SOMETIMES THE HARDEST DECISION in planning a summer getaway is deciding what books to pack. Beachy romance read? Heart-pounding suspense thriller? Apocalyptic sci-fi fantasy?
Who’s to say you have to choose? Many writer organizations hold conferences year-round, bringing together authors and readers for networking and craft. This year, many are observing anniversary milestones, which makes for a grand opportunity to meet celebrated names like James Patterson, Joyce Carol Oates and Jean Kwok.
Take a gander at some upcoming conventions all at destination cities. Most conferences also have prestigious awards attached, so even if you can’t attend, you can always build a great reading list and let your mind wander.
Nebula Conference
June 5-8, 60th annual Nebula Awards Conference, Kansas City, Missouri
For the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, a nebula is where stars are born. SFWA, founded as Science Fiction Writers of America in 1965, started with 78 writers. Today, membership is more than 2,500 around the world. There are two options to celebrate the Nebula Awards Conference diamond anniversary at the Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza or online. The conference, says SFWA Communications and Marketing Coordinator ML Clark, “will boast writing and business-of-writing craft panels, author meet-and-greets, creative workshops, and other terrific networking opportunities to learn all about the changing SFF industry.” Presiding over the Nebula Award finalists and special guests will be grandmaster Nicola Griffith, author of “Hild” and “Spear.”
Kansas City, says Clark, is “a sanctuary city, and an urban hub hopping with cultural life.” Within walking distance, attendees can enjoy entertainment (Kansas City Power & Light Entertainment District, performing arts center, and the American Jazz Museum), sports (College Basketball Hall of Fame, Negro League Baseball Museum) or history (National WWI Museum at Liberty Memorial). The free Kansas City Streetcar gets attendees farther afield to sites like the Kansas City Zoo or River Market and the Crossroads.
Website: https://nebulas.sfwa.org/nebula-conference/
Registration: https://membership.sfwa.org/event-6093098
Reading list (Nebular Awards finalists): https://events.sfwa.org/our-2025-conference/the-2025-nebula-awards-finalist-list/
StokerCon
June 12-15, StokerCon, Stamford, Connecticut
O the horror. More specifically, a convention o’ the Horror Writers Association, founded in the 1980s by familiar names such as Dean Koontz, Robert McCammon, and Joe Lansdale and now a 2,400+ member strong association of pros “who have brought you the most-enjoyable sleepless nights of your life.” This year’s StokerCon, named in honor of the author of “Dracula,” will be in Stamford, the second-largest city in Connecticut (after New Haven). This year’s slate of honored guests include award winners Tim Waggoner, Adam Nevill, Gaby Triana, Paula Guran, Scott Edelman and Joyce Carol Oates.
Less than a 10-minute walk from downtown Stamford Metro-North Railroad station, Stamford Hilton lies within a couple miles from downtown proper, the town center mall and sights like the Museum of Black World War II History and University of Connecticut Stamford Campus. (Yes, the hotel is pet-friendly, up to 75 pounds and you’ll have to pay an occupancy fee). If fear makes you peckish, the Nutmeg State’s bragging rights include lobster rolls, white clam pizza and the humble hamburger.
Website: https://stokercon2025.sched.com/
Registration: https://www.stokercon2025.com/registration
Reading list (Bram Stoker Awards ballot): https://www.stokercon2025.com/bram-stoker-awards
ThrillerFest XX
June 17-21, ThrillerFest XX, New York City
If you like thrills to chase your chills, the International Thriller Writers’ conference is a train ride away from Stamford. ThrillerFest’s price tag reflects its New York setting and its size. This year, ITW executive director Kimberley Howe expected more than attendees, along with luminaries like John Patterson and James Grisham.
“We’re seeing a surge in interest regarding thrillers — and by this, we mean any page-turning fiction, including subgenres like sci-fi, romance, fantasy, and YA,” writes Howe, in an email. “Although ThrillerFest is a writer’s conference, we also welcome any and all thriller enthusiasts. Many fans join us to meet their favorite authors. If you are an aspiring author, we offer educational programs and pitching opportunities to help you realize your writing dreams.”
Everyone has an opinion on how to do New York. Sara DiVello, ITW director of social media/brand strategy and true crime thriller author, suggests taking advantage of the centrally located Hilton Midtown to take in a show like “Operation Mincemeat” or “John Proctor is the Villain.” Fifteen minutes by foot or five by cab is the gorgeous New York Public Library fronted by Patience and Fortitude, the marble lion statues that have stood guard outside the majestic Beaux Arts building since 1911. While DiVellow points out there will be an onsite bookstore, “The Mysterious Bookshop, located in Tribeca, will be onsite and stocking all the books and mystery merchandise you could want.” For pen fiends, get moving to the Rockefeller Center location of McNally Jackson Books. “The store boasts an entire pen section with literally any pen you could want,” DiVello shares via email. “A book nerd’s dream!”
