BookCon Is Coming to NYCC

Announced today, ReedPOP – the company behind New York Comic Con – will be bringing BookCon to NYCC.

BookCon originally started in conjunction with the annual BookExpo America as a way to get the public involved in what is the publishing industry’s premiere trade expo. The inaugural BookCon was one day, held on the last day of BEA, and both events existed in the same space and at the same time, which caused much confusion and frustration. In 2015, BookCon expanded to two days, and they became separate but related events. Now, it seems they are bringing a smaller version to run as a subsection of NYCC.

BookCon @ NYCC does not replace the original BookCon, which will again be held with BEA next June, but is rather meant to be an expansion of it in order to reach a wider audience. Last year, more than 150,000 people attended NYCC, while 18,000 attended BookCon in 2015. This year, anyone with a valid NYCC badge will be able to check out BookCon @ NYCC – held simultaneously at Hudson Mercantile, just a few blocks from the main convention at the Javits Center.

Along with a different location, BookCon @ NYCC will offer four full days of programming – including panels, meet and greets, and autograph sessions – as opposed to the usual two (or even one). A few guests have already been announced, including Ann M. Martin (The Babysitters Club), Danielle Paige (Dorothy Must Die), Chuck Wendig (Star Wars: Aftermath), Naomi Novik (League of Dragons), and R.L. Stine (Goosebumps).

Said Lance Fensterman, Global Senior Vice President of ReedPOP:

BookCon @ NYCC is a testament to the continued success of New York Comic Con as the Show grows beyond the Javits Center. We are continuously striving to reach new audiences and provide more of the programming and events that Fans are looking for and the robust lineup of authors and events at BookCon @ NYCC will allow us to do just that. It’s a privilege to connect leading publishers and authors with throngs of NYCC Fans and to unite two great New York City events for our Fans to experience.

A small portion of NYCC’s show floor has always been dedicated to publishers, with usually the larger houses bringing their best-selling authors for autograph sessions as well as offering not-yet-released books (advance reader copies, or ARCs) to interested readers. There are also usually panels featuring authors among the NYCC schedule. With the announcement of BookCon @ NYCC, one has to wonder if there will be anything book-related at the Javits, or if they intend to move everything over to Hudson Mercantile.

I love the idea of BookCon and greatly enjoyed last year’s convention. (This year’s was in Chicago, and I could not attend for financial reasons.) However, as someone who usually is sprinting back and forth between panels and press rooms, I’m not sure I’m thrilled with the idea of having to go to a completely different building to hit up the publishers that are usually a staple of my convention floor experience. As BookCon is already a separate event, and will continue to be so, I don’t really see the point of splitting them off. I guess I will just have to wait and see.

Anyone who wants to attend NYCC (and therefore BookCon) must fill out a fan verification profile. This will only be available until June 13, and if you do not have a fan verification profile, you cannot buy tickets.

Author: Jamie Sugah

Jamie has a BA in English with a focus in creative writing from The Ohio State University. She self-published her first novel, The Perils of Long Hair on a Windy Day, which is available through Amazon. She is currently an archivist and lives in New York City with her demon ninja vampire cat. She covers television, books, movies, anime, and conventions in the NYC area.

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