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K. A. Lewis
NEWS & EVENTS
Greetings friends, readers, and fellow genre enthusiasts! Below I've listed 2026 events of interest, both genre-focused and literary, mostly local. Perhaps I'll see you there.
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Conventions and events marked AFFORDABLE cost under $100 per person, often covering multiple day attendance.
2/6/26
thru
2/8/26
2026 Baltimore Cranky Festival
https://creativealliance.org/event/2026-baltimore-crankie-festival/
AFFORDABLE - $20 virtual ticket - watch online!
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Beloved Crankyfest, put on by the Creative Alliance. Are you in the mood for something quite different?
I discovered this event last year via "Cat Island", a crankie by Katherine Fahey, and was entranced. A mesmerizing way to tell a story!
https://bakerartist.org/portfolios/katherinefahey
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From Creative Alliance:
The festival, the largest of its kind in the country, works with artists to showcase crankies from Baltimore and beyond! A crankie is basic in concept: it is a scroll that provides the visual narration to a story or song. Versions of the crankie have been around for hundreds of years, if not longer; their most recent iteration is directly linked to moving panoramas popular in the 19th Century. In recent years, artists have begun to embrace the intimacy of the format, creating multi-layered, immersive experiences for audiences.
5/1/26
thru
5/2/26
Washington Writers Conference 2026
https://www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/page/the-2026-washington-writers-conference
AGENT PITCHES
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This is a literary conference, with an emphasis on non-fiction, but it's LOCAL and the price includes agent pitches. Several people in my writer's group are writing or have completed memoirs, and have attended this event. Do your research before deciding to attend, to make sure it's a good fit for your work.
5/22/26
thru
5/25/26
Balticon 2026
https://www.balticon.org/landing-page
AFFORDABLE - $75 until Feb.28, per person, all four days.
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This is Balticon 60, celebrating 60 years of science fiction and fantasy fandom! Sponsored by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society. I haven't been to this one yet, but have attended a terrific BSFS speculative poetry workshop via meetup and will also try their writer's round table. The BSFS has its own building in Baltimore! Imagine, a sci-fi, fantasy, and speculative fiction organization with an official place for members to congregate in the 'real' world, with film nights! This impressed me so much that I fantasized about moving to Baltimore.
SOLD OUT
6/5/26
thru
6/6/26
Imaginarium Book Festival 2026
https://www.imaginariumbookfestival.com/
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I haven't attended this event but it's all about fantasy, SF, and paranormal. Cassandra Claire is one of the guests of honor this year, and by the time I found out about it, the event was SOLD OUT. Put it on your calendar for next year.
TBA
National Book Festival 2026
https://www.loc.gov/events/2023-national-book-festival/about-this-event/
FREE
Over 150 authors, illustrators, and poets usually attend this celebration of books in our nation's capitol. Come to browse, hear your favorite authors and artists speak about their work, and discover new favorites. Have fun and remember to get all of your new books signed!
9/3/26
thru
9/7/26
DragonCon 2026
Atlanta GA.
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This is a MASSIVE convention in Atlanta with multiple host hotels, and I've wanted to attend for ages - maybe this will be the year! I invite you to explore their site for copious information and temptation galore.
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From the site:
Dragon Con is the largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction & fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film in the universe.
Attendees are called Members because this is a Con created by and for fans dedicated to geeking out over some of the same amazing stuff. In fact, we think one of the greatest things about Dragon Con is that it’s run by fans like you. We hope to see you there!
9/18/26
thru
9/20/26
Creatures Crimes & Creativity Conference 2026
https://creaturescrimesandcreativity.com/
TICKETS INCLUDE MEALS
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Doubletree Hilton Hotel in Columbia MD
A gathering of writers and readers of genre fiction, including mystery, suspense, thriller, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal, and more! This event is a great place to meet and mingle with local genre authors. The guest speakers have been terrific in the past and I've gotten a lot out of this convention every time I've attended. And who knows, with luck, you might be seated with the guest of homor at breakfast.
10/2/26
thru
10/4/26
Capclave 2026
https://www.capclave.org/capclave
AFFORDABLE - tickets purchased at the 2025 con were only $60 per person., and might be $70 at the door.
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Rockville Hilton & Executive Meeting Center/Rockville
DC area literary science fiction and fantasy convention hosted by the Washington Science Fiction Association (wsfa.org).
I attended Capclave while going through chemo. It was a much-needed reminder of what's really important to me: the wondrous world inside my head, the hidden realms in other peoples' heads, and the magical way words and stories can sustain us, lift us from our troubles, and transport us throughout the universe.
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TBA
James River Writers Conference 2026
jamesriverwriters.org
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Greater Richmond Covention Center in Richmond, VA.
I haven't attended this one, but have heard good things.
10/22/26
thru
10/25/26
World Fantasy Convention 2026
https://wfc2023.org/
This year in Oakland, CA.​
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Home of the World Fantasy Award, one of the genre's 'big three' literary awards in the United States, along with the Hugo and the Nebula.
This is a literary convention attended by many of the genre's best known authors, with a spectacular art show featuring legendary artists and works (many for sale!) and a vendor room packed with tempting tomes from publishers large and small. The swag bags are an avid reader's dream: over-sized zippered canvas totes filled with free books! This is a big event with a sprawling schedule of panels, readings, and slide-show lectures, given by beloved authors, artists, agents, and publishers. You'll have to choose between events and even skip some if you want to eat, sleep, or go home and feed your cats. At World Con you can rub shoulders with genre idols, make contacts in the industry, and best of all, discover new authors and works that capture your heart.
I had a wonderful time at the 2018 Con in Baltimore.
TBA
ChessieCon 2026?
https://www.chessiecon.org/chessiecon/​
AFFORDABLE
THANKSGIVING WEEKEND
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ChessieCon is an online-only event put on by the Thanksgiving Science Fiction Society. This is a multi-genre convention - sci-fi, fantasy, horror, comics, gaming - run entirely by volunteers. When I attended there was a welcome amount of humor, and a humor writing competition.
At one time, Chessiecon was in the tradition of DarkoverCon, with emphasis on the work of women creators of SF and fantasy in art and literature. The atmoshpere is inclusive and welcoming.
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NO CHESSIECON in 2023 - but perhaps it'll return in 2024. I attended for the first time online in 2021 and it was great fun!
On
Hiatus
FaerieCon - International Faerie Convention
https://10times.com/faeriecon
It looks like FaerieCon is no more. How awful - this was a beloved event.
The impression below is from the glory days at the Hunt Valley Hotel in MD.
Fairies, Steampunk, and Wonders galore!
Since the biggest hazard is an eye-poke from a fairy wing tip, I suggest wearing your trusty Steampunk goggles. Besides, they look super cool, right? If you don't have super cool Steampunk goggles, this is the place to get 'em.
And a crown. I couldn't decide between an antlered crown or one with glittery tapestry leaves, and then they were all sold out. Darn! At least I got cat ears. Black faux-fur with dusky pink velvet inside. Next year I'll get a proper crown. Everybody should have at least one. Remember, we're all Kings and Queens in Narnia.
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