Website: https://thrillerfest.com/
Registration: https://web.cvent.com/event/390cfc5e-8951-4cef-ae5d-4ad4ed22b3b7/summary
Reading list (ITW Thriller awards finalists): https://thrillerwriters.org/2025-thriller-awards/
Comic-Con 2025
July 24-27, Comic-Con, San Diego, California
To be honest, it’ll be a miracle to get into Comic Con 2025, as badges sell out well in advance. Still, this sheer powerhouse is worth a looksee, plus it’s a good reminder to set alerts for next year’s ticket sales. Launched by teenagers as San Diego’s Golden State Comic-Con in 1970, the sprawling event has drawn in as many as 135,000 to catch panels, games, films and the Eisner award. A 2019 “All Things Considered” NPR segment credits one Shel Dorf (one of two adults) who invited comic book master Jack Kirby. The artist behind characters like Captain America and X-Men gave some wise advise to expand beyond comics. The fervent fan base, Hollywood proximity and pop-culture focus have ballooned this nonprofit into a behemoth — so much so that it has its own museum.
San Diego itself has undergone a boom, from a sleepy Navy town to one of the priciest metropolises in the nation. The convention center sits right by a pristine harbor, is across the street from the Gaslamp Quarter, and a 10-minute drive to the San Diego Zoo or Balboa Park. Pay homage to the city’s legacy as home to the largest naval base in the Pacific at the USS Midway Museum, a short drive or one-mile walk. The Padres will be on the road, but you can book a daily tour at Petco Park a couple blocks away.
Website: https://www.comic-con.org/cc/
Registration: A free member ID is required https://www.comic-con.org/member-id/ before purchasing a badge. Opt in for the marketing emails and read the instructions in advance https://www.comic-con.org/cc/badges/open-registration/.
Reading list (Eisner awards nominees): https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/
Writer’s Digest conference
July 24-27 Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, Baltimore, Maryland.
Founded as Successfully Writing, Writer’s Digest magazine has been doling advice for 105 years; in fact, subscribers can now access a digital version of every issue ever published. This year, writers will hunker down in the Maritime Conference Center, a complimentary shuttle ride away from the airport or the Amtrak/MARC-BWI rail station. The curriculum goes beyond genre and digs into career nitty-gritty advice like writing as a side hustle, building an author platform and surviving in the age of AI. This year’s keynote is New York Times bestselling author Jean Kwok, who once flew from the Netherlands to Pennsylvania to (unsuccessfully) defend her debut novel against being banned.
Rough-and-tumble Baltimore never lacks for city mottos, good and bad. Still, The City That Reads — coined under mayor Kurt Schnmoke’s tenure — is one that appeals to us. After all, Charm City (yes, another nickname) was home to the likes of Edgar Allan Poe, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ta-Nehisi Coates. There’s not much within walking distance of the campus but the Visit Baltimore site outlines a fantastic list of independent bookstores while Baltimore Heritage put together a downtown literary walking tour.
Website: https://writersdigestconference.com/
Reservations: https://www.writersdigest.com/register-for-the-2025-writers-digest-annual-conference
Seattle Worldcon
Aug. 13-17, Seattle Worldcon 2025 (Worldcon 83), Seattle, Washington
What nicer way to wrap up a summer than in Seattle, with more than 14 hours of sunlight every day in August? The annual convention of the World Science Fiction Society, Worldcon is renowned for the Hugo Awards, first presented in 1953 and an annual tradition since 1955. Washington state is headquarters for tech giants Microsoft and Amazon, as well as a bevy of online and life science companies, but this year’s theme “Building Yesterday’s Future — for Everyone” goes retro, with a revisit to classic sci-fi and fantasy. Guests of honor include Martha Wells, Donato Giancola, Bridget Landry and Alexander James James.
With a block of five hotels centered around the Seattle Convention Center, Worldcon is smack dab in downtown Seattle, right near the Westlake Station. Shopping and food abound, and the center is a 15-minute straight line walk to Pike Place Market. Competing dumpling destinations, ferry rides to outlying islands, and weekend markets provide plenty to do. Of course, don’t forget to pay homage to Elliot Bay Book Company or the Left Banks Book Collective, both within a 15-minute walk although in opposite directions. Another thing Seattle has going for it: splendid cafes to sit and snuggle with a book (and we’re not even talking about Starbucks, although the Seattle Roastery might beckon even the most discerning bookworm).
World Science Fiction Society: http://www.wsfs.org/
Website: https://seattlein2025.org/about/our-theme/
Reading list (Hugo Awards nominees): https://seattlein2025.org/wsfs/hugo-awards/2025-hugo-award-finalists/
Whither romance?
July 10-12, RSJ Virtual Romance Book Con, virtual
A self-inflicted scandal rocked the Romance Writers of America, causing it to lose thousands of members and file for chapter 11 bankruptcy last year. Other meet-ups have sprung up to take up the heartbreaking void, but mostly in the fall save one: You need to go only as far as your computer for the RSJ Virtual Romance Book Con to learn more about writing African-American romance.
Website: https://rsjconvention.com