About Six Months Out - Event Update for 2025

Hello Friends!  We are so happy that you are going to be a part of The Write Women Book Fest 2025.  Info about booking a hotel room is in the blog post before this one.

IMPORTANT NOTE: I am working on updating all of the graphics and such with the newer registrants. Please give me until February 25th to do that.

I get a flurry of emails every time I put out an update. If you need to email me about anything in this blog post, please be patient for a response. I am trying to update the socials and graphics all weekend and then I have a full-time job during the week. Most of what you might need to know is below. 

REQUIRED

Everybody should have gotten an invoice by now. Unless an arrangement was made individually, invoices that are not paid by February 19th will be transferred to a virtual participation and their physical space will be given to the waitlist. Complete closure of the registration will be February 20th. Once this is complete I will double-check that all graphics are updated and everybody gets a highlight on our socials by June 1st. When I feel I have gotten everything updated I will send out a note so you can check and make sure you are listed properly. I'm human and make mistakes. Though I LOATHE TO ADMIT IT! ​It happens, and I mean no disrespect by it. We value all of our authors and want everybody to feel special and seen. If I missed you, misspelled your name, or the link is wrong (I double-check them after I post them, but like I said, I'm human) please let me know. And in advance, my apologies.

F.A.Q

Q - Do I need to send you a photo and bio?
A - No. I will be grabbing photos from your websites or social media that appear to me to be a photo you like to use. If I am unable to get a photo I will then reach out. It is very difficult for me to accept photos via email and keep it organized when I have over a hundred authors. Bios, when used, will be taken from what you filled in on the registration form under "bio."  FYI - IT IS POSSIBLE this may not apply to some groups and I may have to check back in for more info.

Q - Is there an opportunity to sign up for panels or to teach a workshop on Sunday?
A - Yes, see below.

Q - Can I bring a helper?
A - People who needed a helper needed to sign up for a full space that came with an extra pass.

Q - I need special accommodations, what do I do?
A - Email Heather and we will work that out.

OPTIONAL ACTION ITEMS

• YOUR BOOK IN BARNES & NOBLE - We are partnered with Barnes & Noble in Bowie again this year. You need to fill out this form if you want to apply to be a part of the display there, which will be during the weeks leading up to the fest. This is a benefit of participating with our fest and yes, even virtual participants are allowed to apply for this and it does not cost extra. That form has the info you need and the absolute drop dead date for it to be filled out is close of business March 1st. Anybody who has not filled it in by March 1st cannot be considered for the display. We will get notification in the coming months as to who's books will be included and they will be posted on this blog. I won't know until they release the list to me. They do encourage you to come sign your book! You'll go to the info booth and tell them you're going to sign your book and they'll put a special sticker on it.
• PRE-ORDERS - We do expect to have a pre-order process set up with Barnes & Noble for people who are certain their books are available through B&N. This is especially helpful for traveling authors. This is the first year we are doing this, so there may be a bump or two, so be patient with us. More info on this is coming soon. All other authors are welcome to set up their own pre-orders and provide us with links to them and we will share those links and deadlines. Please make instagrammable posts we can share and tag us.
• TICKETS - All levels of our tiered tickets are available on our website. Each ticket has the information you need if you click on it and read inside the ticket description. ALSO the one-day SATURDAY ONLY tickets are available on Eventbrite as well. PLEASE POST ABOUT THEM! The tickets cover all of the rest of our expenses. Tell your fans you will be there. Send them ticket links. Add it to your newsletters, and tell your friends. If we don't sell out, I will post occasional discount codes for you to share.
• LIBRARY PARTICIPATION - Prince George's County Library Participation - if you would like to donate one of your books into the PGCMLS system for circulation, here are the instructions from PGCMLS.. Yes, this is open to virtual vendors too!
  • May 1 deadline for them to receive the books in the mail. Follow these procedures: Information for Local Authors, letting them know in your cover letter where you live and that they are participating in the WWBF. They are aware that not all authors participating are "local" by their definition, but that's ok.
  • Submission of the book does not guarantee its acceptance.  
  • Books are added to their Local Author collection if truly local, or to the regular collection if not. They will have them all assigned and sent to Hyattsville Library for display.
  • The display will be shown for the entire month of July at the library, so stop by and take a photo or video. The books are available to be checked out! So your book might not be there if it's been checked out. If you think your book wasn't received or fell through the cracks please check the catalog to see if it has been entered no earlier than 3 weeks after you sent it.
• SWAG -  We will be doing stuffed swag bags again. We will be offering special swag to influencers, as well as the higher tiered tickets. These are excellent opportunities to get your work in front of people. We will be offering smaller bags to the lower tiered tickets. When we are ready for swag we will let you know how much we need, but please plan for a minimum of 200 pieces of swag if you're going to participate with the swag bags. It doesn't cost extra to be in the swag bags, even though it's a chunk of labor to fill them, but we are asking for a minimum of 100 pieces. More info later. The deadline will be May 15th to get it to us, but details will come soon.

SUNDAY JULY 20 WORKSHOPS & PANELS & VIRTUAL PANELS

Teaching a workshop and participating with panels is completely optional. Even if you don't want to be on a panel or teach a workshop we encourage you to come to the panels and workshops.

Once registration is completely closed I will begin working on the panel and workshop schedule for Sunday. Those will be posted for sign-ups in March and then put up on the website. They will be first-come. The day runs from 11am-5pm, so obviously there is a limit to how much/many we can do in one day.

If you are a virtual author, we do have a virtual author who is interested in organizing some virtual panels, which we have done in the past, so we'll let you know how that develops.

OTHER

Map & Hotel Info
Graphics to Share Below