this annual event is far more than just a conference; the experience was meticulously designed to uplift authors and propel them forward into a long and prosperous publishing career.
From left, authors Saharra K. Sandu, Alicia Wright, Sandra Elaine Scott, Morgan Richard Olivier, Lula White, and Eryka Parker at Author Nation 2024.
“I met so many incredible authors who I’m certain I’ll stay in contact with. The sessions were packed with knowledge, and I’m excited to put so much of what I learned into practice,” Rosa says. “This conference has truly been a game-changer for me.”
The carefully curated schedule made every event, vendor, and opportunity to connect with authors and experts quite appealing. Although it wasn’t possible to experience it all, the valuable lessons and connections made will carry us forward—until we celebrate the next unforgettable chapter in 2025. I walked into the Author Nation conference with an open mind and left with a host of new friends, future colleagues, and the undeniable feeling that I’ve found my author tribe.
Registration is now open for Author Nation 2025, taking place November 3–7 in Las Vegas. Tickets prices start at $499 but will increase at later registration dates. Visit Author Nation for more information or to sign up.
